A ride for... nothing?

Today was a great day. I went with Julie to Greenfield MA (~30-40 min drive) and we went to the co-op up there, but it was an OK visit, NOT like River Valley Co-op in Northampton/Easthampton MA where it is MUCH bigger.

Reasons why the Greenfield Co-op wasn't so good:

Lack of gluten free selection (what is this, 2010?)

Heavy COVID-19 restrictions still in place

(STILL no indoor seating/product sampling, although this probably isn't their fault, it's not mine either; but River Valley Co-op in Easthampton MA has indoor seating and A LOT OF IT. For Greenfield Co-op, it felt like summer 2020 going in there)

Small store, not much space, rather dated

So maybe it wasn't worth it, but the drive was still good! The sunset was nice too, here's how the trip was:

Yet ANOTHER dispensary has opened...

(Former Cernak Buick, Easthampton MA)

Now FyreAnts (📍102 Northampton St, Easthampton MA)

Official "budding" 🤣 date: 1/17/2022

(First noticed today)

There aren't many "turn around" ads in this area, but this dispensary in Southampton has one. In fact, the ad before this one was also for a local dispensary, being Pleasantrees in Easthampton MA (next to the post office off Route 10) stating that "Mount Tom was the highest mountain" in the area, which is true, and stated "Challenge Accepted", as in promoting getting as high as possible; basically getting drunk on/consuming as much cannabis as possible; the world has really gone shitcrazy...

(📍 Opposite side of road at 54 Easthampton Rd, Northampton MA)

 

Sadly, on Sunday, 1/23/2022, this froyo shop, in business since 2010, will serve its last customers. Who knows what will replace it; a dispensary? 🤣

(📍80 Main St, Northampton MA)

YET. ANOTHER. DISPENSARY. 🙄

(📍144 King St, Northampton MA)

In the evolving world of Northampton MA, this former pizza shop (Papa Gino's) has been shuttered since 2017. Despite bikes being installed here, it seems like nothing is happening at this former pizzeria.

(📍301 King St, Northampton MA)

Starbucks, being the only tenant at this new plaza since it was opened in 2020, is now joined by a new tenant at this 4 tenant building.

(📍303 King St, Northampton MA)

On the way to Greenfield MA, getting on I-91 in Northampton MA, SB Exit 26 (old 20). About time there's an ad against having cannabis in your system and car while driving, aka being stoned. 

During a mask break in Julie's car (we are both vaccinated, with Julie with her booster, mine coming soon), I took this cool selfie.

Entering Greenfield MA, coming off I-91 NB exit 43 (old 26). Want to go to the nonexistent Rodeway Inn? I heard the prices are $0/night, for a limited time only, AND you get to sleep under the stars! Sounds like a lot of fun! 🤣 (That's ALL A JOKE.) This former motel was demolished in 2018; and that sign definitely needs to go; it needed to once it was closed and demolished then. Plans have been made for redevelopment since 2018, but none have happened yet!

(📍125 Mohawk Trail, Greenfield MA)

The least interesting place I've always wanted to go to. LOL 🤣🤣🤣

A still standing and remodeled Rite Aid in Greenfield MA.

(📍107 Main St, Greenfield MA)

Vacant downtown building at 114 Main St in Greenfield MA.

This place still exists? I thought it closed, but apparently it just moved down the street.

(📍134 Main St, Greenfield MA)

And this is the reason why. The old awning is still up at the old location, practically next door.

(📍156 Main St, Greenfield MA)

Former pawn shop at 220 Main St in Greenfield MA.

Greenfield MA HAS THESE? 😱

(📍239 Main St, Greenfield MA)

Greenfield MA City Hall.

(📍14 Court Sq, Greenfield MA)

The movie theater still in operation in Greenfield MA, the Garden Cinemas.

(📍361 Main St, Greenfield MA)

Former coffee shop, now demolished, at 426 Main St in Greenfield MA.

That building in the distance is... 8 floors?!

That's tall for Greenfield MA.

(📍10 Congress St, Greenfield MA)

Sadly, this department store, in business for well over 100 years (1882), shuttered for good on January 31, 2020.

(📍8 Davis St, Greenfield MA)

Video of us (Julie and I) in Greenfield MA in the car. Also, what the hell is up with my hair? LOL! 🤣🤣🤣

Now for the main reason to drive to Greenfield MA: the local co-op. (Green Fields Market) To be honest, I was totally unimpressed, for many reasons. The main ones were:

Lack of gluten free selection, compared to River Valley Co-op in Easthampton MA.

Heavy COVID-19 restrictions still in place (no sampling or eating inside, even after close to 2 years; this probably isn't their fault though)

Quite dated and small co-op.

It was a nice drive, but I probably won't go here again.

(📍144 Main St, Greenfield MA)

No indoor seating STILL? THAT resumed in Easthampton MA LAST YEAR! What is this, June 2020?

(📍144 Main St, Greenfield MA)

Not here to tell you fake info, here you go.

(📍144 Main St, Greenfield MA)

Just your (not so) average co-op video.

(📍144 Main St, Greenfield MA)

Welcome to 2022, where you must now wear masks at Platform 9¾. LOL! 🤣🤣🤣

(📍144 Main St, Greenfield MA)

First time with THESE. SO GOOD! 😋🤩

(📍144 Main St, Greenfield MA)

Trying these AWESOME macaroons on camera! 😋🤩😎

(📍144 Main St, Greenfield MA)

Accident... And then to hear a radio ad for a "true crime" podcast, the two connect in some way... What a coincidence! 🤣

(📍Mohawk Trail + River St, Greenfield MA)

Video of the coincidence. 🤣

This was also going to be redeveloped with the Rodeway Inn, but again, nothing has happened yet.

(📍105 Mohawk Trail, Greenfield MA)

This Friendly's, still exists.

(📍200 Mohawk Trail, Greenfield MA)

A relic of a long lost era. This former cinema closed in 2003 thanks to competition from the nearby Garden Cinemas with a newly 7 screens in downtown Greenfield MA, compared to this former 6 screen theater. This is now a Big Y.

(📍229 Mohawk Trail, Greenfield MA)

A Dollar General, now in Greenfield MA.

(📍10 Colrain Rd, Greenfield MA)

(Red car) And there goes a Tesla... ⚡🚗😎

(📍229 Mohawk Trail, Greenfield MA)

What ski area is this? Going SB on I-91 towards Exit 36 (old 25) near Greenfield MA.

The beginning of sunset... (4:27pm)

Going SB on I-91 towards Exit 36 (old 25) near Greenfield MA.

Despite looking like sunset, sunset would not actually occur until 4:50pm, 23 minutes later.

(SB on I-91 towards Deerfield MA)

And sunset is about 15 minutes away, even though it doesn't look like it.

(Approaching Exit 27/Old 21 going SB on I-91 approaching the Northampton MA/Hatfield MA border.

Getting closer...

(Going SB on I-91 towards Exit 23/Old 18 in Northampton? MA)

Beginning of the last rays of the day.

(Just past NB Exit 25/Old 19 going SB on I-91 in Northampton MA. 3 County Fair is on the right of the highway.)

Even better...

(I-91 SB Mile 22, near Oxbow Marina, on right, towards the Northampton MA/Easthampton MA border)

OK, NOW THAT'S BEAUTIFUL! 🤩🤩🤩☀️🌅

(4:41pm)

(Oxbow Marina, seen from I-91 SB in Northampton MA, near Mile 21)

5 minutes to sunset...

(Going SB on I-91 towards Exit 15/Old 17 in Holyoke MA)

GREAT advertising location for a dispensary. (or anything!) Seriously, trim those trees, or lower the billboard; I think it's too "high" up... 🤣 That or whoever thought this was a great location was high upon doing this, LOL! 🤣

(📍I-91 SB Rest Area, Holyoke MA)

The colors begin...

(Going SB on I-91 towards Exit 15/Old 17 in Holyoke MA)

Best view, off the cliff, just 1 minute after sunset. 🌄 (4:51pm) I was hoping to take pics from those snow covered rocks, but Julie wouldn't let me for OBVIOUS reasons. (It's a hundreds of feet drop; think standing at the top of the John Hancock Tower in Boston MA, 790ft, then jumping off towards the streets at sea level. Yeah, that's a NO NO, even though I've done it before, also in the winter.)

(📍100 Mountain Rd, Easthampton MA, Tavern On The Hill)

This was a beautiful sunset, although earlier in the week was sunset PEAK! Here's a video of today's sunset from Tavern On The Hill in Easthampton MA at 100 Mountain Rd, on Route 141.

You can't see the sunset, but you can see me!

UCME, John Cena, LOL! 🤣

(📍100 Mountain Rd, Easthampton MA)

Now you shall see the sunset!

(📍100 Mountain Rd, Easthampton MA)

Sorry for the sucky picture, but people STILL have Christmas lights up! This is looking like a repeat of 2021, when people had their lights up until Valentine's Day! 🤣

(📍129 Plain St, Easthampton MA)

Sunset is looking awesome!

(📍1 Kingsberry Way, Easthampton MA)

Entering my community, looking at THIS beauty!

(📍 6 Button Rd, Easthampton MA)

Look at that! (This was at 5:02pm, so the days are DEFINITELY getting longer! 🥳😁😎🤩☀️)

(📍8 River Valley Way, Easthampton MA)

Before I go, 2 other things happened today:

1) My school started ANOTHER newsletter, this one being The Daily Beagle from the elementary side of the school. My school has not had a newsletter since 2019 and it came as a surprise as it was suddenly being distributed across the school around 1:45pm during electives, mine being sign language. (ASL) It was rather well put together, and I'll show you a picture in the future. There was a fake news article in there that spread like WILDFIRE. (A new pool going in; removal of the playground, basketball court, AND swings for it to be put in; obviously NOT happening! Although it was VERY FUNNY! 🤣🤣🤣)

2) On 1/17/2022, FyreAnts at 102 Northampton St in Easthampton MA, (former Cernak Buick, closed in 2020) ANOTHER DISPENSARY, opened its doors.

We have ENOUGH dispensaries; come ON, we DON'T NEED ANY MORE! 😫🙄

I saw the "now open" banner outside for the first time on the morning of 1/20/2022, 3 days after opening.

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed my post!

Follow me on Instagram @tr27.official, have a great day, and STAY POSITIVE. You got this. 😎👋👍☀️

Updated 1/22/22 at 10:09pm.