Franklin to Mt. Holyoke College to Springfield, MA

 May 17 and 18th:  Yesterday was pretty much a travel day.  We drove via the quieter, back roads from Franklin, MA to South Hadley (home of Mt. Holyoke College) passing by Quabbin Reservoir.  The dam and other facilities that resulted in this reservoir was constructed in 1935-39 and since then has served as the primary water supply for the Boston Metro area and many other intermediate towns.  The Winsor Dam and the Goodnough Dike impound waters of the Swift River and the Ware River Diversion.  The reservoir is the largest water body in Massachusetts and the dam is one of the largest in the Eastern U.S.

The earthen Winsor Dam.

The Reservoir.

One of several towns that was flooded/relocated

The Enfield Overlook today.

The spillway.

Downstream channel from spillway - recreating the Swift River.

Shortly after the diversion to Quabbin, we arrived in South Hadley and Mt Holyoke College.  The college is pretty much the town.  Betsy got checked in, and moved into her accommodations for the next two nights (a triple in Mead Dormitory).  We called one of her several college friends and arranged to meet at the college bookstore (Odyssey Bookstore - independently owned but located on college property).  After greeting Sarah M. and Bev L. (two of Betsy's best friends and classmates), at the bookstore, I wished them well and departed for Springfield, MA. 

After driving south for 30 minutes or so, I checked into the Marriott Hotel in the center of downtown Springfield, a block or so northeast of the Connecticut River.  I have a view of the river and Memorial Bridge, looking at West Springfield.  For dinner, I went looking for a brewpub, first to the Loophole Brewing, which turned out to be closed and located in a sketchy part of the city, and ending up at the White Lion Brewing Company, which is in a shopping mall attached to the Marriot.  I enjoyed a red ale, fish and chips while watching the first period of the Boston Bruin hockey match (the Bruins ultimately lost the game and thereby being eliminated from the second round series with the Florida Panthers).

Today, I got up to see what the streets were blocked off for (noticing several street closures on the previous day).  It turns out that the City of Springfield hosts an annual pancake breakfast, supposedly the largest in the country.  I overheard someone say, when asked, did you get pancakes? their reply "why stand in line for an hour for pancakes."  There were lots of people, families, and civic and other organizations with canopies and give aways.

The tables stretched for several city blocks.

The pancake kitchen.

I grabbed coffee at a nearby shop and continued walking to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.  Admission was paid and I toured around the three floors that are inside a large "basketball."  The center of the ball is a full-sized basketball court where patrons can shoot basketballs to their hearts content.  There is side area for smaller kids, where the rims are lower than standard height and they get the chance to slam the balls through the hoops.  The displays around the outside are mostly memorabilia from the famous basketball players and coaches - lots of sneakers, jerseys and signed basketballs.  Everything is well organized around various themes.  There is a 15-minute video, which is best seen before going into the gym and the display area.

The "basketball" comprises most of the hall.

One for our friend K2

Coach K, one of two "dukies" in the hall.

The Inventor of the game....

Arch rival...

The court inside the "ball."

All inductees (sorry, you won't be able to read this).

Looking down from the third level of the "ball."

Display for one of several arch rivalries.

Interesting history of gym flooring.

After the BHofF, I walked along the river back to Memorial Bridge, crossed over the bridge and visited the Woodcraft Store - lots of woodworking tools and supplies.  I returned to the motel, rested up a bit, and then went out again to explore the city some.  We were warned that Springfield is not much of city -- I would say it is not dying, it is dead.  There is no real shopping or restaruant areas; there is little pedestrian activity; and there are many small lawyers offices (who knows why).  It does have a number of museums clustered together, including one memorializing Dr. Suess and there is a large MGM Casino (I didn't visit either).

Looking downtown, Casino to the right, Marriott is the leftmost, low building.

Connecticut River.

Memorial Bridge.

Big river with anadromous fish.

Marriott Hotel.

An a typical building, nicely renovated.

Dr. Suess Sculpture Garden

Ditto.

Cheers!