New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-22
IN BERKSHIRE ON BICYCLES.
-,ox LONG ISLANDS SANDS TO THE
HILLS OF WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS.
.,.sHoRE AND MOUNTAINS coMBINEp-FINE
uNEElaNa AND SUPERB sCENERy-AN AVER
AGE OF TwENTY-sEvEN MILES DAY
= MAIDSTONE PRACTICAL POINTS.

MAIDSTONE PRACTICAL POINTS.
rs. select Brooklyn party Of three whose trip on
~xces to Montauk Point has already been described
=. The Tribune did not stop riding on their return
=. rasthampton. The return from Montauk Point to
~..,hsmpton was made the sixth day and for
-. seventh day only q short trip had been con-
..,nlated To ali intents and purposes 1t was a
Sy ~ rest for respects the bcyclee It included
.r,x a run Of seven miles 10 Sag Harbor, whence a
s..t was taken to Shelter Island Heights. where q
s.,ientful afternoon and evening rounded out the
at week of the trip in a satisfactory manner
The start next morning was not an early one
s,, then an early start not needed In order to
,,.ke Riverhead by nightfall 1t rained hereabout
m avery Saturday in July. and In that part of Long
,..nd on that Saturday there were three showers
. intervals OF three four hours. All luckily
.seaped by the bicycle party and for the
,srt OF the way between Greenport and Riverhead
,h.re is hrst-class sidepath the rains which made
the roads somewhat muddy did not interfere with
vheeling 10 any appreciable extent. This run Is d
,.markably fine one. and the country is full OF in
terest
The next day dawned clear and cool with fresh
hreeze blowing out OF the north. AS the first five
e,x miles OF that days travel were directly toward
the Sound the head wind proved slightly obstruc-
tive II was the first wind that had interfered with
ths progress Of the party. and they cheered them
.eves 10 an extent at least. with the thought Of
rmersons remark that head winds are right for
royal sails" Before reaching Batting Hollow. how
aver. a right-angled turn to the west made.
and thereafter tho wind was obstacle. but a cool
delight,
SOME QUEER LONG ISLAND NAMES
f, Batting Hollow and Wading River are mysterious
names but there is naught mysterious about the
nl.ces 10 which they belong The little hamlets
utterly commonplace. Inquiry OF the natives as to
the origin and meaning OF these names will throw
little light upon them. They have some stories to
tall regarding them but will not vouch for their
authenticity. Anyway. queer names abound
Long Island. The woods full OF them They
ought to he left untouched. The disposition In
quarters to drop the old names and substitute
something that is modern and smart should be
frowned on severely by Long Islanders
Between Riverhead and Port jefferson there is
fairly good road. 1t offers the cyclist only
bad hli-the Fresh Pond Hill. a mile or two
Of Batting Hollow Owing to sand and deep ruts IT
IL advisable TO walk both down and up. the hill be-
inx double one. with descent and ascent In close
proximity According 10 the L. A. W. "Roadbook"
the scenery along this part OF the north shore OF
Long Island is magnificent" An Interrogation
point ncosed in parentheses might wisely be placed
after the adjective The road is a mile more from
the water all the way and only two three views
of the Sound TO be had. II is a pleasant enough
country. but in no way remarkable Some stretches
through pine woods for considerable distance,
and In places huckleberries grow in profuson close
by the roadside in mid-July
Port Jefferson the limit OF the Journey
Long Island and when II reached almost ex
acty go miles had been traversed 1t was not a
complete circuit of the island. but had It not been
for the rain on the day OF starting II would have
been nearly that as only the distance Port
Jefferson and Rosyn would have been uncovered:
and between Port jefferson and Huntington those
who have tried II say there of the poorest
roads Long Island
The Brooklyn party had decided TO mingle both
seaside and mountains. Early on the morning OF
the tenth day. therefore they took boat for Bridge
port and by noon train had deposited them in
Great harrington. That Is an excellent point Of de-
parture for a tour in the charming Berkshire
gon. The Ber.Sshres are called hills but there is
no apparent reason why they should not be termed
mountarnS AT least that Will be the conclusion
arrived at by who goes through them awheei.
especially IL he has eye for the picturesque and
takes some OF the upland roads rather than those
which follow the river courses.
AVOIDING THE RIVER ROAD.
There is a river road from Great harrington 10
stockbridge. and toward Lenox but the travel
lers preferred the road by Monument Mountain.
with the memories OF Bryant and Hawthorne which
II awakened, even If there nearly half mile
OF walking up tolerably steep grade. So too.
Field Hill boldly attacked after the beauties
OF Stockbridge had been scanned. Can there be
more beautiful views than those afforded from
numerous points along this picturesque drive,
pecially stockbridge Bowl into view and
IS skirted for a considerable distance? There IL
another name for this lovely sheet OF water, bu,
why should Stockbridge Bowl. which has
favor and individuality OF Its own. be retained?
Bowl" has the aristocratic tone Of lake" 1t
Is true. but here. Long Island the desire to
nodernze the old appeatons Is to be deprecated.
OF Lenox little need be said. that the bicy
clers found the rain coming down when they awoke
arrival
rain for several hours. and for several hours
the roads were in an exceedingly muddy state.
II till o'clock that the bicycles were
mounted once more The streets OF Lenox were still
muddy but the assurance had been given that
there a sidepath for about three miles on the
way 10 Pittsfed. and II said that no one would
object TO bicycles going on IT in such weather al
though the rule against riding on the walks In
Lenox is strict and meets the riders eye at every
turn. But instead of three miles. the sidepath
tnued hardly more than one. and the succeeding
hull presented a formidable appearance. 1t was
descended safely on foot however and the sequel
showed that the worst OF the trip came In the be-
ginning The remainder OF the run into Pittsi"''
was made with 1t was still cloudy and threat
enng rain when the riders called a halt More
rain fell during the night, but the next morning
fine. and the thick mud in the main street of
the city proved serious obstacle 10 a start be-
times the way Williamstown.
FLYING" TO SOUTH WILLIAMsTOwN
1t is Henriettas solemn asseveration that she and
her companions few South Williamstown At
all events. the wheels seemed TO go of themselves
both up hill and down. In such conditions # is
doubtless that bicycling more nearly approaches
lying than any other possible form OF ocomotion.
The road is fine all the way. and the scenery is
superb. The "Roadbook" of the New-York State
Division OF the L. A w. is authority for the state
ment that on this run zone may coast about six
miles 10 South Wiliamstown." This is far from the
literal fact. For several miles there is an amos.
continuous and gradual descent, with many slopes
on which the feet can be taken from the pedals:
but those who look for a six miles coast the
strength Of the 'Roadbooks assertion Will be dis
appointed
Wlamstown has been proclaimed the prettiest
village In New England, but there are two or three
persons who have visited 1t this summer who are
OF fhas onintor bas undeniahIe attractions