SPRING Drive the Mohawk - 6/4

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03-15-2011, 05:47 AM

paivag

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SPRING Drive the Mohawk - 6/4

NEW DATE - June 4, 2011, sorry for the late response. Something came up and can't do this Saturday.

In Memoriam, Our Friends Dana Janigan, Bob "SSsnakeSS" and Bruce "TheToon".

WHAT:Lets drive the Mohawk Trail! Come on, its a curvy sixty plus mile drive.

WHEN:NEW DATE - June 4, 2011 @ 10:30 am

Saturday, May 21st the New England S2000 Owners (NES2KO) will host its Bi-Annual Mohawk meet and drive in Old Deerfield, Massachusetts. The routes consist of lightly-traveled rural roads in the Berkshires. If nothing else, this is a wonderfully scenic drive through parts of western Massachusetts you'd otherwise never see. This is a day drive, typically from 10am thru 5pm. For more information please contact George via PM or Email: paivag@hotmail.com.

Region: Berkshire Mountains in northwest Massachusetts
Length: Approximately 65 miles
Features: Gentle mountain scenery, historic towns, forested state parks
Side Activities: Hiking, fishing, swimming, skiing, camping, historical exploration

The trail began life as a Native American footpath across the Berkshires, used for trade, hunting, and social calling by five tribes, including the Pocumtuck and the Mohawk. After the colonization, the trail was successively widened and repaved, and its route altered to accommodate changing modes of transportation. All the stages of the region's economic life are represented: wild forests and mountains, colonial trading and farming villages, 19th century manufacturing towns, and the 20th century retrofitted rust belt. In 1914, at the dawn of the automobile age, the Mohawk Trail was declared a scenic route, the first such one.

Interested in the pdf version of the Mohawk Trail Region guide book? Please be patient if you have a 56K or less modem access - it could take some time. 2.3MB size

http://www.mohawktrail.com/MTAguide.pdf

Note: Need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the pdf file
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/main.html

Have you driven the Mohawk Trail!

What's spring's hottest show? The deciduous trees of Massachusetts! For S2000 freaks, we head southwest from Historic Deerfield down route 5 onto route 116 west, treating our eyes to 40 miles of spring delight, much of it within the Mohawk Trail Region. As a finale, the Summit featured 1,000-foot cliffs and, if you're lucky, peregrine falcons. Now beware of the Hairpin turn as it had its share of victims.

All New England folks will be meeting up in Historic Old Deerfield in the morning. There is a Fire House Parking Lot that is Free.

Same location as our usual take off point behind the Fire House.

#1. 10:00am Morning Destination
Point of Interest - Historic Old Deerfield
Address: Old Main Street (off Rts. 5 and 10)
City: Deerfield, MA 01342
Phone: (413) 774-5581
http://www.historic-deerfield.org/

During this morning meet we will give out name tags and have a Drivers meeting. In the Drivers Meeting we will ask that drive liability waivers be signed and review safety considerations. Lastly we will assign someone with a radio to be the sweeper. (The sweeper is the last car that lets the group leader know when everyone has made a light or a turn onto a new road.) Determine a radio frequency to set the GMRS/FRS family radios. (recomended channel 15, security code 1).

Anticipated 11:00 am Morning Drive off

The Hidden Hills of Western Massachusetts sums up our drive through route 116 after we left Historic Deerfield. The region consisted of many small towns. The "Hidden" aspect of the Hidden Hills got its reputation from the fact that there are NO interstate highway exits anywhere in the region. It started off rather straight gaining altitude then twists and turns, mostly down hill, to Rt 8a and turns more sweeping from route 8a to route 2.

#2. 12:00pm Food stop is Mohawk Trail State Forest
Point of Interest - Mohawk Trail State Forest
Address: 503 RT-2/MOHAWK TRL
City: Charlemont, MA 01339
Phone: (413) 339-5504

On route 2 we stop off at the Mohawk Trail State Forest. One of the most scenic woodland areas in Massachusetts, the state forest offered us a taste of real wilderness in a rustic setting. Our grills ensured that we didn�t go hungry as well.

Mohawk Trail State Forest is located in the northern part of western Massachusetts. There is a Carry In, Carry Out park garbage policy at the Mohawk State Forest Park. *note if you are asked for a donation at the park the recommended amount is $5.

From the east: Follow Rte. 2 west to the western end of Charlemont. The park is on the right, four miles west of Charlemont Center.

From the west: Rte. 2 east to Charlemont. The park will be on the left at the bottom of a steep grade.

Continuing up the trail, the next stop was the Whitcomb Summit, the top of the trail. From this elevation, 2,173 feet, one can see far into southern Vermont and New Hampshire. It is home to the Elk Memorial on the highest point of the Mohawk Trail.

