Paddling Down to Natick

Yesterday after another workday which ended in Sherborn, my boat and I jumped into the Charles River at Farm Road and headed downriver to South Natick.  Natick was originally a Native American community and one translation of the word is said to mean "Our Place". 
About a mile and a half down, a brook entering the river's west side begged to be explored and was navigable for close to a quarter mile.  Only later, after checking McAdow's guidebook, did I find out I'd been paddling Indian Brook and that it runs through Massachusetts Audubon's Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary. 
The brook was a ribbon of crystal-clear water...

   
Back on the river I continued downstream and under the Sargent Footbridge...

Approaching the falls at South Natick...

The location provides a relaxing spot to sit...

...and watch the river fall over the dam...

...and continue on its way to Boston Harbor...

My exercise requirements for the day were satisfied on the return trip against the current to Farm Road where my trash haul posed high and dry...

There were 28 recyclable containers (5 redeemable) and 17 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish.
YTD = 2003