I took this past Monday off, and spent most of it paddling the Charles River from Bridge Street in Dover to the Natick Dam. Although the foliage was a little pre-peak, it was still a gorgeous day –clear and crisp, a little chilly to start, but basically comfortable in the sun.
I’d passed the Bridge Street put in a couple of times, coming downstream from Medfield, but I wanted to go further downstream this time, all the way to the dam in Natick.
I’d read there was a statue of the Virgin Mary along the river about a mile short of the dam, but assumed it was just someone’s backyard statuary, and in fact, somehow missed it on the trip downstream. Just beyond the statue is a very picturesque footbridge, and I was so absorbed trying to frame the bridge well that I somehow missed the statue altogether.
I say “somehow”, because when I passed it on the return trip, I spotted it immediately. It’s quite big actually, and perched on a large outcropping.
![Putting in at Bridge Street in Dover](https://tedohara.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/DSC_0371-1024x686.jpg)
![Overhanging tree](https://tedohara.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/DSC_0375-1024x686.jpg)
![Vines covering a tree](https://tedohara.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/DSC_0396-686x1024.jpg)
![Red and green](https://tedohara.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/DSC_0411-1024x686.jpg)
![Fall Foliage](https://tedohara.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/DSC_0416-683x1024.jpg)
![Footbridge and trees](https://tedohara.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/DSC_0431-1024x686.jpg)
![Heading downstream into Natick](https://tedohara.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/DSC_0422-686x1024.jpg)
![Sargent Footbridge](https://tedohara.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/DSC_0438-1024x686.jpg)
![Trees and footbridge](https://tedohara.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/DSC_0442-686x1024.jpg)
![Going under the bridge](https://tedohara.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/DSC_0443-686x1024.jpg)
![Backlit leaves](https://tedohara.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/DSC_0449-1024x686.jpg)
![Our Lady of the Charles](https://tedohara.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/DSC_0461-1024x686.jpg)
![Our Lady of the Charles](https://tedohara.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/DSC_0465-686x1024.jpg)
![Headed back upstream](https://tedohara.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/DSC_0471-1024x686.jpg)
![Painted Turtles](https://tedohara.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/DSC_0481-1024x683.jpg)
It was the first time I’ve done most of this section of the river. It was pretty deserted in parts, and in other parts, I passed by some really nice homes. At the end, the river parallels Route 16 for a stretch, and the roar of cars passing is a constant companion.
When I arrived at the dam, I got just close enough to see that it was a dam, and turned around. I’m looking forward to doing the next stretch downstream sometime.