Initial Impressions 2.0 Blog #34: Road Trip 2024 Day 3

1. Day 3 kicked off still in Brattleboro, Vermont. The motel I stayed in wasn’t as good as Pemi Cabins in Lincoln, NH but then again I didn’t expect it. Plus with the price I paid, I got about what I expected.

2. I did get on the road early. Partially because I had a lot to see, but also because the motel didn’t really feel like a place to just hang out. No screened-in porch, no rushing river, and way too many people smoking cigarettes while rolling around on those motor scooters you see in grocery stores.

3. Before I left Vermont to re-enter Massachusetts I had to play tourist one more time. I stopped at the Vermont Maple Museum. I needed to buy some authentic maple syrup for a few people. It was such a fun store. Loads of cool items, foods, stuffed toys, ceramics, and more, were all over the place. The owners were so nice as well. In the end, I was lucky to leave only spending what I did, a few more minutes and I might have maxed out my credit card again.

Vermont Maple Museum

4. One thing I didn’t get used to throughout the vast majority of the 3-day trip was the sheer amount of high-grade hills and sharp curves on the roads I traveled. Now granted I think if I had chosen to simply follow the highways I’d have avoided much of them, but that’s not the authentic Northern New England experience I wanted. My car wasn’t always happy, but I was.

5. At one point when driving in this sort of semi-circle leading me west in Vermont to catch the Mohawk Trail in North Adams, Massachusetts I was on such a desolate stretch of road that I slowed my car down to a crawl, pulled out my camera, and recorded a video while driving. Smart? Maybe not. It was definitely a good way to capture what much of my travels were like though.

6. So I lied. I ended up playing tourist again mere minutes after returning to Massachusetts. I stopped at a Big Y supermarket in North Adams. The nearest one to me is an hour away so I don’t visit them too often. How did I play tourist? By buying an insulated bag with the Big Y logo on it. I have yet to use it as of this writing.

Big Y? Because Y not?

7. It took all of my restraint not to buy a container of riblets from the hot buffet lunch. I love ribs. However, eating a boatload of ribs would likely have meant that I’d have no desire to visit any of the places on my itinerary. More likely would have been me pulling over somewhere along the Mohawk Trail to take a nap.

8. For those unfamiliar the Mohawk Trail is 63 miles of beautiful scenery throughout much of Western and Central Massachusetts. Here is a downloadable guide from the official Mohawk Trail website.

9. A favorite attraction on the Mohawk Trail is the Hairpin Turn in North Adams. The curve is so sharp it requires vehicles to turn nearly 180 degrees and head up a steep incline. The speed limit is 15mph. On this curve is the precariously placed Golden Eagle Restaurant. There are also several parking areas to look at the incredible views of the Berkshires.

The famed Hairpin Turn in North Adams

10. On my Bucket List of places to visit for years has been the Hoosac Tunnel. Why? Because it’s purportedly one of, if not the most, haunted places in Massachusetts. So call it a morbid Bucket List. There are several cemeteries and abandoned old buildings on that list as well.

11. In short the Hoosac Tunnel is a nearly 5-mile long railroad tunnel built through the Hoosac Mountain between the towns of North Adams and Florida. It took more than 20 years to construct and was opened in 1875. In all at least 135 people died in the construction of the tunnel with it earning the nickname the ‘Bloody Pit.’ Now you see why I wanted to visit?

The east portal of the Hoosac Tunnel.

12. The first thing I noticed is how out of the way the tunnel is. You have to traverse down a steep and winding decline from the Mohawk Trail to the tunnel’s east portal. By the time you’re in the gravel parking area, your phone is far out of service. That’s what you sign up for though when you go.

13. The second thing I noticed is how many more people frequent this area than I expected. No, it wasn’t hundreds, but in the time I was there, I counted at least 10 other people. Mostly they were either walking dogs or taking pictures of the Hoosac Tunnel entrance.

14. A quick heads up. The Hoosac Tunnel is still an active railway. There is even a No Trespassing sign where you would park. I don’t know how strict the police are in that area, but just be aware that you are technically not supposed to be there. Oh, and that trains do travel through the tunnel.

15. Note to Self: When planning to visit and go inside a deep, dark railroad tunnel, maybe bring a flashlight. I ventured a little over 1,000 feet into the Hoosac Tunnel with only my iPhone flashlight, otherwise known as no flashlight. I did bring my camera tripod and remote shutter so I was half-prepared.

