Paddlin' Round the Old Stompin' Grounds (long as usual)

Trip reports that don't have a page dedicated to them.

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Birdseye
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Paddlin' Round the Old Stompin' Grounds (long as usual)

Post by Birdseye »

Dorchester Bay and the Neponset River

<center><img src="http://kayaking.pidgeoncoop.com/images/dotbay-sunrise.jpg" border="1" ></center>
I quickly hit the snooze button when the alarm told me it was 5:30 and time to get up. I looked at the window but no light was visible around its perimeter. I had six more minutes until the next wake up blast would come and a feeling of regret to committing to such an early paddle crept into my mind. But then I remembered why I made the commitment if the first place. I hadn't been on the water in about three weeks and I've been wanting to paddle this area for quite some time. My first attempt early in the season got rained out but so far this time the weather looked like it would hold out. I grew up in the Neponset area of Dorchester and spent many a day fishing, swimming and exploring its shores. It was sort of a paddle down memory lane.

<center><img src="http://kayaking.pidgeoncoop.com/images/windmill-ibew.jpg" border="1"></center>
My thought was that this would be a leisurely paddle and the reason for the early departure was because the sunrise added a little magic to my vision. Chip "Ahoy" Weier agreed to join me and so the plan was set. The weather report had said sun and wind for Saturday but the sun wasn't expected until later in the morning. So much for the magic of the sunrise.

The temperature outside was a brisk forty something but not too uncomfortable and there didn't seem to be much wind. At least it wasn't raining, I thought to myself. As I pulled out of the driveway a shooting star caught my eye and I realized the sky was clear. Maybe we'd see that sunrise after all.

I picked up Chip and we made our way North. The plan was to put in at the public launch area by the Boston Gas tank, a quick paddle under the Morrissey Blvd. bridge into the Dorchester Bay basin, then paddle our way around the coast towards Castle Island before making our way back and up the Neponset River towards Milton. When we reached the put in we noticed the wind was kicking up pretty good and the Electrical Workers Union windmill confirmed it. But the sun was just making it's presence on the horizon and we knew it was going to be a good day. The put in has ample parking but the launch area is a little rocky. I remember coming here as a teen with my girlfriend once to do a little parking but when we were ready to leave, my car was dead and we had to walk home. Good thing it wasn't a first date or it may have been my last.

We were on the water by 7:30 and made our way under the bridge. We paddled by the many boats still in the water at the Dorchester Yacht Club now aglow from the morning sun. Making a northern sweep we passed by Savin Hill and Malibu beaches where I swam many times as a kid. The wind was blowing at 10-15 knots and steady and the flags were straight out. Back in Dorchester Bay we headed towards the fort like structure at the tip of the UMass Campus. With less protection now the wind felt stronger and the swells were getting bigger. Both were coming from our port side. We rounded the UMass peninsula and set our sites on Castle Island. With the increasd fetch the wind and swells increased and were now close to 2 feet, with an occasional breaker. It was starting to remind me of the first downwind crossing during my recent Maine trip and the sea now had our full attention. Chip was wearing his dry suit but I was only wearing polypro and my paddling jacket so I had no desire to get wet today. Halfway there I checked in with Chip to see if he wanted to continue on or head towards the lee side of Thompson's Island. We ageed to forge on.

We reached Castle Island unscathed and paddled under the short bridge leading to the fishing pier to avoid the lines of the two men fishing there. We were headed directly into the strong wind now and pounding into the oncoming waves until we reached a point where we could see Boston and Charlestown clearly. A paddle into Boston would be nice but maybe another time. We turned around and headed back under the fish pier and flew across the bay to Thompson Island. Talk about a workout with intense concentration.

In the lee of Thompson we stopped for a short break for some refueling before continuing on towards Marina Bay and round three with Mother Nature. But fortunately the worst of it was behind us now as we reached Squantum Point at the mouth of the Neponset River. We stopped momentarily to check in with each other and to plan the continuation of our paddle. I think if either of us had said they'd had enough for one day the other would have easily gone along with it. But neither of us did so again we forged on.

