Heading east - right before you get to Florida, Mass, there's a picnic area and this cast metal sign on the left hand side of the road. The Shunpike legacy forged in iron; the footnotes in Berkshire history tell us this -the toll issue has been around for some time. It suggests that this tax model has sustained itself for 200 years and well into our present political quagmire. The "shun" pike, as in "shun" - as in to "deliberatly avoid" - suggests there are more reasons to drive route 2. Is it myth mixed with satire?
Route 2 will be now referred to as the "shunpike". Once again, subtle signs of the love/hate fest that goes between the western part of the state and the "heavy on government" eastern counterparts.
The Hawks family cemetery is located in the same picnic area. Berkshire settlers laid to rest here off route 2. Right past Charlemont and right before Florida - going west - a nice stop right off the Deerfield river. Check it out.
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