Friday, July 24, 2009

The Mohawk Trail (or what we ate in one day on a family adventure)

So we went on a family adventure,and this time our famous tours are going to take you to another part of our wonderful state. Now of course we have Boston and all of the beautiful ocean towns and coasts and then we have the middle of the state and the mountains!!! This is called the Berkshires and there is a stretch of road called the Mohawk trail.Why is it called that? Because it really used to be a trail used by the Mohawks!!! You can make the picture bigger to see it better but this is part of the Mohawk trail. And it has the most beautiful mountains and quaint towns and fun things to do and see(we love our state...)







So for our trip we were going to do the trail and stop at one of our favorite towns Shelburne Falls.......It is a wonderful little town that is filled with artisans and old hippies and PL1+2 LOVE going there...( they kind of fit right in if ya know what I mean....)





Archie was really excited and got into the car first( I was still getting all of my things together..I wasn't sure if I should bring a blender or not but Asta and Lacie always say you can never go wrong ....)


PL2 packed a little bag for us with cold water( because you know they don't have water in other parts of the state..geesh,and treats and stuff.....)



This picture doesn't do the mountains justice......



It truly is spectacular out there....




Now first we stopped at this little place and we all decided to have lunch.....




They had little picnic tables outside so we could eat there too.......now Archie was REALLY excited....


While we were waiting we had a little drink(of Berkshire water.....)








There were a lot of old signs around like this hamburger one for 29 cents!!!!



Well here is my brother waiting for the food..too bad it is BEHIND him.......on the table....




We decided we would be really really good and quiet and wait under the table...WHAT A JACKPOT WE GOT!!! a piece of chicken and some pita bread but GET THIS........FRENCH FRIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We see everybody else here get french fries and now WE DID!!!!!!!!.We were truly in heaven..


So on we went....down the Mohawk trail... and we saw this.... a wire buffalo!!!



and then we saw this...........talk about Archie being in heaven......




He has decided he would like to have a tee pee in our front yard........(I may look like I am not paying attention but PL2 told me there are bears up here.....you can never be too sure so I am checking it out...)

Archie is taking measurements here...he said he could get a good poker game going in one of these tee pees...and he thinks he could get a little kitchenette in there.....




Of course no trip down the trail would be complete without going into one of these little "gift" shops.... They are run by the Indians...


PL1 likes to get moccasins and PL2 stocks up on mugs for work......More beautiful hills......




Another "gift" store........






beautiful farms...and maple trees farms that make maple syrup.......



Now we went especially to one of the towns on the trail ,Charlemont, to see this..It is a statue of a Mohawk looking across the Deerfield river with uplifted arms in supplication of the great spirit..I am paying my respects here.......



Here it is from far away.....




And close up...





Archie came over to pay his respect as well.....


See that little dot far away? That is our car! This area is so quiet and peaceful.. there are not a lot of cars.. and noise and people..and it is like going back into time..sometimes when you live in the city you need to come to a place like this to regroup.....


After that we were off to Shelburne Falls!! This town is loaded with artists....textile studios,leather making, pottery,gilded wooden bowls,a quilt studio and a glass blower1 There is also a place where they make candles and there are lots of painters....Everyone is so nice!Here is a store that has the same name as one of PL1+2's old dogs!!



Although he is trying to stop watching so many cooking shows(or so he says) Archie was looking for some good cook books here....

Isn't this place great!!!




The town is divided by this bridge across the river..Actually right behind here is an old Salmon falls and glacier where the Indians used to get salmon( I can't look up because I think I am developing a little fear of heights...)


See this bridge? It is all made up of flowers!!! all the way across......



Of course then we saw this sign.....



I am pretending to be an artist.....



THEN GUESS WHAT! YOU CAN BELIEVE IT!! We stopped to get.....ICE CREAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!


And they put a GIGANTIC DOG COOKIE IN IT AS WELL!!!!!!!


PL2 had to help me hold the cup..if you are wondering where my brother is he is at another table...we tend to get a little ahmmm how shall I say territorial about our ice cream( not at all civilized like Maggie and Mitch...)

Isn't this nice? And they don't even have meters in the parking lot!


We just can not get over it!



This is such a great day!!!!


Quaint book store sign....


We found this great store.



I can't believe the cute stuff they have....



Archie liked this train set..........



So clever!

On the way back we go over this really really really high bridge..



with a spectacular view of the river..PL1 and Archie and I told PL2 to go ahead and take a picture...we would stay in the car........



