On Hedges Lake - #34-01

September 12, 2003 (Fri)
Home to Hedges Lake (242/242 miles)

Well here we are again looking out on Hedges Lake (in NY near Bennington, VT). Gordy and Ruth have offered the use of their driveway for the weekend even though they are in New York City. Q is parked facing the lake so that we'll be able to watch the sunrise over the lake from bed in the morning. In the mean time we're enjoying the deck and the very pleasant weather.

We got off at about 10:00 this morning - actually 9:55 - and headed for the Garden State Parkway, northbound. 66 degrees, windy, partly cloudy. We think we did quite well - did most of our packing this morning. I guess we're getting used to it. It leaves us with the feeling that we've forgotten something though. We hope it's only Joy's extra pair of reading glasses and a roll of quarters for tolls.

There seem to be a lot of police on the roads. It must be because yesterday was the anniversary (2nd) of the attack on the World Trade Center and Pentagon. Spent some travel time listening to Johnny Cash (who died this morning) and remembering. We kind of "grew up" with him. We both had listened to and liked his music even before he became a star.

We're glad we didn't have to buy gas on the way here. Prices were running as high as $1.87/gal for regular in New York State. Vermont should be much better so we'll get some there.

Q053346 Gordy and Ruth's driveway
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September 13, 2003 (Sat) Hedges Lake (2) - The sunrise this morning was spectacular. What luxury it was to lie in bed watching the brilliant red sky slowly fade to pink then to pale yellow just as the sun itself peeked over the hill across the lake. What a treat!

We headed for Bennington (VT) Quiltfest as soon as breakfast and showers were taken care of. On the way, we swung by the cemetery in North Bennington where we buried Mark's mother three weeks ago. The flowers (mostly mums) that Gordy and Ruth put there for the interment service were still blooming brightly, again bringing beauty to a solemn occasion. We gave them a drink of water although we're sure Gordy and Ruth had done it not too long ago.

The quilt show was very nice, somewhat crowded. Joy actually got away without spending any money!!

After a stop at Bennington Potters to shop and the Bennington Cider Mill for lunch, we went to the Bennington Center for the Arts - an interesting place. We particularly enjoyed an exhibition of animal sculpture. This was a collection of bird carvings in wood so well done that it was hard to tell that they weren't real. The native American art collection - painting, sculpture, and modern crafts - was excellent. There is also a Covered Bridge Museum there (the only one in the world) that tells the history of covered bridges and something of their romance and impact on life in simpler times.

Now we are vegging out on the deck, watching the sky and clouds and water. It's very peaceful, a little cool, and mostly quiet.

September 14, 2003 (Sun) Hedges Lake (3) - Not such a great sunrise this morning. In fact it looked a lot like rain - and it has, off and on, all day. Too bad because we had planned today to sit on the deck and relax. Well we did get in some deck sitting to read or just look at the lake but it wasn't what we'd planned what with running for cover every so often and all. We have made good progress in our books though. Joy also napped and worked some crossword puzzles and Mark worked on website maintenance.

In the late afternoon there was a beautiful double rainbow across the lake. Wow!

Tomorrow we're off to Maine. We're watching hurricane Isabel - category 5 by last reports - pretty closely though. If it looks like it might come ashore somewhere near New Jersey, we may decide to cut our trip short and get home. We really don't want to do that!