Day 2

Left West Springfield late in the morn after a good rest in a motel. The two previos days I had been up late, woke early, 5 AM or so, and was pretty worn down. Good to take a little extra time to rejuvenate.

morning cloudiness

gray pall hangs over landscape

old New England town

US 20 follows along the Westfield River. I decided to get out and hike down to the river. I felt the need to get my feet out onto earth, not concrete, as had been the case for the first day. At the river was this posted sign:

I wonder what the status of salmon is in the river. Something more to research.

from across river

out of sight in thick, lush woods

wood thrush's sweet song

Talked with a guy getting set to fish the river. He catches and releases. When I brought up US 20 and how it goes all the way across America to the Pacific, his only comment was, “That would be too much fishing for me.”

The designation for US 20 as it winds along the Westfield River. A really nice stretch of windy road and flowing river. I stopped a couple of times to get out next to the water.

Huntington, MA. Typical New england village scene.

Hancock Shaker Village. A blend of old ways and new.

Shaker round barn.

The Abode of the Message, a Sufi Community in New Lebanon, NY that is located on a part of the old Shaker Community there, a few miles west of the Hancock one.

In the evening at the New Lebanon Library I had a performance with the Allen Livermore trio, featuring Guitarist Jacqueline Rogers, Electric bassist Peter Borgnis and Saxophonist Allen Livermore. I've enjoyed the times when I've performed with musicians. This was the first time with a jazz trio. A few short poems, some segments from "Twenty Days on Route 20," Mississippi River haiku and then finished with "Elegy for the Road/Kerouac's Ghost," a piece I wrote in 1997 to be accompanied by music. There was a nice turnout and everyone seemed to enjoy it quite a bit. We even talked about getting together later this year to record a CD.

One of the people who attended, Nancy, is planning on walking the length of US 20, from west to east, after her 65th birthday. An ambitious undertaking that she is starting to train for now. Info on her Facebook Page: Nancy Takes a Hike.

(Picture courtesy of Nancy Fitzpatrick)

Spent the evening at Jeanne and Frank's house a little ways back in Massachusetts. Always enjoyable talk. With the visits I've made to the New Lebanon Library in the last few years we've developed a nice friendship. One of the added pleasures of going out on the road and returning to places time and again.


	US 20 Journey 2010 \| home US 20 Journey 2010 \| 2010 Journey \| Event Schedule \| Pre-trip PR Info \| Before Departure \| Twenty Days on Route 20 \| Start and Day 1 \| Day 2 \| Day 3 \| Day 4 \| Day 5 \| Day 6 \| Day 7 \| 2011 Day 1 \| 2011 - Day 2 \| 2011- Day 3 \| 2011 - Day 4 \| 2011 Day 5 \| 2011 Day 6 \| 2011 - Day 7 \| 2011 Day 8 \| 2011 Day 9 \| 2011 Day 10 \| 2011 Day 11 \| 2011 Day 12 \| 2011 Day 13 \| 2011 Day 14 \| 2011 Day 15 \| 2011 Day 16 \| 2011 Day 17 \| 2011 Day 18 \| 2011 Day 19 \| 2011 Day 20 \| 2011 Day 21 \| 2011 Day 22 \| GUESTBOOK \| Contact US 20 Journey 2010 Day 2 - May 14 (Day 1) (Day 3) (Day 4) (Day 5) (Day 6) (Day 7) 2011 Day 1 2011 Day 2 2011 Day 3 2011 Day 4 2011 Day 5 2011 Day 6 2011 Day 7 2011 Day 8 2011 Day 9 Left West Springfield late in the morn after a good rest in a motel. The two previos days I had been up late, woke early, 5 AM or so, and was pretty worn down. Good to take a little extra time to rejuvenate. morning cloudiness gray pall hangs over landscape old New England town US 20 follows along the Westfield River. I decided to get out and hike down to the river. I felt the need to get my feet out onto earth, not concrete, as had been the case for the first day. At the river was this posted sign: I wonder what the status of salmon is in the river. Something more to research. from across river out of sight in thick, lush woods wood thrush's sweet song Talked with a guy getting set to fish the river. He catches and releases. When I brought up US 20 and how it goes all the way across America to the Pacific, his only comment was, “That would be too much fishing for me.” The designation for US 20 as it winds along the Westfield River. A really nice stretch of windy road and flowing river. I stopped a couple of times to get out next to the water. Huntington, MA. Typical New england village scene. Hancock Shaker Village. A blend of old ways and new. Shaker round barn. The Abode of the Message, a Sufi Community in New Lebanon, NY that is located on a part of the old Shaker Community there, a few miles west of the Hancock one. In the evening at the New Lebanon Library I had a performance with the Allen Livermore trio, featuring Guitarist Jacqueline Rogers, Electric bassist Peter Borgnis and Saxophonist Allen Livermore. I've enjoyed the times when I've performed with musicians. This was the first time with a jazz trio. A few short poems, some segments from "Twenty Days on Route 20," Mississippi River haiku and then finished with "Elegy for the Road/Kerouac's Ghost," a piece I wrote in 1997 to be accompanied by music. There was a nice turnout and everyone seemed to enjoy it quite a bit. We even talked about getting together later this year to record a CD. One of the people who attended, Nancy, is planning on walking the length of US 20, from west to east, after her 65th birthday. An ambitious undertaking that she is starting to train for now. Info on her Facebook Page: Nancy Takes a Hike. (Picture courtesy of Nancy Fitzpatrick) Spent the evening at Jeanne and Frank's house a little ways back in Massachusetts. Always enjoyable talk. With the visits I've made to the New Lebanon Library in the last few years we've developed a nice friendship. One of the added pleasures of going out on the road and returning to places time and again.