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By
Ken Scott
 Ken
Scott '67 is an academic support specialist in the information
technology
services department of the College. "What this entails," he says, "is supporting
Wintel PCs and the software running on them, troubleshooting, consulting with
faculty and staff about various related issues and training." Scott started out
decades ago as a math/physics teacher designing, as a hobby, special purpose
computers. He explains, "When Tandy brought out the original TRS-80 I got badly
bitten by the PC bug. Twenty or so computers later the
hobby has become a profession."
Outside of work, Scott's passion is his restored 1977 MGB. He purchased the car
in April 1990 and
named it "Jessica" (after "Jessica Rabbit" of Who Shot Roger Rabbit? fame).
The vehicle had 78,000 miles on it and "wasn't too pretty." But Scott painstakingly
restored it.
"I redid the dash in
mahogany," he says. "The dash, door rails, door pulls, and center console are
all mahogany. I designed it and cut it myself. That was a project one winter.
It was a lot of fun."
But for all the loving attention he's given the MG, he insists the car is no
garage queen. "From April 1 to November 1," he says, "she is my daily transportation.
She has been to Prince Edward Island, Washington, D.C., for the big MG meet in
1994, Colonial Williamsburg and Skyline Drive. On several occasions, my wife
and I have gotten up early on a Saturday morning and driven to a wonderful little
restaurant in Quebec
for lunch. We rallye frequently and autocross whenever possible."
Today, the car has almost
154,000 miles on it. "I'm very lucky," Scott says, "I love to drive, and my wife,
Eleanor, loves to ride. We're a great team. We play music, we talk, we just enjoy
each other's company. One of the advantages of being married to someone for 27
years is that you can be comfortable simply being
together. I'm very fortunate that my wife is my best friend."
For this summer issue, Holy Cross Magazine asked
Ken Scott to recommend some of his favorite
road trips.
Trip 1:
Day-trip to Connecticut to visit the USS Nautilus
Directions
(all directions originate from Worcester): Stafford Street
to Route 31 South, 31S to 197 South, 197S
to 169 South to Norwich, Conn.
This is a pleasant
little day-trip that takes you along some rural, winding
roads. Route 169
South is a beautiful road through some lovely towns in
Connecticut. My motto is - the journey is as much a part of the enjoyment
as the destination. With a convertible you see so much
more - hawks circling around in the sky, the foliage in the
fall. On the river in Norwich, there's a naval museum that
contains the Nautilus, the original U.S. atomic submarine.
The tour through the submarine museum is extremely interesting.
Round trip, including the time
at the museum - three to four hours, depending on how fast you drive - and
when you drive a red sports car, it does tend to attract the attention of the
local
constabulary. Tip: Stop to eat at the Inn at Woodstock.
Trip 2: Day-trip
down the Mohawk Trail
Directions: Route 122 North to 202 North, 202N to 2 West,
2W (Mohawk Trail) to 7 South, 7S to 9 East.
This is an old road and an incredibly
beautiful trip in the fall. I know this drive well from my
childhood. Each fall, my parents would take us on a foliage
tour of the Mohawk Trail. Today, Eleanor and I jump in the
car at 8 a.m. each Monday of the Columbus Day weekend and
eventually wind up in North Adams, Mass. We recommend stopping
for lunch at The Oxbow Restaurant or The French King, near
Greenfield. The fun of this trip is to pull off at any place
that strikes your fancy. We pull over at used bookstores
(I collect turn-of-the-century children's books), antique
stores, wineries, craft shops, flea markets. We do a lot
of browsing - that's another advantage of the MG, limited
trunk space!
Trip 3: Two-to-three
day-trip through western Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire,
and Canada
Directions: Route 122 North to 202 North, 202N to 2 West,
2W to 112 North, 112N to 100 North; cross into Canada on
Route 91, 91 to 55 North, 55N to
108 West.
This trip can be done in a day - we've
done
it - but it's best undertaken in two-to-three days. Route 100 North is an absolute
joy to drive. You'll discover a number of covered bridges, including the Scott
covered bridge, the longest covered bridge in Vermont. There are all kinds of
antique stores, but set aside time for the Ben and
Jerry's Ice Cream factory tour - it's a hoot and a half. You'll find a great
meal at the Foxfire restaurant near Stowe. In North Hatley, a tiny town near
Quebec, make a point of seeking out Le Pilson restaurant - I recommend the fresh
mountain trout.
Trip 4: Weeklong
trip to Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway
Directions: Mass Pike to Taconic Parkway South, Taconic
to 84 West, 84W to 209 South/West, 209 to 80 West, 80W
to 81 South, 81S to 66 East, 66E to
Skyline Drive, Skyline Drive to Blue Ridge Parkway, Blue Ridge Parkway to
the Great Smoky National Park.
One of the most beautiful trips
I've ever taken. 84 West is no fun, but 209 South takes you
by the banks of the Delaware River. Skyline Drive begins
in Front Royal, West Va. - a wonderfully scenic, two-lane,
limited access road that winds through the mountains. A very
interesting side trip is the Luray Caverns, well worth
your time. Off Skyline Drive and the Blueridge Parkway are
a number of state-sponsored rest stops featuring fine exhibits
of native culture and history. I find this stretch almost
overwhelming: every time you go around a corner, there's
another beautiful, scenic vista that's more stunning than
the one you left
behind. You'll see all kinds of wildlife. Bring a picnic lunch to eat in the
woods. In Ashville, stop at the spectacular Biltmore estate. On the return trip,
stop in the Pennsylvania Dutch Country and pick up some candy
in Hershey, Pa.
Trip 5: Weeklong
trip to Cape Breton and the Cabot Trail
Directions: 290 East to 495 North, 495N to 95 North, 95N
over the Canadian border to 2 East, 2E to 6 East, 6E to
106 East, 106E to 104 East, 104E to
105 East (the Cabot Trail). Follow the Cabot Trail around Cape
Breton.
Eleanor and I honeymooned on Prince
Edward Island and walked the beach in the Cavendish State
Park. Nothing but beautiful, clean, clear sand. Once you
arrive at the Cabot Trail, I would suggest that you drive
the road counter clockwise rather than clockwise, because
if you go counterclockwise, you're on the outside edge of
the trail and you get a much better view than from the inside
(unless you have a passenger
that's fearful of heights.) Along the Cabot Trail, you'll find the Alexander
Graham Bell Museum and the Anne of Green Gables Museum.
Scott credits the AAA Travel Club for the vast
majority of the routes.
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