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February 03, 2007
Project 351: With Injuries!
A rare combination of decent weather, and no one in my apartment being sick, meant it was time to hit the road and make another dent in Project 351.
After an emergency stop in Sturbridge to refill my windshield-washer fluid (visibility was down to 6 inches), I cut through a corner of Connecticut and came back into Massachusetts in Monson. In the southwest corner of Monson is Peaked Mountain, which has great views from the top and today, had three inches of fresh powder. In my woefully-inadequate shoes, I nonetheless headed for the top.
Let me tell you: falling down in the snow is a lot easier on the way up than on the way down. Heading up, I only suffered a couple of stumbles; on the way down, I skidded into three honest-to-God falls on my ass (here's one landing site) and a few near-misses. Have I mentioned I hate snow? My left knee is still smarting.
Next stop was a thrilling picture of Hampden Town Hall, then up to Wilbraham. There, I stopped at the pleasant-looking Wilbraham & Monson Academy, where children were sledding and there's an impressive-looking building called Rich Hall. Wasn't that the guy who invented Sniglets?
I tried to get a good shot of Wilbraham's signature Friendly's Ice Cream sign, sculpted out of hedges and welcoming travelers on the Mas s Pike. I had a secondary approach all planned out thanks to Google Maps, but the view from the closest I could get was marred by trees. Bah. The hedges were all covered with snow, anyway.
Next stop was Palmer, with its historic Old Depot and a cool surprise. While I was parked downtown, I saw a sign for The Pease Collection of Historical Instruments. I couldn't tell from the outside if it was a shop or a museum, so I went in. It's a shop. I explained, briefly, Project 351 to the nice lady working there (she had looked a little surprised when I asked if I could take a few pictures), and wandered around her collection of antique musical instruments. If I had money, musical talent, or a pickup, I might have gotten something, but it was cool to check it out.
A swing through East Brookfield, to find any evidence of Podunk, and Auburn (I'm a sucker for Arby's), and back home to take a hot shower and get out of my soggy socks. I hate winter.
47 down, 304 to go!
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Comments
Just remember that old saying, only true artists suffer for their craft.
Posted by: Andy | February 4, 2007 01:40 PM
wait, wait. there was arbys?
and you didn't call me??
dude, not cool.
Posted by: kari | February 4, 2007 10:03 PM
