Boston By Water

I've long wanted to experience Boston's Inner Harbor and the gateway it provides to the Charles River.  Early on this splendid first Sunday of summer I was joined by Adirondack Pirate paddlers Capt'n Dangerous and his wife Ellen in unlocking the mystery of bridges, locks, and lagoons.  We launched into the Mystic River behind the Schrafft's Center in Charlestown one hour before high tide and soon found ourselves looking up at the Mystic River Bridge...

Then looking down into the water realized we had company of the gelatinous type...

Once in the Inner Harbor things were still on the quiet side so we paddled along Boston's waterfront in a southeasterly direction almost to Castle Island.  Along the way we passed the New England Aquarium, the Custom House, and the Boston Fish Market...

Near Castle Island at about 9 am we turned about and found the harbor awakening all around us.  The crew of the tug "Justice" stopped fishing from their boat's stern and, after a horn blast, went off to accompany a barge...

Ferry boats, whale watch boats, and water taxis were beginning to flit about in seemingly every direction.

Even some of the big ships were on the move...

Meanwhile, it was strange to think of vehicles passing beneath us in the Ted Williams and Sumner/Callahan tunnels.  Additionally, planes were constantly landing and taking off from Logan International Airport.


Despite all the activity, the Boston Harbor Hotel archway on Rowes Wharf looked welcoming...

After passing US Coast Guard Station Boston...

...we looked across at the USS Constitution, Bunker Hill Monument, and a Super Duck Tour boat.

Then it was time to enter one of the locks at the Charles River Dam...

Upon exiting out the fresh water side of the lock, the Zakim Bridge loomed overhead...

Of course things didn't quiet down too much on the other side as trains were entering and leaving Boston's North Station, and a string of Duck Boats were encountered such as this bright orange one...

Once past the Museum of Science, the Esplanade's lagoons provided peace and tranquility...

 

We made way for these ducklings...

...before continuing up the Charles to Herter Park where our aqueous journey ended.

Having grown up less than 10 miles to the west of Boston, I'd never seen the city up close from the water and was pleasantly surprised with how much more beautiful it appeared from this perspective.


The trash we removed along the way...

  Same old same old.