I took the kayak for a 7.48 mile round trip from Dover to Natick and back today. I started off by Bridge Street in Dover — fortunately grabbing the last parking spot — and took the boat downriver to just short of the Natick Dam. Along the way, in several spots, I saw painted turtles basking on logs and boulders in the river. Usually, they would slip into the water as soon as I got close-ish, but these little guys stayed put just long enough for me to get their picture:
Painted Turtles on log
Around the start of the last century, water shortages in Greater Boston caused the state government to look to Western Massachusetts for supplies of clean drinking water. The Wachusett Reservoir was completed around 1908, and in the Twenties, the people of the Swift River valley lost their battle against eastern Massachusetts, and construction of the Quabbin Reservoir begun. The towns of Enfield, Greenwich, Prescott and Dana were disincorporated, their citizens evicted from their homes, and all structures in the way of the future reservoir razed. Construction took place during the thirties, and the reservoir filled during the forties, becoming the largest inland body of water within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Today, it supplies most of eastern Massachusetts with water. To protect the water, the area around it is a reservation. Yesterday, I took the motorcycle out for a ride around there. The roads around the reservoir are great for motorcycling — curvy, and not too crowded.
I just love this picture. I bought a box full of gazanias and lobelias Sunday, and took this with the phone before planting.
I’m now using it as my desktop of all three screens of my work computer.
One of the things I liked best about my old job was being close enough to the East Bay Bike Path to be able to go for a ride after work. I just love going for a ride along the water around sunset
I decided to go back for a ride this evening. The days are short enough now, and night falls quickly enough now, that I had to time things carefully. Tarry too long at the far end of the path, and it’s fully night by the time Pomham Rocks Light comes into view.
Tonight, I timed it just right. The sun was still pretty high when I paused by the water in Warren, but the sun had set and the clouds had turned pink by the time the lighthouse came into view. And then, Judy Collins’ Amazing Grace came on the iPhone, and it was perfect.
Growing up, during our vacations at the Cape my parents liked to go for rides after supper, usually winding up at a beach for sunset. The radio station my dad liked had to sign off at sunset, and often signed off with Amazing Grace. Hearing it again at sunset brought back a bunch of memories.
I saw this sign in the front window of Nordstrom’s today. I agree wholeheartedly.
“We won’t be decking our halls until Friday November 25. Why? We just like the idea of celebrating one holiday at a time
Our stores will be closed on Thursday for Thanksgiving festivities. On Friday, our doors will open to ring in the new season in style.”
On a wonderfully warm November day, workers are preparing the surface of the Kennedy Plaza rink.