After several years absence, precipitated by hurricane winds and the difficulties Covid presented, I was finally able to land once again in the South Shore region of the Bay State. Little did I expect that heat and a banner year for bugs would make for a rather challenging situation. BUT there was excitement surrounding this trip: a chance to try out a new modular kayak. One that would herald my return to the ocean for perhaps the first time since 2015!
But before landing in that Land south of Boston, I had some sites to pick up in Sherborn. So dropping off the turnpike in the Framingham area, I wound to the south, arriving at Peter's Hill. Peter's was visited many years ago in a search for the Devil's Cartway. I expanded that search of the Hill, eventually climbing its southern end, coming across its summit area and then down the northern end. Although one site at the bottom - and one up above - provided a 'rift' (or possible 'cartway') in the hillside, neither one really grabbed me as being very pronounced. Other references I have for the area included the Indian Head Quarry, Devil's Oven, and a 'salt-peter' operation. Just over 2 milkes to the SSE of Peter's was some conservation land containing a nifty balance rock - or the Sphinx, as it is sometimes called. My time in Sherborn was finished with some hiking out to King Philip's Overlook above the Charles River. Here the bugs and I battled for supremacy and eventually I had to yield to their superior numbers. I jogged to the north to the area of the Pike (in fact going under it) to search for an Indian Head and Leaning Rock, the latter once visited by Henry David Thoreau. It was mostly a residential neighborhood with no one about. There is a local camp where I was told they could not accept visitors due to Covid (no word on the Indian Head and Leaning Rock). Then it was on to the Wompatuck State Park at Hingham.
The second day, after a long rainy night, took me farther south into explorations of Plymouth County. Included in these rambles were a fish weir and giant boulder, a cave report (nada here), a 'Devil's Cave' (split rock) along an old rail trail, site of a Colonial 'tea party' (tea burning), and searching out a second cave report. I kind of knew from additional information, this second reported cave might really be an old tomb. And it was! Brant Rock was nearby but upon getting over there, I found the tide well 'in' and masking most of the usual shoreline rocks. So I finished this day by going up the coast to Cohasset and looking over any possibility of access to Little Harbor. This has stymied me for many years and still seems to present an unlikely opportunity.
Started off day three by riding out to Hingham Harbor. I kinda knew the tide was far from high, and a quick check confirmed this would not be the best of times for kayak launching. So I rolled down the coast to do some photography work in Scituate. It had been years since seeing some of these rocks so out came the more modern cameras. First was Hatchet Rock followed the Nubian Head Rock at the harbor area. I stopped for a short spell to see if the local walking group might show as their previous day's hike was canceled by the rain. No luck here. So it was off to Doherty's Rock (along the way, I saw the massive Damon's Rock through a back yard) and coffee at the local java bar. By that time, Hingham Harbor had filled to a much higher level and it was time to roll out the touring kayak! A delightful four hours - or so - touring in the bay, visiting the islands, and finally going over to the east side of World's End. The kayak performed as expected and now a new chapter begins in my water exploring adventures!
On day number 4, the searing heat brought my trip to an eventual end. I went out on the Gulf, along the Scituate-Cohasset border, but being at mid tide, it did present it's problems. Also, the strength in my arms was drawn down from the long outing of the previous day. Even so, I did make it as far as Lion's Head (the likely Buck Rock in the Town's history) before my limp arms returned me to the put in. Unfortunately, Landing Rock, on a side stream, had to be left out on this trip. Bathed in sweat, and arms that could barely gather up the folding kayak, I returned to my campsite to break camp and brave the Boston area traffic home.
