Winter in New England is notoriously unpleasant. All the snow to shovel, where to put it, the neighbor who never shovels. The melting and refreezing on my walk, the pot holes, the black ice. The cold, the wind, and all of the other weather. So why do I put up with it year after year? Well, I guess its because in spite of all that, there is still a lot worth seeing if you do get outside. Granted you have to dress appropriately, and avoid getting splashed with greasy brine for the crime of walking down the sidewalk. That accomplished, one of my favorite winter walks is along the Front. That's what the Cambridge shore of the Charles River from the Broad Canal to the Museum of Science Was called when they built the sea wall and a wide stretch of parkland. Most of the parkland has been sold off to developers. The only bit left is "Front Park" next to the Esplanade Condominium.

This year one of the interesting things going on down here is the beginning of construction on the improvements required as part of the Cambridge Research Park development.What you will see now is the installation of the pilings that will support a boardwalk and canoe / kayak launch. The boating facility will be located at the terminus of the Broad Canal, and will connect with a boardwalk that will run the length of the canal and end at a new pocket park at First street. All of this will allegedly be complete by June...

Continuing on my stroll, having crossed Land Blvd. at great personal risk, I come to the cooling water outfall from the Mirant Kendall power plant. The heat and motion of this flow combined with the bubblers at the yacht club near Lechmere Canal keeps the Cambridge shore free of ice between the canals. This open water usually attracts interesting visitors. This year we are graced by the presence of both hooded and common mergansers, These handsome ducks are divers, and need the open water to access the tasty fish and invertebrates that they live on.

Moving on across the O’Brien Highway,again at risk of life and limb, I enter North Point Park. A garden of interesting sights all year, snow and starkness can highlight shape and color to give new looks to the same old things.