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ELEVEN YEARS AGO, AONE RAN THE FIRST INDIAN SUMMER SORTIE. Earlier in the season than in previous years, event organizer Peter Walker will again be putting together a spirited fun frolic through the Berkshire hills of western Massachusetts. This year, the outing will take place on Saturday, September 21st (the first rain date will be Sunday, the 22nd, and the backup rain date will be Saturday, September 28th). This is our chance to see how the area looks before the leaves turn and fall to the ground! Peter is promising us another interesting, scenic, traffic-free, twisty route through a very beautiful part of New England. Here's the plan: As usual, we're going to meet up at the Fillin' Station Diner in South Deerfield, the same place we've started our tours in the past. Plan to be there at 10:30AM (or before, if you would like to have breakfast there), because we're going to shove off promptly at 11:00, and finding us will be difficult after that. From there, we'll head out on our marvelous romp in the countryside. After perhaps a couple of hours of back-road bliss, we'll pause for lunch. This year's route will end in Lenox, near Tanglewood, with a luncheon served up by Italian/European car expert and AONE member Jeff Greenfield, who will probably also have a few four-wheeled toys for us to enjoy contemplating. Afterward, we can head toward home, or Peter will be happy to suggest (and perhaps lead) some more after-lunch cruising. Since many of us travel a fairly long distance to and from the Sortie, participants might want to stay overnight in a nearby B&B or motel. So Peter and Meg have compiled a list of overnight accommodations in and around Ashfield, MA — scroll down to the bottom to take a look. Make sure to inquire about cancellation policies, since the date of the Sortie may shift depending on the weather. As some of the recommendations may soon become booked for the weekend, make your reservations now! If you're coming on the tour, please contact Peter before Thursday evening, September 19th, at anderwalk@earthlink.net or 978-524-8102. Everyone who's been on one of our Sorties knows what a great time it is, and what a great way to give your Alfa a good fling. (See last year's event.) Don't miss it! Directions to the Crusade Start How to find the Fillin' Station: From any direction, take I-91 to Exit 24 for South Deerfield. Head south on US Route 5 (left at the end of the ramp if coming from the south, right if from the north). Look for a big DINER sign a short distance on the left. Travel suggestion: If you're coming from the east, a more pleasant route than taking Route 2 to I-91and down I-91 to the Fillin' Station is as follows: Turn off of Route 2 onto Route 63 south, which comes a few miles after Route 2 goes through the center of Erving (where the speed limit goes down to 30 MPH). Almost immediately after the open stretch west of Erving with the 55 MPH limit and the climbing lane, there's a small sign on the left saying "To Route 63", and the name of the road (which forks off to the left) is Prospect St. Follow the signs to Route 63 and head south. At Montague, take Route 47 south. In Sunderland, turn right onto Route 116 west. At the intersection with Route 5/10, turn left and go about one half mile to the Fillin' Station (which will be on the left). Beds and Breakfasts in Ashfield Inn at Norton Hill Bull Frog B&B Corner Porches Beds and Breakfasts in abutting villages Restful Crow Nestle Inn Nearby Motels Days Inn Greenfield Red Roof Inn |
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