We crossed over to the gas tank and headed up river. I saw the old fish pier that my father and I used to fish from until I was old enough to go by myself or with friends. That was back in the day when you could catch ten flounder in a couple of hours. Try that today. To the best of my knowledge that fish pier has been closed to the public since 911 due to its close proximity to the gas tank. We hugged the coast as much as possible passed the Port Norfolk Marina which is home Venezia, an upscale restaurant on the water surrounded by what looked to be a small community in desperate need of repair. However there did appear to be a few newer homes with nicely manicured lawns.

Next we passed Planet Fitness on the Quincy line. A woman on a treadmill waved to us as we paddled under the MBTA bridge and then immediately under the Quincy Bay Bridge. Further down we passed under Rt. 93 and finally the Granite Ave drawbridge that brings back another childhood fishing memories. When I was about nine or ten my dad was sick and had to go into the hospital. My uncle Bill told my mother he would look after me for the afternoon and took his son and me fishing. We caught about fifteen mackerel and brought them all home to my house and put them in the tub. Needless to say, my mother wasn't very happy when she got home (can you blame her) and I can't say that I remember ever fishing with my Uncle Bill again.

A white bearded man in a small boat came flying in our direction but quickly slowed down when he saw us. As he passed he inquired jokingly if we were both wearing our thermals. We replied with a smile and a shake of the head. As the river turns passed the Cedar Grove Cemetery, the resting place of a few of my relatives, it begins to look a little more like it's upper half. Golden marsh grass line the shores before being taken over by thickening groves of trees bearing their fall colors. I have to admit I was pretty disappointed with the tree color in this area. I was hoping to be dazzled with numerous splashes of golds, oranges and reds. Instead all we got were patchy masses of browns and burnt orange. Bummer.

We checked our watches and figured we had just enough time to make it back to the put in by noon and still have plenty of time left in the day to get other things done (if we could still move that is). Rather than continue the additional half mile or so to the end we decided to head back. The return trip went quickly and we didn't hit much wind resistance until we reached the gas tank but by then we were practically home. We packed up the boats and gear and were soon headed in a southerly direction.

This trip had a little of everything from challenging upwind and downwind runs with plenty of wind and waves to some lazy river paddling and a little foliage. We were treated to a beautiful sunrise, some reasonably mild temperatures and for me, lots of nostalgia. It was a good trip but both Chip and I can't remember "feeling" a paddle quite as much as we did this one. I'd like to do give it another go sometime in the future when the conditions are a little milder.

Chip's GPS gave the following details of our paddle:

    Total Distance: 15.5 miles
    Trip Time: 4 hr 20 min
    Max. Speed: 7.0 mph (most likely while surfing over to Thompson Islands south point)
    Moving Average: 3.9 mph


Here is our approximate trip route:

<center><img src="http://kayaking.pidgeoncoop.com/images/trip-track.jpg" border="1" ></center>
Last edited by Birdseye on Wed Oct 25, 2006 8:09 am, edited 4 times in total.
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getnoutside
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Post by getnoutside »

Great report, Nelson. Now, can you elaborate a bit on the "parking" :wink:
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Post by NorwayLady »

Fun read, Nelson......... I can imagine your mom's reaction when she found all the fish in the tub!

And yes, we want to hear more (everything!!!) about the parking.

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Post by Chip »

I'm sure he was just watching the submarine races. :lol:
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Post by Birdseye »

Chip wrote:I'm sure he was just watching the submarine races. :lol:


A a matter of fact we were. You wouldn't believe how impressed she was with my periscope :lol:
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Post by Todd »

Good report Nelson. 15 miles in 4.5 hours, no wonder you were "feeeling" it. It's good to go home every once in a while, and to have such great memories.

You did say
As a matter of fact we were. You wouldn't believe how impressed she was with my periscope :D


Didn't you mean to say, "As a matter of fact, you wouldn't believe how impressed she was with my periscope. :oops:
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Post by Chip »

Birdseye wrote:
Chip wrote:I'm sure he was just watching the submarine races. :lol:


A a matter of fact we were. You wouldn't believe how impressed she was with my periscope :lol:


Those tube socks we wore in the 70's really came in handy with the Calvin Klein jeans. :wink:
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Post by getnoutside »

Why would you require a periscope and tube socks just to park a car?
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Post by Birdseye »

I think this is getting out of control :?
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Post by Chip W »

Great paddle Nelson. It was nice to get out on the water again. Plenty of action to keep us on our toes. Even the slog into the wind (like paddling in wet cement) was amusing at times.
Until next time. Chip
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