A Tour of the Upper Charles
Posted By auntie on September 29, 2015
3.4 miles; bellingham, medway, and franklin, ma
a lot of people think social media is isolating; that people spend more time looking at their phones and tablets than interacting with actual humans. but to my way of thinking, that’s all backwards. social media has connected me with some great people who i have actually met in “meatspace.” today’s adventure was another example. i met a woman i’ve been corresponding with for a while, and whose work i admire, and it was great.
we did 6 short walks on a brief tour of walking trails along the upper charles river, since her specialty is short, easy walks. my main takeaway is that the charles river is astonishingly low. it’s a miracle it even makes it to boston.
medway policeman
the second of our stops was a tiny little trail through the woods behind the medway police station. and you gotta love that mascot.
charles river
this is just one example of what we saw everywhere we stopped. the river is a mere trickle.
fall vignette
and autumn is beginning to make its presence known. the hay-scented ferns are turning yellow, along with the beeches and birches. i’d say they’re maybe 5 days or so ahead of us here in southern new england, foliage-wise.
good use of materials
i thought this little bog-bridge at the medway “amphitheater” was a good use of found materials. the amphitheater walk was an interesting one. it’s quite overgrown now, but apparently it was a naturally-occuring bowl where the town used to gather for meetings and picnics. our trail wound around the amphitheater site, along the charles for a stretch.
cat-o-nine tails at the franklin sculpture garden
you can see the hints of color in this photo taken at the franklin sculpture garden—another interesting spot at the site of the old town swimming pool.
bear sighting in franklin
the sculpture garden was our last stop, and easily the most fascinating. i recommend you visit my new friend marjorie’s website at easy walks in massachusetts for more details on these walks.
Thanks, thank you, thank you again, for accompanying me on our morning outing. What a joy to share the area with you. And now, just a few days later, the rivers have returned to flowing. What a difference a flooding rain can make. Till next time.