Inside the creepy Hoosac Tunnel.

16. It had begun raining when I got to the Hoosac Tunnel and the water was dripping inside the tunnel in the dark. Needless to say when hearing random noises inside a haunted tunnel, even if you know it’s water, it will still tighten your chest a bit. If I had a flashlight maybe I’d have gone further but who knows.

17. The highlight inside the tunnel was trying to take long exposure images. I used my phone light in front of the camera and the remote shutter to get the lens to focus. Then I’d press and hold the shutter until satisfied with the length of the exposure. Two things. First I took a long exposure shot but like a fool, I was too far out in front of the camera. In other words, when I checked my photos later what I thought was a pretty obvious ghost was just my stupid face. Second, the water dripping inside the tunnel affected my remote shutter. At one point I couldn’t turn it off and again I briefly thought it was spirits messing with my camera. That was until I felt the water on the camera. That ended my time inside the Hoosac Tunnel.

18. A spot I like to stop at along the Mohawk Trail is a beautifully scenic S-curve that sits on the border of Savoy and Florida, Massachusetts. There’s a small place to park on a nearby side road. Part of me loves the scenery, especially in fall, but also I am one who didn’t know there was a Florida, Massachusetts until maybe 10 years ago. I am still a child who is easy to amuse.

The S-curve between Savoy and Florida, MA

19. I decided to give myself a challenge on Day 3 of this trip. Once I got to North Adams and began the Mohawk Trail I’d no longer use my GPS for directions. Sure I’d have the map open but I’d have to use my own sense of direction to get home. It was like the old days when I’d do road trips and print out directions from MapQuest. How did I do? We’ll get deeper into that later.

20. It would take a long time to fully reveal all of the beautiful sites and fun attractions that lay along the Mohawk Trail. Download the guide above for more details. However, what’s just as much fun is kind of going off the beaten path and finding places that weren’t on your itinerary.

21. I stopped to get gas using my Fuel Rewards app which was a part of rejoining AAA. This was in Greenfield, MA. I saved 30 cents per gallon at Shell which was already a bonus. Before I got back on the road again I looked at the map to see if there was anything around. It was then that I spotted the Poet’s Seat Tower. After seeing one image online I knew I had to go.

22. Poet’s Seat Tower is a 4-floor stone observation tower with mind-blowing views of Greenfield and much of the surrounding Pioneer Valley. It is on Mountain Road and you might at times have to park and walk out to it, but on this day I drove right up to the tower. There were some younger people there hanging out but not bothering anyone despite saying more swears in a minute than I do in a week.

Inside Greenfield's Poet's Seat Tower.

23. The only downside to my visit to Poet’s Seat Tower was climbing the stairs to the 2^nd floor and having a tiny yip-yip dog barking like crazy as soon as my head was visible. I audibly yelled and the couple apologized saying their dog thought they owned the tower. I said it was fine but part of me wanted to play Frisbee golf with that dog.

24. After Poet’s Seat Tower I focused on making my way back to Cape Cod without using GPS. It’s funny because I had other places along the Mohawk Trail I could have stopped at but I guess at some point during a road trip you just know that the adventure is over and it’s time to go home. I don’t know if that happens to anyone else or if it’s just me.

25. I won’t lie, driving from North Adams to Cape Cod without GPS wasn’t always easy. I knew I had to head southeast and used the road signs to kind of head in that direction. That being said I likely spent at least an hour in a sort of spiderweb pattern. I would go in a circle but with each loop, I’d get a little further out.

26. Eventually I got antsy and decided to jump on the highway once I got close to Marlboro. This is about an hour and a half from home, and I-495 starts there. So I broke my vow of not taking the highway, but I still didn’t use the GPS for directions so it was a half-win.

27. On Day 3 of the road trip I drove just over 300 miles bringing my total for the trip to just under 800 miles. My Toyota I’ve had for 10 years, which has 148K miles and has been paid off for 4 years, still gets the job done.

28. This was an amazing road trip filled with so many great memories and sights. It rekindled my love of travel and the content creation that comes from it. I already have plans for another overnight trip in October but don’t want to spoil it just in case plans change.

Read About Road Trip 2024 Day One

Read About Road Trip 2024 Day Two

Initial Impressions 2.0 Blog #33: Road Trip 2024 Day 2

1. Day 2 of the road trip began with a chilly but beautiful morning sitting on the screened-in porch at the Pemi Cabins in Lincoln, New Hampshire. Despite going to bed relatively late I was still up at 6am to enjoy as much of my time there as I could. I did not want to leave but I had a ton to see.

