Switching out Alaska for Western MA and Plan B, we headed out with friends Steve & Ellen for a week's shake down trip to try out their new Speedy. With typical NE weather, we had a little bit of everything from very humid warm days to rain, thunder and sun.
We traveled to Lee and October Mtn. State Forest to visit Naumkeag, a gilded age Trustees of Reservations property and surrounding areas of Stockbridge and Lenox. From there, we visited the Hancock Shaker Village in Pitttsfield and across the border into NY with a stay at Schodack Island State Park on the Hudson River. The final night's stay was in Savoy Mtn. State Forest in Florida, MA just outside of North Adams. This campground was my favorite atop the mountain in an old apple orchard that gave us a chance to visit the Sterling and Francine Clark Institute. The museum has a fabulous collection of Winslow Homer, Renoir, John Singer Sargent and so many other great artists with a special exhibit of the Nudes of Prado.
Taking the slow road home, we traveled along the Mohawk Trail (Rte. 2) through the mountains and hills with a stop at Shelbourne Falls in search of Josh Simpson's glass works.
