DH and I recently had an adventure. We went to Osgood’s in West Springfield to get firmer cushions for our downstairs man cave sofa. I was extremely cranky regarding the whole trip. I had other things to do. But I had promised DH new cushions as part of his requested Father’s Day gift, so I got in the car anyway. Did I mention I was very cranky? I tortured him mercilessly with my wifely crankiness for a good solid 45 minutes … until our adventure began to decisively unfold.
We had a terrible time getting to Osgoods. The drive normally takes one hour. But to start, there was a backup on the Pike FOR NO REASON. It seems the turnpike crew managers left up signs that the lanes were narrowing to one. But the lanes NEVER EVER did narrow to one. Even so, everyone else on the road began slowing down starting like 30 miles away, anyway. It was extremely beyond annoying. We were both cursing. We are super compatible in this important respect.
Eventually, we were beyond the unnecessary bottleneck and off the pike and onto our exit, Exit 3. The next delay: We we missed a key turn in Westfield. I had chosen this sideways-to-Osgoods route from mapquest. Bad call. That set us back another 20 minutes, but by then we had cast our lots to the wind and were just going with the flow. The day was going to be shot, there was no denying. We were starting to laugh everything off.
Over the river and through the woods, we finally got to Osgoods. Everything went fine there – sort of. We could not get the cushions immediately, because we wanted the very firmest possible, and they had to order them. But, we were taking it all in stride. Guess we’d be making another trip!
By now we were starving and set out to forage for a place to eat. We thought we might find something old-timey in West Springfield, but we did not. We got dumped onto 91 North, and I started joking we would be eating at Chili’s soon. Sure enough, the first significant exit included signs for Chili’s. We took it. The same sign also indicated a non-chain Mexican place — we were all for that and started getting our enchilada mojo on. But then, we got onto a road where we literally could not turn around for like 8 miles. That’s when we first cruised past Donut Dip, over on the right. But we needed Food first.
We finally turned around. We kept looking for the Mexican place, but did not see it. Before we knew it we were in Fast Food and Casual Dining land. Even now we kept making wrong turns. By then I was Starving. I did not Care where we ate. Crap: We missed the turn for Chilis. I yelled at DH, but in a keystone cops we do have fun don’t we i remember why i married you kind of way.
Now we were back on the same road that made us drive 8 miles before we could turn around — the road that went past the Donut Dip. Needing some gratification after 25 minutes of driving in a circle, DH slammed on those brakes, and into the Donut Dip we went. We immediately realized that after surviving at least 4 rings of driving adventure hell, we had been delivered unto: Retro Donut Heaven!
It turns out that Donut Dip is quite the landmark. It makes its donuts on site daily and has third-generation owners. Here is what this political website had to say about it:
It has to be one of the most beautiful signs in America, not for its value as a piece of nostalgia, but as a thing in itself, a series of hot pink letters swirling around shadow, an alliteration made of neon that evokes less the past than another world. As it happens, the sign is easy to reach from the highway, and the donuts are the best in New England, maybe the best in the country.
We promptly slapped down $50 for: one super duper sized donut, a dozen mixed donuts, and three tee shirts — two blue, one pink.
The folks working there were also very nice and told us how to get to the Mexican place — which was RIGHT across the street but tucked back a ways.
We had to illegally jump the curb and scrape the bottom of the car to turn into the restaurant yet avoid having to drive 8 miles in the wrong direction before we could turn around. Yes, our luck had defiantly turned. It was still early at the restaurant, and we got seated right away. (There was a lineup by the time we finished dinner.) We inhaled super duper delicious enchiladas and the best guacamole ever. We would have mainlined margaritas, too, but we had to drive home.
lexavline says
I just ran across this post (how did I miss it?) and I have to say that you just described the best day ever!
pam kueber says
🙂 yup, it was!
Bex says
I’m in Easthampton! (also – were you surprised at how Osgood’s has shrunk? I was shocked last time I went in there…..)
JMo says
Must agree with everyone here. Love DonutDip…although usually call on the on ein East Longmeadow (Rt 5 can be nutty). Yes to White Hut and yes to the Fort! Had my rehearsal dinner there at the Fort…try the fried cheese. Gus and Paul’s also a special place. Yum.
Becky P S says
Oh how I can relate! we have been on quite a few of those trips that Hubby likes to call Photo Safaris! Glad it ended up a good day!
Jenny says
I’m nowhere near the giant donut!!!!!
;-( I’m licking my screen but it’s not the same…
Gavin Hastings says
Wait….One more please:
:
In depicting your adventure on Riverdale Street/Rt 5, you forgot the part about the TWO 2-Lane Rotarys/Turnabouts (with bridges) located within 2 miles of one another.
In some countrys they are aptly called aTraffic Circus…Circus=Circle in Latin!
Makes driving “exciting” again…..
Elizabeth Mary says
Sorry to be a day late on this, but that did allow me to read all the posts. I just wish this had been about a year earlier. Why? Well, about a year ago I drove a good friend from North Egremont , MA near the NY border over to West Springfield to pick up her new car at a dealer on Riverdale Rd (which I did not realize was Rt 5, a road I actually knew). We made the same WRONG turn and ended up going all over the place before we stopped in Springfield so she could call the dealer for directions. Those directions took us over the Memorial Bridge, which left me dumbfounded by its beauty. And, we did drive by the Donut Dip a couple of times. After she got her car we tried to find a place to eat and did a few backwards and forwards on that road before we found a place. Sure wish we had known about the White Hut or the Mexican place. But, like your day, ours ended in many laughs and good memories. Next time I am over there I will definitely stop for a donut.
JKaye says
Great post. So much to enjoy — a doughnut the size of a man’s head, the D’s on the box are made out of doughnuts, the Donut Dip building includes a piece of wrought iron, a decoration I really like (but which my husband hates), and great photos of your DH in your retro kitchen. (How did the giant doughnut make it all the way home? Seems like it would have been eaten on the grueling drive back!) Hope the cushions turn out well for the man cave sofa — that’s a lot of cushion to replace.
Heather says
How fun to see this post! I know Riverdale Rd. very well and I WORKED at the Donut Dip for a year! My 1954 ranch that I’m buying is just down the road a couple miles in Agawam!
Gavin Hastings says
It’s the “World Wide Web”….but alot of us seem to be in Western Massachusetts!
JefferyK says
No wonder — Western Massachusetts is beautiful. Wish I lived there.
kristen says
me too! me too! Live in Agawam that is…Hi “neighbor”! (My house is a tiny bit older at 1890 vintage though)
pam kueber says
goodness — i think we need to plan a meet-up for sure!
50sgal says
Oh, I adore good well made and locally made doughnuts, MMM. And they began in 1957, my current year! If we are ever going West, we shall stop for sure.