2. This included finally walking down to the river behind the cabins. I got some photos and videos but also noticed to my right what looked like a bridge over the river. It turns out it was a metal grating bridge leading down a dirt road. The bridge had a chain across the entrance so no vehicles could drive across, but I easily stepped over it to get some cool photos of the Pemigewasset River.

3. Disappointment rained down on me as I was getting set to venture out for breakfast. I wanted to revisit Flapjacks which was a 5-minute drive away. Too bad they were closed on that morning. Oh well, so I picked a popular diner that was actually a shorter drive. This was a fine replacement. Until I got there and the lot was full, cars were lined up across the street, and people were lined up out the door. So yes, the story of it being popular was true. I ended up going to White Mountain Bagel very close by. I had an excellent sausage, egg, and cheese on a wheat bagel. So my 3^rd option was still a good choice.

A worthwhile breakfast spot in Lincoln

4. I packed up my stuff and left the Pemi Cabins, but not before chatting briefly with another woman from Massachusetts. I say briefly because she seemed to be caught off guard that I was being friendly. Sorry, we’re from the same state and I just wanted to say hi. I wasn’t looking to steal your luggage.

5. Next up I drove out on the Kancamagus Highway. This is one of the most scenic routes in all of New England. In short, it’s a 34.5-mile stretch of road running between Lincoln and North Conway. It would take a few days to see all of the sites along that road.

6. Be prepared though. Driving The Kanc means little to no cell service, inclines and declines on the road sometimes at 9% grade, and also no gas, no stores.

7. I drove about halfway out to Sabbaday Falls. I figured I’d start at the furthest point I wanted to visit and work my way back. This is a short hike and a beautiful waterfall. It’s easy enough for people of almost any age. One thing I did do was not pay the parking fee which I saw when coming back. Hey, I was there for not even 20 minutes and the lot had maybe 5 cars in it so I didn’t steal a paying customer's spot.

Sabbaday Falls

8. My car is creeping up toward 150K miles. It has been paid off for 4 years and still runs great. That being said, when driving up and down the steep grades of the road on The Kanc I did not risk it, I drove slowly just in case my car decided today was the day it was going to mess with me.

9. The driving slowly and carefully paid off. When heading back from Sabbaday Falls toward Kancamagus Pass (the highest point on the road) I spotted a motorcyclist around a corner with their arms up asking me to stop. Up ahead another biker was on their back in the road. I’m not sure if they got hit or fell off on their own. Luckily I had plenty of time to stop. When I got to Kancamagus Pass I watched 2 police cruisers and a fire truck heading toward the accident. Hopefully, the biker was alright.

10. The wailing of the police sirens was replaced by the wailing of a screaming child in a van that pulled into the Kancamagus Pass parking lot a few minutes after me. I was surprised I didn’t see a herd of moose or bears running away from the area because of the noise. They didn’t stay too long and soon it was perfect scenery and weather.

The view at Kancamagus Pass, minus the screaming child.

11. Parking fees be damned Part 2. My last stop along The Kanc was Lincoln Woods Trailhead. I only wanted a few quick photos of the Pemigewasset River and a bridge going over it. My plan? As opposed to plopping down $$$? Park as close to the road as possible, take a side trail instead of the main entrance and get my photos. I did succeed but I will say that there was a park ranger standing on the bridge I wanted photos of. I had to sneak onto the bridge and get my photos while also looking inconspicuous. Done and done.

12. Next up was crossing from New Hampshire into Vermont for my first extended time in the state since 2000. This was the first time on my trip that I checked ‘avoid highways’ on my GPS so I could really see the countryside.

13. It was a total drive of 220 miles from Lincoln, NH down to Brattleboro, VT. I spent that entire time on more scenic routes. However, I think I’ve gone soft when it comes to disregarding my safety for photos. Rather than pulling off the road or screeching to a halt when I saw something I should shoot I ended up passing right by. This was mainly because there would either be a few cars close behind me, or there would be nowhere feasible to park. That wouldn’t have stopped me in the past, but here we are.

14. A few places that stood out in my backroads travel included a few historical sites in the small town of Weathersfield. Their population is just over 2,800(2020), making it 1/10th the size of Yarmouth where I live, and Yarmouth is a small town.

