So what's the hyland hillclimb this year?  Well, we're combining three popular driving events from our club's illustrious past into one special day: 

1. A tour of the Wachusett Brewery in Westminster, MA (not Winchester, like the email announcement said), where we'll learn all about the brewing process (tentative)

2. A climb up Mount Wachusett to marvel at the scenic views

3. A back roads trip to Hyland Orchard in Sturbridge, MA, to take in some cider, lunch, etc.

We'll start the day off by meeting at the Wachusett Brewery. Be there before 10:00AM, which is when our tour starts. Here, we'll be given a tour of the operation to see how things are done at the microbrewery level and have an opportunity to purchase their glassware, wearables, and their highly-respected product.

We'll then caravan to the top of Mount Wachusett to take in the stunning views. Fall colors should be starting to make their presence known along our ride to the top of the mountain, where the fresh air will provoke the appetite and warm the spirit.

Afterward, we'll descend the mountain for a journey to Hyland Orchard. AONE Director Gene Durso and newish member Dan Donovan, who live out that way, have scoped out some very fine Alfa roads for us to follow, a little over an hour's drive. Our event will officially end at the Orchard around noon, where you can pick some apples, get some lunch, let the kids ride in tractor-pulled carts around the fields, listen to some live music under a big pavilion, and enjoy the country air. We understand that there's a brewery on the premises, but that's all hearsay and our club event officially ends when we pull into the place.

We're working with Hyland to have them designate a special parking area for our Alfas, so please contact Gene at gdurso@emdurso.com or 978-314-1224 to let him know that you're coming, so we can let Hyland know how much space we'll need. This event is rain-or-shine!

Everyone who's taken part in our Wachusett tours in the past has had a great time - great roads, great scenery, great people, great flavors! Come on along!

Directions

• To the Wachusett Brewery: Take Route 2 to Exit 27 North (Narrows Road). Take Narrows Road North about one mile.  Turn right on State Road (Route 2A).  Wachusett Brewery is about 0.2 mile on the right.

• To the base of Mount Wachusett: If you want to meet us at the mountain around 11:00-11:30, take Route 2 to Exit 25 (Route 140). Take Route 140 South about 3 miles to Mile High Road on the right. There is a big "Wachusett Mountain Ski Area" sign at this intersection. Continue on Mile High Road about 2 miles, past the Ski Area base lodge, continuing uphill to a road on the right with a big sign "Wachusett Mountain State Reservation". Turn in there, and continue to your right about 100 yards to a parking area on the right. At that point, you’ll be handed maps for the rest of the event.

• To Hyland Orchard: If you just want to meet us at the Orchard around 1:00, it is located in Sturbridge off Route 20, just west of Old Sturbridge Village. Take a right onto Arnold Road and travel north for two miles.

Click here to download a PDF file of the route directions

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