11/30/2005 - A few words about 2a

Have you ever wondered about the history of a highway? Probably not and with good reason. If you have totally lost interest at this point, feel free to tune out. I promise to talk about something else tomorrow.

Having spent some considerable time, virtually communing with this great asphalt river, it occurred to me to find out a little more about it. So I tried.

I would have loved to tell you about the forward looking politicians who envisioned this road, or the hardworking contractors who made it happen. What I found was this sparse entry on the Wikipedia:

"Massachusetts Route 2A exists in several sections of Massachusetts, mainly as parts of former Route 2 that have been moved or upgraded. Route 2A exists as far west in the state as Buckland and as far east as Boston. The stretch through Shelburne Falls is especially scenic, passing near the Bridge of Flowers."

But searching through some other webpages, it became a little more clear why it is difficult to detail such a thing. 2a wasn't always used to speak of this road. Originally, 2a was a different highway which eventually morphed into pieces of 225 and 25. When route 2 was moved, 2a was the designation given to what it had left. So I guess the history of 2a is really the history of pieces of 2.

I suppose one can't blame me for falling in love with that which has virtually propelled me so far on my noble journey.

"The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say."

-- J R R Tolkien

10,200 romantic steps today. Cheers,