Rain, Leisure, and Soup

Wednesday, 10/06

It's all quiet on the eastern front.  The rain has returned which means some of us are enjoying a day of catching up with domestic tasks (including blogging), reading, and just relaxing independently.  Of course, some went shopping while others stayed home and made chicken soup or lentil soup ... both of which we're going to enjoy.  Sometimes a rainy day is the best day, especially when all of us have been so busy sightseeing.

Once again, more photos to share:

"NO Ralph, it will not fit!!"

Enlarge the photo and look closely at the design.

East (cousin Carol & Chloe) meets West (Bill & Emma)

Farewell & Welcome

Tuesday, 10/05

It's time to leave green for white.  Don't know what that means?  Well, Across the Connecticut River from Vermont's Green Mountain range are White Mountains of New Hampshire ... and our destination for this morning's 3 hour drive.  Apparently, we've all had a good time in my home state, but more adventure awaits and we have to leave to find it.

What a pleasant surprise to find more foliage along the way!  Pockets of vibrant color with sun filtering through the forest of leaves.  Narrow, curvy (no kidding!!!!) roads along river banks occasionally caused us drivers to pay attention to DRIVING.  Yet, we all enjoyed our routes to North Conway, NH.  Of course, the first thing we had to do upon entering the state which carries the statement on its license plates "LIVE FREE OR DIE", was to storm the state controlled liquor store in search of bargains.  Conveniently located almost immediately upon crossing the border, New Hampshire's prices rival our Costco's and are much lower than Vermont's or other nearby states'. 

New Hampshire's White Mountains.  Snow caps are only a month away.

Continuing along the Kancamagus Highway,  our driving skills also continued to be tested and polished while we "oooh'd" & "aaah'd over the scenery.  Thankfully, there was little traffic competing for space on the asphalt.  Undoubtedly, today's route was one of the best entries to New Hampshire's offerings.

A popular vista site in the White Mountains, temporarily infested by California migrants.

"Kancamagus"?  No, it's not a Danish throat disease.  Rather, it's derivation is native Indian who made a trail through the woods from the Connecticut River to the Saco River along a third river and over the mountains.  This is what we followed.  A struggle for them.  Another visual feast for us.

Our RV campground is on the banks of the Saco River with shade trees that plague those of us with satellite TVs, but the park provides 80+ channels.  Being in town, the stores and restaurants are within walking distance.  Much to do.  Much to see.

Independence & Assorted Photos

Monday, 10/04

A day for all to explore independently. Some visited the nearby Green Mountain Coffee Roasters’ plant. Others supported Stowe’s shopkeepers. The rest of us enjoyed the solitude of another dry day and our campground.

Tonight? A communal dinner right here in RV Land, thanks to the fine traveling cooks among us. Already, the fire is lit and the appetizers have been prepared. It’ll be another fattening, fun evening.  We must do this to prepare for winter's hibernation when we finally return to California.

Here, I'll share a few more photos taken by Doris, me, and fellow traveler Tom Costa.  There's no order to them.  I just like them.

Reminiscing at my first home, a farm house built in the 1800s.

Yes, brothers, sisters and brothers-in-law can enjoy being together ... and we do!

Burr Morse sharing his sugar making shack with us.  Truly, a special time for all of us.

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.