She said she was ok until a truck went over the bridge and then she thought she might have to crawl back to the car but she did ok...this doesn't really show how really really really high it was......



So we rolled down the windows and I let the wind blow my ears..... Archie is looking at all the license plates and marking them off on a little card.....



A day filled with nature and chicken and good people and a little bread and beautiful scenery and french fries and wonderfull smells and cookies and ice cream...Life is good .......don't tell anyone but Archie had a little tummy ache today......

25 comments:

Joe Stains said...

I don't think that days get much more perfect than that. Any day that starts with french fries and ends with ice cream has to be super. Mom misses little towns and sites like that from when she lived back in PA. BUT we sure have lots of native americans out here, and their casinos! talk about some good poker games ;)

Asta said...

Awchie and Agatha

What a twip!
What a day!
That Mohawk twail is gowgeous. I can almost smell the fwesh aiw. I would gladly pay homage to that big Indian. Finally, you got to taste fwench fwies..awen't they gweat?
and especially when followed by ice cweam (although pwobably not a good combo fow those wif delicate tummies like sweet Awchie)
I'm so happy you had such a gweat mini-vacation.
Thanks fow standing up and puttong youw paws on youw heawts fow the tewwiew anthem (let's misbehave)
smoochie kisses
ASTA
pee ess, when awe you coming to NY, I miss you

Stanislaw said...

Six years in Boston and my folks NEVER heard of this magical french-fry feasting place! And it's totally their kind of thing (and our thing, for that matter). We all LOVE to take trips through the greenery. We are so jealous!

So glad you had a feasting-great time!

Baby Rocket Dog and Hootie said...

Wowie that looked like such a great road trip! Cool views.AND the food you got to eat...chickie,fries and ice cream!! What fabulous folks you must have. Our people took us to a hippie-type place in Canada too. Must be in the air or somethin'.
Thanks for the travelogue.
XxOo, BabyRocketDog and Hootie

Jake of Florida said...

All we can say is thank you for that wonderful tour -- we would so love to accompany you one day -- everything is right up our alley. Old hippies -- that's Mom for sure -- and Dogdad, well he's a bit (a lot ) midwest, but he learns fast.

And we just are so glad you got ice cream at the end.

Wirey love,

Jake and Just Harry

Rocky Creek Scotties and Rocky Creek Ramblings said...

What a wonderful trip - beautiful scenery, french fries and ice cream!!

XOXO
Lilly, Piper,Carrleigh and Java

Rocky Creek Scotties and Rocky Creek Ramblings said...

What a wonderful trip - beautiful scenery, french fries and ice cream!!

XOXO
Lilly, Piper,Carrleigh and Java

Rhonda said...

hey guys, the bed came from Drs Foster and Smith. Mom said she practically had to take out a loan to get it. Whatever, WE ARE SO WORTH IT!!! lol!!

Lorenza said...

Hi, Agatha and Archie!
You all had a pawesome day! The Mohawk Trail is great! And you had yummy food too, with ice cream included!
Sorry Archie had a tummy problem! I hope he feels better now!
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza

TwoSpecialWires said...

Archie and Agatha! What a wonderful day! What a terrierific tour! We loved seeing all the places you visited and could almost taste all the food you enjoyed! That view from the high high bridge was beautiful, and we could almost feel the bridge shake as the truck zoomed by. We're glad you were still in the car - hopefully with the windows rolled up!

We're starting a list of places we want to visit. Family adventures are the best ... and one along the Mohawk Trail seems like a perfect spot to visit.

Thanks for sharing it,
Jake and Fergi

Faya said...

Such beautiful place to visit ! I still wonder why is Auntie Pascale in Florida with 1000000000000 of visitors.... The Man loves everything about Indians...Thank you for the great pictures.
Kisses, Faya

Niamh said...

Another great tour A&A! You showed us beautiful scenery, nice towns and all the good food spots.

Ambrose is tall enough to reach halfway across the kitchen counters. He is also working on stealing things that are in the sink. You are very welcome to borrow him if he can help you with your plans.

Your friend,
Niamh

Molly the Airedale said...

Wow! You guys hit the jackpot! French fries, ice cream and cookies all in the same day and a fabulous adventure to boot!
Mom and dad have traveled on the Mohawk Trail before and they love that hairpin turn going down to Adams! Dad loves the mills in that area but that was years ago and we have never been! It's time we went too!

Love ya lots,
Maggie and Mitch

Unknown said...

