JULY 25 BIKING THE BERKSHIRES

Today's ride was billed as one of the 3 toughest climb days of the trip. That would put it in the company of Donner Pass in the Sierras and Monarch Pass in the Rockies. I DON'T THINK SO. In fact, I'd like to do this ride AGAIN someday. It had everything: climbs, great downhill runs, beautiful mountain scenery, prim and proper New England towns, good roads, and interesting sight seeing from a bicycle seat. We even got to watch motor cycles racing by us through these mountain curves, as we slowly pedaled upward.

Entering Massachusetts

It was a 75 mile trip from Troy, NY to Greenfield, Mass with 5260 feet of elevation gain consisting mainly of 4 major climbs. These climbs in the Berkshire Mountains were steep, but shorter in duration than either Donner or Monarch. This was also day #50 of our trip, so we are much stronger and more fit. We were not at the high elevation from sea level that we experienced in the West, so breathing was less difficult today. We have also gained the confidence and experience needed to climb successfully. The combination of all these factors made today's route challenging, but not intimidating.

Atop the Berkshires

The New England towns we rode through were indeed a highlight. Grafton was charming, and Williamstown, home to the Williams College campus, looks like it was fabricated by central casting for "the ideal small Eastern college town." We rode through North Adams (less ideal), had lunch in Charlemont while the towns folk celebrated "Yankee Days," and then rode parallel to the Deerfield River into Shelburne Falls. Joe and Mason took the opportunity to go for a swim at the glacial potholes there (I don't know why). As we crossed over the bridge we could see the beautiful "Bridge of Flowers." It was the old bridge that was scheduled to be torn down until the town ladies came up with the plan to make it into the beautiful flowered catwalk that it is today.

Williams College Campus

Today's ride from Troy was on Route 2 all the way into Greenfield's "rustic" (ie. nearing condemned statis) Candlelight Motor Inn. My friends, the Clarks from Naples and nearby Longmeadow, Mass picked me up--at the "Inn"--for a dinner out and an enjoyable evening.

Overlooking North Adams, MA

Tomorrow evening AbB is hosting a party for US, and Tuesday evening we are hosting a party for US. I love a party!

         - Bill

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