Upper Charles River row

I took the Vireo on its first major cruise of the summer with an 8 mile row up and down the upper Charles River.  Getting it on and off the Rav 4 by myself has become quicker with practice with minimal damage to the rear spoiler through the appropriate application of the seat cushion to take the initial load.  Then lifting from the stern until the bow hits the rear rack. 

The walk down the path was longer than it was when I was 18 years old, and it was steeper too.  But, I was able to portage the boat on my shoulders to the waterfront and begin a 4 mile upstream row against the current.  I am still impressed as to how this boat tracks and went through the current with little resistance.  I saw at least a dozen Great Blue Herons, Eastern Kingbirds, and one Greater Egret, as well as countless Red Wing Blackbirds who were annoyed by my presence, but tolerated the silent craft.  I have still been unable to land a decent fish as the boat does demand attention due to wind and current.  Anchoring would solve the issue. 

When out in these waters, it is hard to believe that civilization is only a short distance away as no houses or cars are visible and barely audible.  I stopped short of rowing around the last bend where I knew the Water Street railroad bridge landing was in Millis.  Along the way I only passed two kayaks and one canoe.  Amazing. 

Having rowed back to rt 27, I then proceded downstream to just past the Rocky Narrows reservation.  People were seen gazing off the rocky outcropping named King Philips Lookout.  Read Nathaniel Philbricks book "Mayflower" for more on King Philip and his rocky relationship with the colonists. 

Around 5:30 PM I turned upstream again and had ample help going back up the path to the road.  All who assist with this boat comment on how it is much lighter than it looks!  Grey Hair and age with a boat that is deceiving has helped on several occasions with getting it reloaded onto the car. 

Cant wait to continue this journey.  Hope to row downstream to South Natick next week.  Hopefully get some assistance coming back to the start and not have to row all the way back to the landing. 

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Charles River Row to Boston!

There is a fine line between brilliance and lunacy and I think that today I may have crossed that threshold today. For many years, I have wanted to take a simple row down the Charles River to the lower basin.  Today was that day.

The Vireo was loaded up at 10 am for the short trip down the Mass Pike to Brighton.  Loading takes just a few minutes as only two ropes are needed to tie it down with wrapping them around the fore and aft cross braces.  The RAV4 back door can also be opened fully,  nice feature.  Loading is done by placing the life jacket across the rear spoiler and then placing the bow on the life jacket.  then a simple lift to the roof.  the wheels on the transom make this project very easy. 

I drove to the Charles and originally thought I would launch at the canoe and kayak rental place in Brighton, but unfortunately it was limited to 2 hour parking.  Drats.  I then drove back to the Charles River Rowing Facility in Brighton right near the Newton border.  This is an almost brand new facility that has given the general public access to this magnificent river and an introduction to the sport of rowing.  Simply amazing.

The boat ramp is adjacent to the facility and offers ample parking, restrooms, and friendly people.

I realized immediately that this was going to be an enormous row and would take at least 2 hours to reach the lower basin 7 miles downstream.  http://goo.gl/maps/iGzKq

All was well with reaching the Anderson Bridge in an hour, then the realization of what I had started and needed to finish then set in.  This 55 year old guy is not an Olympian.  I reached the BU bridge in about another 20 minutes then the wind started to make things go a tad slower.  People walking the footpaths were making better time than I.  But, I knew if I shortened up the stroke, I could keep pace with the wind and choose the lulls to pull faster. 

someday I will play my saxophone here.  Great Jazz club.

view of the Anderson Bridge

There is great comfort in seeing the Citgo sign as any Bostonian knows that you are now in Boston for real as this marks Kenmore Square home of Fenway Park and our Red Sox.

two and and a half hours later I finally arrived at the Hatch Shell.  The whole country knows this place as the home of the Boston Pops (Esplanade Orchestra) on July 4th.  Lunch consisted of a pb&j sandwich and some granola bars.  After a brief walk around the Hatch, it was time to get back in the skiff and row back to Brighton. 

The view of Boston is glorious from the middle of the Charles River.  It is almost as if the city planners knew this all along and wanted us to figure it out.  From the Mass ave bridge you can see the entire city from the Zakim Bridge to the towers of the Prudential and Hancock buildings. 

The camera just does not do this justice. 

The row back took about 2 hours as the wind was behind me for the most part with a few shifts in the bends.  

The many boathouses along the Charles had tributes to their Olympians participating this week in the 2012 Summer Games in London.  Boston is a city of champions (at least on the water). 

I finally arrived back at the landing around 4 pm and headed home in the rush hour traffic.  Nice day.

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