Gold Dome, Golden Syrup and the von Trapp "Gold Mine"

Sunday, 10/03

Our view of the green meadow and surrounding hills of foliage was … gone. Heavy fog like that of the San Joaquin Valley in winter was a bit discouraging for today was a touring day. Regardless, we headed out and found Montpelier, the state capital. Another coach was already in front of the bright gold domed building, but we took some photos and found the RV owners to be from Sacramento. Fun sharing info and urging them to join our RV group back home. After all these good deeds, the sun burned through and the brightness made for another capital photo op.  Although most of the brilliant fall foliage backdrop had disappeared, all of us imagined how striking it would have been to capture the view a few days before. 



Montpelier, VT's capital building.

 Up the hill and through the pastures, we found my old friend Burr Morse doing what he does best: Greeting busloads of tourists to his maple syrup farm. For me, it is so great to see a friend who, with his dad Harry, took my bus tours as the first to see how they made the syrup and enjoy the taste of one of Vermont’s best products. Harry has passed on, but Burr has taken on the business with gusto, yet still is the quintessential Vermont farmer. I’m proud to call him a friend made from a business relationship.

Burr gave us the story of how syrup is made, both in his words and on the screen, then surprised us with a special Vermont winter treat: Sugar on snow, with homemade donuts and pickles. Now, if you haven’t experienced this, don’t wrinkle up your nose. It’s fun and it’s good. His syrup is among the best, and the donuts were the best! So, we gorged ourselves. After all, we hadn’t eaten in the past hour. Needless to say, we then bought gallons more of this sweet elixer.

Maple Man Burr & his brother, Elliot.  Two of the best of Vermont.

Leaving Burr, we drove a few miles through the countryside to a mountain overlooking the village of Stowe. The mountainside has been owned by the von Trapp family, made even more famous by the movie “Sound of Music”. Having spent several Christmases at the Trapp Family Lodge, it was another homecoming for me. Again, fun to share with our friends, we toured the lodge, including the living room where my tour groups enjoyed Christmas Day, and even Maria’s apartment, something few experience.

Lunch and a wander about the surrounding grounds preceded our drive through Stowe to return to our homes-on-wheels.

A small section of The Trapp Family Lodge.