Vinciman Ponders

  The scene was loud and energetic; motorcyclists raced as if on a track, and women sat on the back of the bikes, relaxed and taking photos. There were also many cars, a lot of motorcyclists, groups, and cars stopping to take pictures, so the atmosphere of a fall evening in North Adams I describe as electric.  The foregoing was my experience in Fall 2025. I spent an afternoon along a winding stretch of the Mohawk Trail, part of Route 2 in western Massachusetts, doing what many in the Northeast consider a seasonal ritual: admiring the changing leaves. The foliage was a tapestry of orange, gold, and green, and the air buzzed with the energy of passing motorcycles, cars, and cyclists. I was waiting for a friend near the Golden Eagle Restaurant, perched at a hairpin turn with a panoramic view. I found myself immersed in a scene that was both ordinary and extraordinary.   The Mohawk Trail is more than just a scenic byway. It’s a corridor of culture, history, and ...