This site is about the McGrail farm at 19 Lyman Road Berlin Massachusetts.

Eamonn's Bicycle Trip to the Farm

[Webmaster's Note: My brother, Eamonn P. McGrail, wrote about when he once rode from Fitchburg to the Farm. Here is the story from his email, unedited.--Jim McGrail.]

As for my own trip to the Farm,it should be known that I only went there once on my bike.I drove by the Farm
once back in '89,but the only time I went there on my
own power was in '86.Dan used to go there a lot on his Motobecane ten speed.
Dad used to say he saw me going there all the time.He had us mixed up. It was in the spring of '86.I was riding my 15-speed mountain bike around Leominster when I found myself on a back road behind Searstown Mall.I followed it having no idea where it went.I believe it went right under 495 going to Worcester.I found myself going parallel to Rt. 2 and decided there and then I would go to the
Farm.I rode the same route we always took to visit the Farm.I knew the way by visual cues only.I had no idea what the names of the roads were.I rode past the junkyard that used to have all those buses behind the
high fence.I always thought it would be fun to go in there.Along that stretch of road there was a message painted on the pavement;the letters were the width of
the road.It was something like "Close the Door".
Near the intersection where Bolton Orchards was,Dad came along and we talked for a bit before he drove off.He seemed quite impressed I was riding there on my own.
I didn't have a watch or anything,so I didn't time myself on how long it took to get there.Matt drove up in the old Valiant with some wooden posts he was using to set up bookshelves in the attic.Matt later told me
Dad made him do this hard laborious job for him which took the whole day just so matt could use the Valiant to go out on a date.I agreed it was a pretty usurious deal to use the car. I pedalled up the hill to Lyman Raod and there the Farm was.I reached my destination.Gramma was away at the hospital,so it was deserted.I didn't stay long.I just watched a video of Falco's song "Vienna Calling" on WVJV-66,Boston MTV competitor,and drank a bottle of Coke.Matt dropped off the posts and was finished with
the job at hand.He didn't have much left to do,so he
decided to go.
He and I loaded my bike into the back of the car.I was really ready to go home on my own power,but he
insisted on taking me back.I now wish I had declined.I believe he had the key though,so he would have had to lock up anyway.
I was glad I went,but I wish I could have done it again.

Eamonn P. McGrail

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