A point of interest on the trail is the Hairpin Turn, where the trail rises sharply to the Western Summit (called Spirit Mountain by Native Americans). There is an observation point from which excellent views of mountainous portions of southern Vermont and northwestern Massachusetts can be seen including Mount Greylock, Mount Prospect and Mount Williams.

The breathtaking Western Summit and the Hairpin Turn are the entrance into North Adams. In the nineteenth century this city was a bustling hub of the textile and shoe industry.

#3. An Afternoon drive will consist on traveling on route 2 west to Williamstown, MA:
Point of Interest - Lot across Tunnel City Coffee‎
Address: 100 Spring St
City: Williamstown, MA 01267
Phone: (413) 458-5010‎

This location will offer a break for the participants to socialize and grab their favorite caffeinated drink at Tunnel City. Lot is rather large and can accommodate a number of cars.

#4. The drive home will consist of traveling back to Historic Old Deerfield's morning meeting location. We will exchange our goodbyes till the next big drive.

Our drive home consisted of driving back the same way we came. Ascending the Hoosac Mountain Range to the Hairpin Turn with its vistas of Mt. Greylock, the Green Mountains and the Hoosac Valley. The trail then rises sharply to the Western Summit. Travel back through the scenic town of Florida to the Whitcomb Summit. One last stop at the Mohawk Trail State Forest to say our good byes.

Be ready to open up the driving season this spring with this drive!

Summary
Driving distance: 100.5 miles
Trip duration: 6 hours, 45 minutes
Driving time: 2 hours, 45 minutes

Hotel Info if needed
A few folks recommended the Holiday Inn in North Adams and they would give group rates. If there are a number of you who want to stay at a hotel, we can look into this. Any volunteers???

http://www.holidayinnberkshires.com/
For Reservations Please Call Direct @ 1-(413)-663-6500
Arrival Rates: $84.99-$99.99 (USD)

Drive Checklist
Prep your car
0 Check fluids (Motor, Brake, Coolant, etc).
0 Tire Pressure to recommended 32 psi.
0 Torque Lug nuts to proper 79.6 lbf-ft.
0 Full Tank of Gas.

The Trip
0 2-way radio.
0 Garbage bag (grocery size) note Carry In, Carry Out park garbage policy.
0 Food and Drink Items.

Optional
0 Camera.
0 Car Wash.
0 Sunscreen.

Carry In, Carry Out park garbage policy at the Mohawk State Forest Park. *note if you are asked for a donation at the park the recommended amount is $5.

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03-15-2011, 05:48 AM

paivag

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Join Date: Dec 2002

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Volunteer Food Participation List
This is a volunteer food list. You are not required to bring any food to the event but it would help to bring some item below to share with the group.

Added Suggestion to bring breakfast snacks during the morning social hour while we wait for participants to arrive.

Code:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Indicate who can bring what:
Coffee................................(NES2KO)
Juice.................................()
Donuts................................(NES2KO)
Muffins...............................()

At noon folks should all be joined at the Mohawk Trail State Forest for some finger licking foods and social hour.

Code:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Indicate who can bring what:
25 hot dogs............................(Kenneth Noisewater)
25 hamburgers..........................(Kenta)
15 various sausage/patties.............()
15 grill chicken filet/cutlet..........(PJRider)
Famous Wickles.........................()
25 Hamburger Rolls.....................(SilverS2kF22C1) 
25 Hot Dog Rolls.......................(SilverS2kF22C1)
15 Hard Rolls..........................()
Propane grills.........................(Paivag, )
Pks Salads (4 oz. Per Person)
25 slices of cheese....................(catawalks)
15 prep. chicken wings.................()
1 Vegetable platters...................()
1 pk of Potato Salad...................()
1 pk of Macaroni Salad.................()
1 pk of Pasta Salad....................()
Cookies and Dessert....................(PJRider, Headchef)
2 bags of various chips + dip..........(Headchef)
60 cans of various soda
 - Coke/Pepsi 2-12pk...................()
 - Diet Coke/Pepsi 2-12pks.............(NH_s2k_Guy) 
 - Sprite/7up 12pk.....................()
 - Snapple Iced tea....................()
 - Mountain Dew 12pk...................()
48 bottles of spring water
 - 12 btls of water....................()
 - 12 btls of water....................(Red Stwokay)
 - 12 btls of water....................(Red Stwokay)
 - 12 btls of water....................(catawalks)
 - 12 btls of water....................()
1 Ketchup bottles......................(Scotty Dont)
1 Mustard bottles......................(Scotty Dont)
1 bottle of Mayonaise..................(Scotty Dont)
1 bottle of relish.....................(Scotty Dont)
2 Pk Paper Towels......................(RedSunS2K)
1 100pk Napkins........................(PJRider)
25 Paper plates........................(PJRider)
25 Pk Forks,Knifes,Spoons..............(PJRider)

There is a Carry In, Carry Out park garbage policy at the Mohawk State Forest Park. I ask that whatever you bring to the park please take back with you.

Confirmed Participants for June, 4th: