Tuesday, August 5, 2008

The Nagle, And Thereabouts

From the 'Pictures I Haven't Used Yet' category I submit the following, from a quick walk on the Nagle walkway in Northampton a few days ago.

The William Nagel Sr. walkway (pdf) is being revamped and connected to the Norwottuck Rail Trail and the Northamtpon Bikeway. The future will see an extension to Veteran's Field, and then eventual connection to the Manhan Trail in Easthampton, and then...who knows? Even into the proposed Southampton Greenway. Won't it be Grand..?

We picked up the walkway by the railroad bridge over Main St., where there is an ancient stairway leading to the old train station. The old train station is now known as The Depot, occupied by the Union Station/Spaghetti Freddie's restaurants. Spaghetti Freddy's is a good all around pasta joint, and Union Station is a steak and seafood restaurant, with a great old fashioned atmosphere. You can sit in isolated, round, curtained booths that line the edges of a large hall. Pretty neat.



There's also outside deck seating, and a large banquet hall. Union Station is also renowned for it's 'Grand Sunday Brunch Buffet'. This ain't the Boar's Nest.



This part of the Nagle walkway is elevated, and there were people below waiting in line around the block to see a show at the famous Pearl St. Nightclub. Here we passed directly over the Tunnel Bar, a beautiful, definitely cozy, rail tunnel transformation.



Crossing Pleasant St., the trail renovations really start taking shape. It's still nice and flat for walking though. From that part of the path you can get a good view of the Northampton Brewery, and beyond.





We decided to halt here. It goes on to Veteran's field, but we'd explored the little walkway enough for today, we'll come back when the renovations are complete, and/or we have more daylight...



Now back up the hill, to and across Main St, behind the busy restaurants, shops, and stores, then under the scaffolding of the re-roofing project going on at the First Church.







Back on Main St. again, to complete our loop, and get some pics under the glowing twilight sky.





Interconnected paths all over the Northampton area. It's nice having something like that to look forward to...

4 comments:

Mary E.Carey said...

What's the (intriguingly named) Boar's Nest?

Anonymous said...

I wouldn't like to see all those projects after your recent deluge, oy!

Tony said...

Mary, you've obviously escaped capture by the mind-sludging comedy-dramas of the 80's...

The Boar's Nest was the local pub & grill, and Boss Hog's headquarters, in Hazzard County, on the old tv show 'Dukes of Hazzard'...

Larry Kelley said...

The 'General Lee' wanna-be was a dead giveaway.