September 18, 2006 (Mon) Twin Mountain, NH to Waterbury, VT (130 miles today/1364 total) - The overnight low was 47° but it had gotten all the way up to 48° by the time we got up at 7:45. Actually it didn't feel all that bad. Maybe we're getting used to living in the north.
The Flume is a deep split in the Conway granite (the rock of choice in this area) caused by seismic upheavals, glacial action, and erosion from the flow of the Pemigewasset River. After visiting Franconia State Park many times over the years, we decided to bite the bullet and fork over the $10 each to see it. It was well worth the 3 1/2 mile walk (round trip including side trips and the parking lot). Visually it was spectacular. Physically it was quite a workout! The trail was either steep inclines (or declines) and stairs most of the way.
We headed for a campground near Bethlehem, NH with a Passport America discount but passed it by because it didn't look very inviting. We stopped in Bethlehem to do a laundry then blew out of New Hampshire and across Vermont. Little River State Park is at the end of a 3 mile dirt road. The dust we kicked up will mix with that from Alaska still lingering in Q's cracks and crevices. It's a nice little park though and worth spending a couple of days if things work out that way.
September 19, 2006 (Tue) Waterbury, VT - We didn't do much today. We got up late and poked around taking showers and eating breakfast. The rain started about mid day in the form of sprinkles, just enough to keep us inside. Then in the afternoon and into the evening it rained off and on. We managed to get a lot of reading done and we squeezed in a couple of games of RummiKub. There is no TV reception here so we had to settle for the radio (for news) and CDs (for background music).
Q033174 Little River State Park #4 dry $18.00 A (x2)
September 20, 2006 (Wed) Waterbury, VT to Johnson, VT (37/1401 miles) - I don't believe we only drove 37 miles today! It seemed much further. We were up at 7:00 (41°) and at the dump station by 8:20. Then after a tour of the rest of the campground (area B - a short hilly drive away) we started back down the 3 mile dirt road to civilization.
Hildene, in her attempt to reduce our time on the dirt road to Barbara (a quilting friend of Joy's) and Mike's house north of Stowe, VT, routed us the long way around. That's why we couldn't find any road names Barbara had given us in her directions. We got there anyway and after a quick tour of their little red house (nice) we took a somewhat longer auto tour of the surrounding area - Barbara at the wheel. Stowe is a well known ski (in the winter) and summer resort destination - very touristy. They are between seasons now so we got the flavor of the area without the crowds. The scenery was magnificent, the atmosphere rural and very "Vermont". The foliage is just beginning to brighten. We had a late lunch at the Shed in Stowe - Vermont Reubens with a tray (actually part of a ski) of 6 different beers. The Shed is a micro brewery. After a quick stop by home to drop Mark off, Joy and Barbara headed to the local quilt shop. Dinner was a delicious potato and leek soup the Barbara made.
Q033211 Barbara and Mike's driveway
September 21, 2006 (Thu) Johnson, VT to Vergennes, VT (86/1487 miles) - It rained heavily off and on during the night but clear (though cloudy) and cold (41°) this morning. We got off at about 10:00 (thanks Barbara and Mike for the use of your driveway and electricity. And thanks Barbara for the tour of the area) and headed down out of the mountains. The Ben and Jerry's ice cream factory is on SR100 just before I89. We had to stop for a tour and a free sample! The tour was interesting and the sample, about a half scoop of American Apple Pie, was great (Mark had a second). We added another Costco, in Burlington, to our life list and turned south on US7.
The Shelburne Museum, in the village of the same name just south of Burlington, is several acres of buildings, including a lighthouse and covered bridge, and the restored side wheeler steamboat SS Tigonderoga. Of particular interest to Joy was their excellent collection of old (and some not so old) quilts. We especially enjoyed the model of a looong circus parade - the carved pieces (people, animals and wagons) seemed to go on and on! - the tour of the steamboat, the temporary exhibits of Georgia O'Keeffe and Tasha Tudor paintings, and several others. It was too much to see all in one afternoon. We were exhausted by the time we got back to Q.
Q033297 Button Bay State Park #56 dry $18.00 A
September 22, 2006 (Fri) Vergennes, VT to Crown Point, NY (55/1542 miles) - Mark thinks Vermont state parks are overpriced for not having any hook-ups so it's almost like usury to have to pay for a shower - even if it is only 50 cents for 5 minutes. But pay it we did or risk offending other tourists - few as they are.
On the way back to the Shelburne Museum - the ticket is good for two days - we stopped at the Vermont Teddy bear Factory where we learned how teddy bears are made. Again, an interesting tour but no free samples this time! At the museum we walked through some of the old buildings, including a lighthouse, brought there from around the area and rehabilitated. Joy wanted to see the quilts again so we also did that.
Crown Point is at the southern end of Lake Champlain. We've camped at the state park several times. It's a beautiful little park with many sites (all occupied this time) overlooking the lake. We can see the lake through the trees - and hear the boats, which lends a certain atmosphere - and there are no other units near us at this time. We'll be here two nights so we can recover from our wild touristing activities.
September 23, 2006 (Sat) Crown Point, NY - It rained off and on during the night but it didn't get as cold as we expected it to (54°). We got up late and spent the day reading, napping, and wishing it were a better day. The phone signal here is very good but it doesn't seem to work - it doesn't ring through. We don't know if it's a peculiarity with the area or the phone itself. We'll see tomorrow when we get on the road again.
Q033352 Crown Point State Park #32 dry $14.00 (+2.75) (x2)
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