July 4th 2014: A Day of Cycling in Central West Massachusetts

Today, I started off in Granby, where I passed by several painted dinosaurs in town.

Granby Country Grain

Florence Savings Bank,

68 Pleasant Street

RJ's Outdoor Power

Granby High School

MacDuffie School

Apparently the dinosaurs are part of a fundraising program, and the rainbow dinosaur was actually part of a controversy due to its gay connotations. Thankfully, the town decided that the dinosaur could stay after all.

Other places I passed by in town follow.

MacDuffie School

Chateau Harmony, 185 West State Street

From here, I headed into South Hadley.

Second Baptist Church

Easthampton Savings Bank

Our Savior's Lutheran Church

Leaping Well Reservoir, 438 Granby Road

Town Common,

College Street and Hadley Street

First Congregational Church

Village Commons

In Hadley,

Most Holy Redeemer Church,

120 Russell Street

I decided to get a Boston Cream Donut breakfast from Donut Man as I did not know if other restaurants were open this Independence Day.

Nothing special here.

From here, I headed to the junction of Whalley Street and Railroad Street to resume my conquest of the Norwottuck Rail Trail from yesterday.

There were fallen trees from the storm that happened late last night that partially blocked my path along the way,

but I wasted no time in reaching the Norwottuck Rail Trail Bridge,

where the views of the Connecticut River were as beautiful as the last time I was here.

After finally reaching the end of the trail at ~64 Woodmont Street, I proceeded to the Northampton Bikeway by crossing the railroad here, heading northward. At Look Memorial Park, I decided to stop for a bit and check it out.

This park is pretty big and serene, with various waterfalls and fountains.

an amphitheater for arts performances,

a play area for kids with a spray park,

bumper boats,

mini-golf,

a train going around the park,

and a really small zoo to boot.

I finally resumed my cycling northward after leaving the park,

Rock Art

Mill River Dam

heading past the northern end at the end of Grove Avenue to a walking path that eventually became too tough to cycle and I was forced to turn around.

Along the way back, a hungry me realized that the Miss Florence Diner was open, so I dropped by for a meal in the crowded diner, getting a Hot Chocolate and the Miss Flo's Talking Dixie (homemade southern corn muffin covered with grilled sausage and smothered in country style gravy).

The meal was delicious, the saltiness of the gravy going really well with the sweetness of the cornbread.

Continuing on my way, I passed by downtown Northampton

and the old Union Station

to the end of the bikeway at 170 Pleasant Street.

From here, it was straight on to the Manhan Rail Trail on the opposite side of Pleasant Street,

passing by the Mill River among other things

on into Easthampton,

where the trail branches 2 ways at the old Industrial Properties building at ~26 Ferry Street.

I decided to head northeastward first with nice views of the mountains to my right,

and the Oxbow in Northampton to my left.

After reaching the end at 978 Mount Tom Road, I headed back to the branch, stopping by the Lower Mill Pond at Ferry Street and Emerald Place for a bit.

Resuming my ride, I passed by Millside Park at 2 Ferry Street,

downtown Easthampton,

Old Fire Station, 84 Union Street

Easthampton Fire Department

and Rubber Thread Pond

on the way to the end in Southampton at 12 Coleman Road.

Heading back into Easthampton, I decided to stop by in town for lunch at Glory of India, which was pretty nicely decorated, but really empty today.

 I decided to get the Garlic Chicken and Shrimp (shrimp and chicken smothered in freshly blended garlic sauce, served with Basmati rice and naan) for my meal.

A complimentary Lentil soup was given to me, but it was a little sour for my liking.

The curry itself wasn't too bad, although the chicken was a little dry.

After lunch, even though it had already started to rain, I decided to walk around town a bit

Old Town Hall, 43 Main Street

Easthampton Congregational Church

Young World Childcare Center

Pulaski Park, Main Street and Pleasant Street

With that, I cycled all the way back in the cold rain from here to my car, which was still parked in Hadley.

From here, I went to visit the Amherst Farm Winery in Amherst for some wine tasting.

Not a fan of the wine here though, being a little too strong for me.

From here, I drove all the way to 49 Miles Road in Rutland to finish the rest of the Mass Central Rail Trail, this section passing through Oakham and ending at 1069 Worcester Road in Barre.

I passed by Thayer Pond in Rutland, which was frozen the last time I was here,

Muddy Pond

and power lines in Oakham,

and finally the Ware River area in Barre.

From here, I decided to take the road part of the way back to the car, riding beside the Ware River much of the way.

Finally back in my car after being totally drenched from the rain, I decided to head toward home, chancing upon the Worcester County Memorial Park in Paxton, which has several beautiful memorials strewn all over the cemetery.