A and A
WOw great weekend adventure. Mom always wanted to drive along the Mohawk trail but just never has. I love the shops and artisan gifts too. You convinced us we need to go. Your right. the middle of the state is not recognized for it's beauty. Plus you got chicken, french fries and ice cream... I'm there!

Norwood

tula monstah said...

hi A & A!
whew that was some trip~ Arch is silly. how's he not going to notice some chicken & french fries right BEHIND him! but good move going under table.. hoomans are messy shoveling in their foodies. that flower bridge is gorgeous.. what's with the sign? NO DOGS! pullease.. not like someone is going to pay their respects there too. right?!!

so i'll wait 4 a Teepee poker invite.. tell Arch to do a 'no more rain' dance.

toodles, tula

Teesha and Bindie said...

Wow that was some trip. bets you was tired after its all. whens you have recovered I just tagged you at my place, useful for when you dont know what to post.

Patience-please said...

OUR SERVANT GREW UP IN THE BERKSHIRES!!! Sorry to shout, she is so excited to see her mountains again, she got us all wound up. Did your PLs ever hear of Sheffield or Great Barrington? That's where she lived til she was ten and more importantly THAT's where she met her first whippet!

wags from the very grateful whippets

Gus, Louie and Callie said...

Wow what a great time you had.. Oh and having ice cream too. Now that makes any trip awesome...

Big Sloppy Kisses
Gus, Louie and Callie

Scruffy, Lacie and Stanley's Place said...

A tummy ache?? I'm not surprised...french fries...ice cream???? Oh my...we are completely jelly!!!!

We loved all the Indian things...Mumsie's bruvver um well lived in a teepee for a long time in Oregon and raised goats and wove baskets on top of a mountain there...think he has old hips too...er hippie...whatever that is/was!!!!!

Ya know...isn't it fun to go to a place and take pix for all of us bloggers...sorta makes ya look at the place through our eyes when you are the one who's there!!!!!

We love your tours! Cept Mumsie had to close her eyes when PL2 was on that bridge...we have lotsa them around here and she used to freak when she'd be on the street car and they'd go over the trestles...yeesch...

Oh Aggie...bout that new regulation for the Cover Your Tail Scrubs...is it ok if I tie a HOOOOOOGE purple bow to my tailey??? I just look so um SHAPELESS in them and get soooooooooooooooo tired of ceil blue....and can I shorten the legs a bit? To above my knees????? Oh..and is it ok if my thong shows???

Gotta run...Mumsie's slinkin' off to fill out the insurance paperwork for Stan's leggie...wonder how much they WON'T cover....

Love ya lots...Lacie

Koobuss said...

What a great trip you guys had!! I loved looking at your pictures. Some of the scenery looks like it could be around here. And your ice cream picture is wonderful. I like your leashes, too.

Love and Koobuss Kisses,
Koobie

Eric said...

Wow that was such a super dooper day. What a beautiful place to go and all those interesting things to lookie at. I LOVED this tour following in your pawsteps on the Mohawk trail.Seeing the mountains, feasting with you on the french fries, paying my respects to the POwWOW...till the Squares started pushing me out of the way trying to have a nosey too cos they remembered going to Shelburne Falls.Like a zillion years ago.When the Mowhawks were there.

But can you believe it Twinnie and Step - I went to Berkshire for a couple of days this weekend too!!! Plus I was in your Berkshire on your Wiry Woodstock bag, haaaa!! Thanks for taking me along.

And ice cream to finish off the day? WICKED truly wicked...(worth the belly ache eh Archie?)

Wiry loves and oodles of kissies and thanks Eric xxxx xxxxxx

Unknown said...

ARchie and Ags
You didn't find any cowpies on the trail on hope! More like moose pies probably.

It's hot.. hope Ags did her ester williams this weekend.
norwood

Wired for Mackie said...

Looks like you guy's had a wonderful trip!! Wow! Any day with ice cream is a perfect day of course-- and then to get a great trip out of it too? Wowsee!

Two Schnauzers from New England said...

Hi, Agatha and Archie -

Thanks for the tour. Mama and Papa have been through the Berkshires before. But we have not seen the Mohawk Trail up close.

You got to eat french fries and ice cream - it doesn't get any better than that.

Love -

Hershey and Kaci

Princess Patches said...

The whole time our mom was reading this to us, she was thinking how beautimous the trail must be in the Fall! She was imagining all the gorgeous colors. It looks like you two had an absolutely pawfect day!

Aire-hugs,
Poppy, Penny & Patches