TuzigootJournal: Massachusetts

Loose Ends.

Here are youtube links to my favorite bluegrass groups at the Grey Fox Festival:

Dry Branch Fire Squad

I Draw Slow

Gibson Brothers

And, we've been getting twin grandson pictures from Heidi along the way.

Aaaaaahhhhh! The latest video features them putting plastic buckets over their heads and bouncing around a room like pinballs.

Bluegrass done. Back to business. Headed for Cape Cod and a two-day committee meeting. This committee deals with test plans for military helmets.

From Earlton, NY, we drove about halfway across Mass. to Sturbridge where we spent four days at a Jellystone Park campground. We took the MassTurnpike, I-90, that connects Albany and Boston. It's pretty much a tree tunnel, which gave me time to think about road signs.

As you approach bridges in MA, rather than those flip-up[/down Bridge Freezes Before Roadway signs I've discussed, the sign says Plows Use Caution. This means, I think, that if it snows enough to freeze over on the bridges, snow plows will be out plowing the bridges, so use caution as you approach them. Trouble is, the signs are right at the bridge. If you haven't seen the snow plow before you see the sign, it may be too late. So, the second meaning of the sign must be a warning for snow plow drivers: You watch out for oncoming cars.

As this is written we're in Montreal. Quebec has the best sign yet for icy bridges. No ambiguous words. There's a drawing of a skidding car. Next to it is a large thermometer showing 0 deg. C. 'Be careful if it is cold enough for the bridge to freeze' is the clear message. The highway authorities assume you know enough that if it's freezing outside the bridge could be hazardous. Of course, how do you know how cold it is as you drive along? Hmmm. Maybe the previous bridge was icy. Or, snow plows are out.

Another interesting MA sign that appears in residential areas is Thickly Settled. You might be inclined to think that that applies to the whole state. But, from the interstate, except at exits, you'd think it's all woods. Only occasionally do you see farms or towns. Also, strict laws on billboards means you have no clue what's beneath or behind those trees. Can you believe it? I'm missing the CLINES CORNERS AHEAD signs.

We took one day trip from Sturbridge to drive to Springfield and see the Basketball Hall of Fame. We drove the regular US and state highways with a loop through Connecticut just to enjoy being off the interstate and seeing where people live and work. Primarily, as discussed, we've been sticking to the interstates on this trip, which is often not our first choice. I think the low clearance episode a few weeks back has got me a little gun-shy over driving Tuzigoot on these secondary roads. But, we've generally been staying a few days at most of our stops, so that provides the opportunity to see what you can't see from the interstates.

The Basketball Hall of Fame looks like a basketball.

And, of course, that's a basketball at the top of the tower.

The ground level of the round-ball has basketball courts, with mostly kids playing, then there are a couple of floors of exhibits ringing the inside of the sphere.

Here is James Naismith who started it all when he nailed the peach basket on the balcony at the YMCA in Springfield.

I compared my wingspan to Kevin Durant's. Should have stepped closer to the camera.

And, here's my basketball hero, Hall of Famer Coach Hank Iba of Oklahoma A andM which became Oklahoma State University.

As an undergraduate at OSU I used to enjoy stopping by Gallagher Hall and watching the basketball practices. Listening to him instruct and correct the players was fascinating.

Coming home we managed to find an ice cream shop.

Across the street was an antique shop called Rustology. Should have been called Dustology. Here's a mannequin on a snowmobile that caught my eye. Think she was waiting for her ice cream cone.

Old Sturbridge Village, in Sturbridge, is a recreated 1830s village with role-playing guides. When we were there, there was also a role-playing summer camp group of kids and counselors.

We heard a vintage organ played and discussed in the village church.

OSV had a large area of lawn at the entrance filled with flags, a Field of Flags, recognizing members of the military. We added a flag in recognition of grandson, Tony Hinkle, who recently completed three years of Army duty, including a tour in Iraq. Here's his proud grandmother.