After blogging in to you lovely people I spent the morning chasing what turned out to be the Berkshire Gas Company, they who were responsible for the road repairs outside the Marketplace Café, Pittsfield, which unseated the blue monster from her stand.  I thought, damn it, I’m not going to let them get away with it if I can possibly help it.  So after trying the local Council who quickly disowned any responsibility, but, in fairness did help identify who might be responsible, It was a ride to the outskirts of town. 

There the efficient receptionist, Caroline, was both sympathetic and helpful.  We’ll see how Todd Steinman takes it all when we get in touch with him.  Someone Caroline spoke to made the sensible point that my insurance company should pursue the matter with their lawyers.  So another line of attack may be there.

So on with the journey.  Here is that red I described yesterday, perhaps this shows it off better.

Just imagine this hillside in a week or two’s time.

You can see that its just beginning to turn.

A little after this picture was taken I spotted a lovely stand of trees all turning, but of a variety of colours.  I shot past but was so taken that I turned around and went back.  The trees were 400 yards down a driveway so I went about 100 yards down, parked up, dismounted, and walked into an open field to photograph them.  I took three pictures and stared to return to the bike when a man approached.  He was not friendly.  In fact he was very cross.  Back to the American obsession with private property; upon which I was trespassing he informed me.  Servile politeness, fullsome apologies and my best lah di day British accent were deployed but he cheerfully informed me that in the Berkshires I was liable to get shot doing what I had just done.  Terrific!

You can judge for yourselves whether it was worth the effort:

The other photo should have been even better but it seems to be a little out of focus; perhaps the camera noticed the guy coming and got nervous before I did.

May not look it but it was absolutely gorgeous. How can you live somewhere when you get up in the morning to that view, and not be properly chilled and laid back?  Americans!  What are they like.

According to the woman serving me in Spice Cafe, Port Jervis New York State, where I stayed last night; this is a nation committing suicide.  Well I said that, after reading that the Senate had turned down Oh Bummer's rescue package, and she absolutely agreed.  "No taxation without representation" she said, "I don't think so"

I have shared my thoughts with Occupy Worcester about the actions they should take.  I wonder how the media coverage is going.  Al Jazeera has been the only network to give it regular coverage, as that is my default news source I have been aware of the 'Occupy' movement since its early days.  The woman in the cafe here is not sure about it but, when I gave her to opportunity to sound off, she sure knew who was to blame for her economic woes, and the Country's.

Yesterday, after ferreting around Berkshire Gas, I set off in a southerly direction along the Taconic State Parkway.  80 miles or so of fall foliage, much like the stuff I have pictured for you, besides another of those great American scenic roads which loop their way gently through the countryside.  This one had a sensible speed limit, taking the norm of 10 mph faster which everyone does.  Then to Jervis Port.  One of those towns, or a City actually I think, where everything is stretched out over a large area.  No real centre.  I toured around for a good 30 or 40 minutes and did eventually find a reasonable hotel - The Eyrie Hotel - which also had a decent menu.  No breakfast though so  was lucky to find Spice Cafe who have hosted this blogging session; and provided some of its material.

Now its back to Stu and Jan's for the final few days.  Hopefully via Beamers Uber Alles - the wonderfully named independent BMW motorbike repair shop not far from their house - where I can get a handle on the cost of the damage to the Blue Monster.