Kayaking on the Charles

First we have photos from going out to coffee with Clint, an old friend from southern Idaho who's going to grad school at Boston College!

Next we have our four hour adventure on the Charles River in a 2-person kayak! The Charles River is very beautiful, with 17 miles of bike path running alongside it and a wonderful view of the Boston skyline. Apparently it used to be the opposite of beautiful - when heavy rains fell, sewage would be directed into the river. It's said one could light a match above the water and start a fire from its fumes. Now its been cleaned up, but the brown water in the wakes of the boats and the fact that once a paddle is 12 inches in the water it disappears speak to the still present need for improvement. The hypodermic needle, used condom, and numerous empty floating pop bottles that we saw also contribute to that impression. Maybe we're just spoiled coming from the glacier lakes and beautiful rivers in the Northwest (and the immaculately paved bike paths) . . but there is still natural beauty here, it's just been well used.

After rowing to see the skyline, we met up with Nick's classmates on the way back, formed a six-person kayak and floated down the river in the summer sun.

Afterwards we ate at Il Panino in Harvard Square and finished off the night with a movie party at our place. The only downside to the night was that public transportation stops at 12:30 a.m., so at 12:15 a.m., in the middle of Wii Bowling we called it a night. ;)