Weathersfield, VT is a very small town.

15. I really enjoyed the solitude of some of the places I stopped on this road trip. However, I didn’t enjoy it when it came time to post updates to social media and my phone would be on SOS mode.

16. I also stopped at the Dummerston Center Cemetery in the town of Dummerston, VT. This spot is home to a famous New England urban legend, the Dummerston Vine. In short, it is a story of several members of the Spaulding Family dying young. These deaths coincided with an ominous vine crossing over the grave of the last family member to die. Each time the vine crossed a Spaulding grave another member of the family would die.

17. The only other time I spent any extended time in Vermont was in 2000 when I went camping with a few friends in Jamaica State Park. On this trip, I visited a few places from back then. First was the Dam Diner in Townshend. Back in 2000, they had amazing bison burgers. This time they were closed meaning they could really be called the damn diner. Second I went back to Jamaica State Park. However, by this time I was hungry and a bit punchy from driving so much. I had no desire to go hiking or to even pay the fee to get in. A photo of me in front of the sign was good enough.

My reaction to the Dam Diner being closed.

18. The motel I stayed at in Brattleboro was definitely not as nice as Pemi Cabins, but for the price it was alright. That being said there were a few too many weird people sitting outside of their motel rooms. I noticed them because I immediately left after dropping off my stuff.

19. Where did I venture to? Hannaford first because of course. It was also right across the street so why not double my fun from the previous night? The intersection had talking signals which were neat and told me when I could walk. This Hannaford also had the big 16-ounce 5-Hour Energy. I’d only seen them in one other store and not for a year. I naturally grabbed a few.

20. Speaking of drinks I visited a cool nearby dispensary as well. I saw a billboard for a different dispensary on my way to Brattleboro which made me wonder if there was one near my hotel. Oh, there was. They are named Cannabis Maximus and were maybe ½ mile away. The potency allowed in their products is higher than in Massachusetts. That was another bonus.

21. Eating well was not on the menu. Well, I should say eating healthy. I went to Brattleboro House of Pizza. They call themselves BHOP which is funny because on Cape Cod one of my favorite pizza/sub places is Dennisport House of Pizza which we call DHOP. I ordered online and literally walked in and out with my meatball sub. Some of the people waiting to order seemed confused by how I got my stuff before them but I didn’t have time to explain the Internet.

The scent of meatball sub filled my car while taking this photo.

22. Besides a large amount of panhandlers I really enjoyed driving around Brattleboro. There was a couple in front of a convenience store I stopped at after BHOP. I didn’t have to pretend I didn’t see them since I was legit so excited that they had pepperoni pizza flavored Potato Skins chips. I’d never had them so this night was becoming more and more legendary.

23. After eating I surprisingly had the energy left to go find a spot to shoot the sunset. It was also partially guilt since I didn’t know when the next time is I’ll visit Vermont. Of course, being a sunset expert I found a perfect location to venture out to.

24. It ended up being an abandoned railroad bridge. How did I know it was abandoned? It had grass and flowers growing out of it. The view was excellent as when you’re in northern New England you typically have to shoot the sunset a while before the sun goes down since most places are hilly, or mountain-y. To my surprise, a cop saw me pull into a rocky parking area next to an electrical generator but didn’t come back to tell me to leave.

25. On that bridge I did take my life in my hands a few times when trying to get as close to the edge of the bridge to get certain vantage points for the sunset. In addition to grass and flowers, the bridge has loads of small loose stones. That meant that one false move and I’d be launched over the side. I highly doubt the couple fishing down below would dive in to save me either, more than likely they’d have snagged my camera and car keys.

Sunset from the abandoned railroad bridge.

26. I ended up with more time to spare before sunset so I drove a little further south to the Brattleboro Bridge. Why was this my choice? Because the bridge that’s a part of Rt. 119 crosses the Connecticut River and includes the border of Vermont and New Hampshire. Yes, that’s right, I was shooting the sunset in 2 states at once. It was very exciting. Well, except for the part where the bridge would rattle violently when more than 3 cars would be on it at once.

27. Day 2 of the road trip was filled with scenery, lots of hills, and tons of fun. My plan for Day 3 was another early morning, maybe a big breakfast, and crossing a spot off of my Bucket List.

Read About Road Trip 2024 Day One

In My Footsteps Podcast Episode 63: The Paddock of Hyannis; Old School Telephone Problems; Movies That Remind Me of My Sisters; Brattleboro VT