South Shore Tour

By Tom Lesko
Photos by Sasha Velic, the Durnans, the Donovans, the Perrys, and Tom

So now we are 7 for 7 in terms of the weather ... ah, but who's counting? (I guess we are!) After planning and running the route during the days before, I edited and made up a couple dozen color maps with photos for attendees. At around 9:00 the morning of Saturday, May 4th, I headed over to the Hingham Harbor site as announced. There, to my surprise, was the first day of the Hingham "Farmer's Market" on the harbor, so we had plenty of company during our pre-tour chat time.

My wife Kathi graciously agreed to pick up some muffins, bagels and coffee at the Dunkin Donuts on Nantasket Beach, (where we make our first stop and use their facilities) and delivered them prior to the first member's arrival. The sun was shining, albeit a bit cool, and the birds were chirping and doing what birds often do (hopefully not on any of our beloved Alfas!). Just before 9:30, the first members started to appear.

We had plenty of coffee, muffins and bagels to help us with the preliminary socializing while we awaited the arrival of the anticipated dozen or so cars. We had a great turnout — mostly Alfas, with one "Italian cousin" Lancia. After our socializing and "bench racing", I held a pre-tour meeting to discuss the route, which this year included some historic sites, such as a tour of the Hingham cemetery where the first settlers of Hingham are gathered, dating from the 1600s. Garry and Tereza Prime agreed, as usual, to be the last car in the line, because, being from Hingham, they know the route and made sure everyone made it without getting off course. I led the group in my grey '65 Giulia Spider Veloce "Grumpy."

Our tour included a drive around Hingham Harbor, Crow Point, the "Old Ship Church" (the oldest continually operating church in the US), the Hingham cemetery, Nantasket Beach, Hull, a drive up to one of the highest points in Hull for a 360º view of Boston harbor and environs, and on to see Spinnaker Island and Hull Gut. From there, we drove back by Nantasket beach and on to Cohasset's "gold coast", as I call it, one of the most beautiful driving roads anywhere. On to Cohasset Harbor and Minot Beach, overlooking the ocean and Minot lighthouse, a nice stopping point and photo op location. This stop always seems to draw a crowd of onlookers, including several children who were taking pictures of the "wonderful cars", as they said. We also had a brief stop by one of the filming locations for the movie "Witches of Eastwick", where Cher walked into a structure on the harbor that was her home (in the movie, anyway!).

Leaving Minot Beach, we proceeded through Cohasset to Scituate with a cruise past the Lawson Tower (a large wooden structure of interest), Scituate Lighthouse, Scituate Harbor, and on to the Mill Wharf Restaurant off the main drag of Front Street in Scituate. The staff had set up two long tables in a semi-private area overlooking the harbor, where we enjoyed the very good food and drink. A good time was had by all! Many left the restaurant at their leisure and a few accompanied me on an abbreviated tour, mostly retracing our path but driving by a couple of new ones. We went into Cohsaset center, where Jack Nicholson was filmed in the movie mentioned, eating ice cream at a shop there. We also toured by Cohasset Common, another filming site for the same movie. Our Alfas were shining and the rev's were up for a great Alfa touring day.Tiny Quadrifoglio

 

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South Shore Tour