Paddling in Waltham and Wayland

Early on Thursday morning I launched from Woerd Ave in Waltham, MA into the Charles River and paddled alongside the former Waltham Watch factory (above photo).  When the plant was in its heyday Waltham was known as the "Watch City".  According to Wikipedia 35 million timepieces came out of the factory between 1854 and 1957.  Heading downriver to the dam at Moody Street brought me past some Waltham landmarks such as Mt. Feake Cemetery, the remains of "Nuttings on the Charles", and finally Cronin's Landing (once Grover Cronin's dept. store) on the river's right side...

Across the river, just above the dam, was this precariously-placed canoe...

Then it was upriver through the  so called "Lakes District" created by the dam.  Passed this very realistic-looking elk along the way...

Reaching the area once known as Norumbega I came upon a kayak class about to get underway...

Beyond Norumbega the sound of vehicular traffic from multiple layers of converging roadways was hard to ignore...

It's where the Mass Pike, Route 95, Route 30, and Recreation Rd all converge.  During the construction project boat traffic is directed via designated channels beneath the tangle of roadways.

Just a bit upriver stands the old Boston and Albany Railroad bridge which still carries commuter trains to and from Boston...

 This osprey had a commanding view of the whole area...

This morning, following the weekend's beneficial rains, I launched into the Sudbury River in Wayland, MA at the Route 20 bridge...

...and enjoyed finding plenty of water for a change...

The river spread out before me...

A hawk faced the morning sunshine...

Further upriver an adult eagle was seen...

Thursday's trash from the Charles River's Lakes District included 25 "nip" bottles...

Today's trash from the Sudbury River...

...included a 100cc pharmacist's bottle...

Clarity on the Concord

 

The last wave of clouds was heading east towards the rising sun early on Tuesday morning, the day after Labor Day.  Soon the sun would begin burning off the low-hanging fog and allow me some of the clearest vision I've experienced in years.  My eyes had become clouded due to cataracts and I'm currently between procedures for removing them.  One eye done, one to go.   Being cleared for paddling during the intermission was an unexpected development.

I'd launched at the Bedford boat launch just below the Route 225 bridge which is still supported by wooden piers.  The bridge has recently been restricted to alternating one-way vehicular traffic...

Trying out my now cataract-free eye I saw critters more vividly such as these blue herons...

...and this hawk...

...and this osprey flying low over the bridge...

...and flying over my head...

Colors were also more vivid with this egret adding some bright whites to the mix of colors...

...egrets seem to be everywhere this summer.
 

Cardinal flowers look to be at their peak...

A depiction of a non-native cutthroat trout was seen clearly on this half floating Busch beer can...

...and the can noted that cutthroat trout range "from the Pacific Coast to the Rocky Mountains".

I can now agree with Johnny Nash who sang: "It's gonna be a bright, bright, Sun-shiny day..."

Trash collected along the way included glass, aluminum, and plastic...

The low water levels helped expose much of it.