| Charles River Dedham & Needham, MA | |||||
| DATE | April 10, 2004 | TIME | 1345 to 1530 | TRIP LENGTH | 6 miles |
| WEATHER | Clear skies, 55F. Wind west 15 knots, gusting to >20. River running high. | TIDES | none | ||
| LAUNCH SITE | Great Plain Ave.; Dedham/Needham (MA) town line From the "Great Plain Ave." exit on I95, go east about 1/4 mile. There is a small pull-off at a gate on the right. Carry 30 yards to the water, launch down a very steep dirt bank. |
LANDING SITES | none | ||
| ROUTE | Launch from Great Plain Ave., paddle upstream past the Chestnut Street (Needham) bridge, then return. | ||||
| A KAYAKER'S JOURNAL |
The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry. I almost cancelled my original plan, an ocean paddle from Cohasset to Scituate, based on the weather forecast posted yesterday. However, when I awoke I found that the predictions had changed and I would, after all, be able to inaugurate the sea kayaking season! That all changed when I was greeted at the launch in Cohasset by constant 16-knot winds with stronger gusts. Not wanting my first ocean paddle of the year to be at all dicey, I opted instead for a river. I had to be in Needham at 4pm, so I decided to explore an upper section of the Charles River in the hopes of avoiding the wind. The launch on Great Plain Ave., just off I95 in Needham, is the start of the annual Run of the Charles Canoe Race. On the day of the event, there are hundreds of canoes and kayaks crowded into the river here, but today I had the place to myself. Though the current was strong I had no problem moving upstream, passing under I95 and three more bridges during the course of the trip. The river is also fairly protected by trees along the banks, so the wind was not quite as effective as it was out in the open. I did, however, have a problem launching: the bank is quite steep above the water and drops off quickly in the water, so I had to flop myself into my boat while praying that I remained upright. You might find it easier to paddle with a partner so you can help each other out at the launch. The banks of this stretch of the Charles suffer significantly from residential development, though some sections are more forested and less crowded, and some houses are less obtrusive than others. There is certainly wildlife present, as I caught a glimpse of a river otter as I sneaked around a bend. Unfortunately there are few places to land and picnic; the one obvious place I noticed was located off South Street near the West Street bridge, at a bend in the river. Overall, the trip was enjoyable but short, and I feel that there must be more secluded sections of the Charles that are equally accessible. I'll keep looking! Daniel Smith April 10, 2004 |
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© 2004 Daniel E. Smith. Last updated 4/10/04