If you’re a biking enthusiast, scroll down and learn about Charlemont’s great biking and great eats! And of course, there are also wonderful area hiking trails and the upcoming beautiful fall foliage to be savored. It’s never too late to plan a mid-week or weekend getaway at Cavalier Cottage. Please know that we continue to embellish and upgrade the Cottage for your comfort and enjoyment. The availability calendar link is listed below for your convenience.
http://www.cavaliercottage.com/availability-calendar/
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you need more information or assistance.
Patricia Butterfield, Cavalier Cottage B&B, 413 625-2262 ~ www.cavaliercottage.com
| 2nd Thursday in Charlemont Brings Great Biking & Great Eats! Come Visit Anytime to Enjoy Your Own Local Adventure! |
| Charlemont is quickly gaining a reputation as the premier mountain biking center in southern New England as a result of an effort by three landowners – The Warfield House, Berkshire East and Zoar Outdoor and the New England Mountain Bike Association (NEMBA) – to establish a trail system that is now over 25 miles long. The particular attraction of the Charlemont Trail System is its variety of scenery, from mountain tops to wooded brooks and from fields with incredible views to dense hemlock groves; and its variety of terrain, from technically difficult, steep climbs to flowy downhills. In addition to informal visits from riders, local bikers have set aside the second Thursday of each month for a group ride that meets at the Warfield House at 6 pm. This past Thursday, 21 riders showed up to try out the trails, some for the first time, and many for repeat visits. The youngest rider was 14 and the oldest, 70, but we all came prepared for climbing over stone walls and logs, swooping through banked turns and having a great time! This ride was a little different than past rides because we shuttled our bikes to the top of Berkshire East in order to start fresh with the trails on the top of the mountain. At about 6:30, equipped with powerful battery-operated headlights, 21 riders turned onto E. Stranged Moose, just off of East Road and began winding through the woods along the top of the mountain, enjoying the cool evening and concentrating on the technical challenges of the trail. Following Moose, we descended the banked corners of Billy’s World below the wind turbine and emerged on South River Road at the base of Berkshire East in the dark, navigating only with our headlights. We crossed the Route 8A bridge to Main Street, which we followed for a quarter mile or so before turning north along Rice Brook, which we followed to Riddell Road. At the top of Riddell Road, we followed the smooth, swoopy Sweet 16 to the ultra-challenging descent on Red Zone. We finished on the Rice Brook Trail and by 8:45, were sitting in the Warfield House eating pizza and drinking beer and telling stories that became more outrageous as the beer flowed. Sitting at the Warfield House after a tough ride, enjoying the view, the company and the food and drink, it’s hard to imagine a more ideal setting for an evening of adventure with good friends.
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