Over and over again I find the most joy in the unexpected. My knowledge of geography is mediocre at best. I had never noticed that Vermont is sandwiched by water on both the east and west borders. So our entrance and exit of Vermont were over water. 
This photo is from our ride on the Ticondaroga Ferry. It crosses Lake Champlain at a relatively narrow point at the southern end of the lake. 
Our first little discovery was a cider and donut store just up the road from the ferry. The cider is delicious, from the first press of the season. We took a hilly drive with many 90 degree turns to the foot of the Green Mountains. It was a hot steamy day. 
At first I just cooled my feet in the water of Dunmore Lake where we camped. It felt so good we left the cameras at the camper and went for a refreshing swim. It was such a perfect day in the water, I noticed a group of 4 men standing waist deep and talking for more than an hour. I didn't notice many bugs and the lake was great.
This photo is from our ride on the Ticondaroga Ferry. It crosses Lake Champlain at a relatively narrow point at the southern end of the lake. Our first little discovery was a cider and donut store just up the road from the ferry. The cider is delicious, from the first press of the season. We took a hilly drive with many 90 degree turns to the foot of the Green Mountains. It was a hot steamy day. At first I just cooled my feet in the water of Dunmore Lake where we camped. It felt so good we left the cameras at the camper and went for a refreshing swim. It was such a perfect day in the water, I noticed a group of 4 men standing waist deep and talking for more than an hour. I didn't notice many bugs and the lake was great. Saturday morning started partly cloudy and somewhat warm. We drove north towards Waterbury of Ben & Jerry fame. 
On the way we came upon a Saturday market in Waitsvlle in the Mad River Valley. We stocked up on fresh produce and restocked the freezer with some meat. 
There was a nice mix of gifts, food and music. There seemed to be many loyal customers at each booth and we took their advice to heart. A couple had traveled from Montreal just for the pickled green tomatoes; a gentleman claimed the multigrain bread was the best anywhere; & the yak burger customer had almost filled his frequent buyer card so he could earn a free yak leather wallet. 
I didn't take a picture of our yak burger that came with roasted garlic, grilled tomato, fresh mozzarella and home made bun. It was consumed before I got a chance. The Vermont Yak company has a Facebook page and I bet you can find an image there. They told me Yak are not raised in the NW, although there are some in Montana and Colorado.
On the way we came upon a Saturday market in Waitsvlle in the Mad River Valley. We stocked up on fresh produce and restocked the freezer with some meat. There was a nice mix of gifts, food and music. There seemed to be many loyal customers at each booth and we took their advice to heart. A couple had traveled from Montreal just for the pickled green tomatoes; a gentleman claimed the multigrain bread was the best anywhere; & the yak burger customer had almost filled his frequent buyer card so he could earn a free yak leather wallet. I didn't take a picture of our yak burger that came with roasted garlic, grilled tomato, fresh mozzarella and home made bun. It was consumed before I got a chance. The Vermont Yak company has a Facebook page and I bet you can find an image there. They told me Yak are not raised in the NW, although there are some in Montana and Colorado. We drove on from the fair to Waterbury. 
The tour comes with a sample and a bit of information. We learned why some of our favorite flavors have changed or gone to the "graveyard". The company has changed to all GMO free ingredients--so Hershey was not able/willing to make GMO free Heath Bars, hence Coffee Heath Bar Crunch is now Coffee and Toffee Crunch. They retired a flavor that had Kalua because they singled handed lay drove up the price of Kalua beyond profitability. By the time we came out of our tour it was raining too hard to go up the hill to the flavor graveyard. 
We headed east to Montpelier and gave the capital a rainy drive by. The population of Montpelier is under and 8000 and is the only state capital without a McDonalds. That is the sort of claim to fame that fits this pretty little state. The eastern border of Vermont is the Connectiut River. 
We crossed the Connecticut over the Mt Orne Bridge. It is 266 ft long and the sign says the vehicle clearance is 12'6" high. We are 12'2" so we should have been good to go, but
On the New Hampshire end we heard a bang on the roof... The bar hanging down has 11'6" printed on it! What the heck! Oh well just a noise no damage to the rig. 
The Connecticut River looking back to Vermont from New Hampshire.
Here is our simple dinner of fair faire. We will give New Hampshire a quick drive through today and be in Maine by tonight. jb
The tour comes with a sample and a bit of information. We learned why some of our favorite flavors have changed or gone to the "graveyard". The company has changed to all GMO free ingredients--so Hershey was not able/willing to make GMO free Heath Bars, hence Coffee Heath Bar Crunch is now Coffee and Toffee Crunch. They retired a flavor that had Kalua because they singled handed lay drove up the price of Kalua beyond profitability. By the time we came out of our tour it was raining too hard to go up the hill to the flavor graveyard. We headed east to Montpelier and gave the capital a rainy drive by. The population of Montpelier is under and 8000 and is the only state capital without a McDonalds. That is the sort of claim to fame that fits this pretty little state. The eastern border of Vermont is the Connectiut River. We crossed the Connecticut over the Mt Orne Bridge. It is 266 ft long and the sign says the vehicle clearance is 12'6" high. We are 12'2" so we should have been good to go, butOn the New Hampshire end we heard a bang on the roof... The bar hanging down has 11'6" printed on it! What the heck! Oh well just a noise no damage to the rig. The Connecticut River looking back to Vermont from New Hampshire. Here is our simple dinner of fair faire. We will give New Hampshire a quick drive through today and be in Maine by tonight. jbOn the brink of autumn...
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