For dinner, I decided to stop by Peking Garden at 618 Chandler Street in Worcester for Chinese takeout after realizing that Stake's Sports Pub in town does not even serve food at all.

I decided to get the Fried Sugar Donuts

and the Hot Spiced Beef,

which weren't too bad actually.

With that, a long wet day of cycling in the rain finally came to an end. Hope it does not rain this badly during my bike trip in New York.

July 3rd 2014: Cycling the Belchertown/Amherst/Hadley Section of the Norwottuck Rail Trail

Today after work, I decided to head west, passing by Knight's Pond on 232 Gold Street in Belchertown,

to start my bike conquest of the Norwottuck Rail Trail, starting at 345 Warren Wright Road in town. There were some okay views from the trail, in Amherst,

especially at the Rangeview checkpoint in Hadley,

but overall the ride was pretty uneventful. In Hadley, at the junction with East Street and Burke Way,

Water Tower, East Street near Burke Way

I decided to turn around for the day, as I did not want to be too late for dinner at Collegian Court in Chicopee, as it closes at 9. I was expecting this place to be a typical bar restaurant, but the dining area was actually pretty nice, complete with a fireplace.

I got the Mushroom Caps (stuffed with a mild sausage gorgonzola cheese blend) for appetizers, and the Polish Plate (Kielbasa, kapusta, 4 pierogi, 2 golumpki and rye bread) for my main dish. I was provided with pumpkin bread for starters,

and it was pretty good, considering I am not really a pumpkin fan.

The mushrooms weren't anything out of the ordinary,

although I have to say the Polish delicacies were pretty good,

especially the cabbage wrapped golumpki and the kielbasa.

From here, I decided to head to the Eastfield 16 Cinemark Theater in Springfield for a late night 3D screening of Transformers 4.

I have to say, this movie was simply the worst of the lot, with so many plot loopholes. I should have watched X-Men instead.

Looking forward to cycling all day tomorrow.

July 2nd 2014: Cycling the Rutland Section of the Mass Central Rail Trail

Today after work, I decided to cycle the Rutland portion of the Mass Central Rail Trail, starting at 2 East County Road and ending at the junction of Miles Road and Moulton Road.

I initially went up the wrong trail, ending at a radio tower with nowhere else to go.

After finding the actual trail a few feet southward, where my car was actually parked, it was an uphill climb to the actual trail, and then a straight trail ride all the way to the parking lot on Wachusett Street.

As it was about to rain, I decided not to cycle the road to the next part of the trail on 100 Glenwood Road, cycling back to my car instead. It was good that I did, becase it started raining cats and dogs at just after I started my car.

At Glenwood Road, I resolved to resume training, putting on a raincoat to practise cycling in wet weather. I proceeded to cycle in the rain, passing by partial views of Moulton Pond,

through the Pommogusett Tunnel,

to the end of this portion at Miles Road.

With the rain still coming down hard and fast, I decided to call it a day, my pants and shoes already drenching wet, cycling through the puddles that were already forming all the way back to my car.

After my drenching ride, I decided to get dinner from Still Four Corners, a seafood place at 224 Barre Paxton Road in town. It was good to be out of the rain, as I got a small plate of Whole Bellied Clams, a cup of Clam Chowder, and a cup of Caramel Pecan Yogurt Ice Cream.

Pretty good actually, especially after a taxing and wet ride.

July 1st 2014: Shear Madness in Boston

Tonight after work, I was to watch the show "Shear Madness", a live performance at the Charles Playhouse in Boston, which I went to some time ago to watch the Blue Man Group. Before that, I decided to used my coupon at Aurum Restaurant, a pretty hippie casual cafe in the Jamaica Plain area of town.

This place has pretty interesting pies and drinks, and I decided to get the Detox (Apple, kale, cucumber, celery, lemon juice, and ginger) for a drink.

The drink tasted pretty gardeny, but the lemon juice perfected the drink, and I drank it all even before my food came.

The Green Team Pie (Braised Swiss chard, kale and dandelion greens with a garlic cilantro aioli)

was way too full of vegetables for my liking,

but thankfully the Itzi Pie (Seasoned ground pork, thinly sliced green apple, fresh sage and cheddar), which came with a side of Rosemary Beet Chips,

was absolutely as scrumptious as it looked, especially the beet chips.

Overall, I would recommend giving this cool artsy place a try, if only for the interesting food.

From here, I headed over to the show. We were not allowed to take any pictures at any time, so the Playbill for the show is all I got to show for it.
I have to say I wasn't expecting it to be as good as it was. I won't spoil the fun, but the involvement of the audience in the play, and the multitude of improv jokes really impressed me, to say the least. 

Overall, I'm glad I decided to go into Boston for this performance tonight.