The Windmill Posts

Another late-ish start to the day, but it was a short one. I added a few stops last night, thanks to Atlas Obscura. No issues, no major complaints about the drive except for the usual slow drivers. And more of the right lane avoidance. Three lanes, keep right except to pass. That should result in trucks on the right, sleepy drivers in the middle, passers on the left. But no, nobody wants to be in the far right lane. Weird.

Not sure if I mentioned this yesterday, but it is now a roadtrip. Before it was a quest, a hero’s journey, or my favorite from the Native Americans – Crying for a dream. But now it is a journey home, over roads familiar, through environments like those I am from. No pondering the mountains in the distance or being constantly amazed by the ocean. Now it’s trees and this local regions gas station flavor. It’s ok, I’m good at road trips. I’ve broken the long days up into multi hour segments separated by what I am now calling stopportunities. I think it’ll catch on.

Titanic Museum

I was going to go to the Titanic Museum, or at least do a drive by, but after too much time on a very stoppy state highway, I bailed. I don’t know that I was that excited about it anyway, as the description even smelled dusty, and I wasn’t ready to spend time shuffling around a museum with the one volunteer watching me, waiting to pounce the moment I had a question.

Stockbridge and Alice’s Restaurant

I was interested in this one. The Arlo Guthrie song “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree” is an old favorite. It’s just a great yarn and then there’s an infrequent chorus everyone (else) can sing along to. So when Atlas Obscura let me know the original restaurant site was on my route — I was in! It’s not the original restaurant, but it’s on the original site. And they play it up. There’s a restaurant there, but it’s not Alice’s. In fact, it belongs to nobody. It’s permanently closed. After finding a parking spot in the charming little village of Stockbridge, then wandering around until I found a sign pointing down an alley, I came upon the restaurant. Which wasn’t anymore. Looked like a nice place when it was there. Just a locked door now.

Stockbridge is like walking onto the set of a Hallmark Christmas Love Story Made For TV Movie. Bright white snow, probably about 6 inches of it. Sidewalks and streets wet but cleared, no ice. The buildings are quaint old wooden classics, the main street angle parking. There were people walking in their heavy winter coats walking their dogs. Cheerfully crossing the street or looking in a shop window. Of course they all said hi to each other. It was a nightmare. I’ll admit I haven’t gotten into the Christmas or winter mood yet, but it’ll happen over the next week.

Arrowhead

I lied. Moby Dick wasn’t written in New Bedford. It may as well have been, and it was indeed set there. But the actual writing of it happened at a place called Arrowhead in Pittsfield Massachusetts. Another Obscura find, I knew I needed to see it. I also knew it was going to be closed, but that was okay. Just seeing it and hearing the woods around it was enough. I could imagine Herman coming out the side door to tend to the animals (it was a farm) before going back in and continuing to write the Great American (whaling) Novel.

Had it been open, I would have looked at every little thing, map, chair and whatever else they had for me. And if there was a gift shop, it would have ended with a loud noise and a heavy bag. The Moby Dick shoestring set, the Captain Ahab bath toys, and of course the Herman and Elizabeth salt and pepper shakers. Can’t find any more Meville fun on the way home, but I’ve had plenty so far.

Deets

• License Plates: collection complete
• States: MA, RI, MA, NY
• Departed: 8:59 am EST, 38 degrees
• Original ETA 1:38 pm EST
• Arrival: 2:30 pm EST
• Warmest/Coldest: Death Valley 90°, Wallace ID 22°
• Weather: Bright, cold
• Music:
  • Boston – Boston
  • Golden Earring – Greatest Hits
  • Huey Lewis – Greatest Hits
  • TOTO – Essential TOTO
  • David Bowie – Let’s Dance
  • David Bowie – Tonight

Observations

• Hit 9,000 miles!
• Ear pop!
• Sign: 1290 Feet, Higest elevation on I-90 east of South Dakota
• It’s all downhill from here!
• Light snow on ground, then by Stockbridge around 6 inches of heavy snow on the ground, streets and sidewalks completely cleared.
• So many Subaru vehicles here!
• Sign: Climbing lane ahead. (instead of passing lane)
• Sign: Abode of the Message – a Sufi center for study and worship

Pictures