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Foxglove
This beautiful plant was one of many in Sandy's yard. June 22-27: Sandy was my sister's friend first, but we quickly became friends after being introduced. She and her friend, John, helped me set up the RV and made me feel right at home. I spent the first couple of days resting up, then taking picture after picture of the beautiful flowers in their yard. I happened to mention that I wanted to see and photograph some covered bridges. Boy did we see some covered bridges over the next few days! I loved every minute of it. Tragically, an immense flood just a few years ago wiped out many of the historic bridges in New Hampshire as well as Vermont. Now there aren't a lot left.
In addition to exploring covered bridges, we visited the little village near Plymouth Union, Vt., where President Calvin Coolidge was born, raised and buried. He was actually born in an apartment in the rear of a general store in the village, but later, when he was President, he would come back to the village and use the rooms over the general store for his Vermont “White House”. He and his family attended church in that village; he worked at a cheese factory
Red Covered Bridge
This was one of the few red bridges. there and on a near-by farm. Sandy's family knew the Coolidges, so she could tell me even more history! Yes, I did buy some cheese and the village cheese factory!!
When we visited the cemetery where Coolidge is buried, I was shocked. It is a typical small-town Vermont cemetery with no fancy fences or extra landscaping. The former Presidents graveyard is not fenced off nor very elaborate. His rather plain tombstone does have the Presidential seal on it, but nothing else to distinguish it from any of the other gravestones. What a difference from the fancy libraries and burial places of the more modern presidents!!
While riding through the countryside Sandy also took me to a fairly new winery located in a beautiful, huge farm house near where she grew up. I also got to see where she went to school. We also visited her son, an enterprising young man who lives in an historic farm house he is in the process of restoring. He collects and sells old and antique trailers and farm implements, going all over the north-east to shows etc. In between those, he farms “ a little”.
Interior
This is what the inside of a covered bridge can look like. Another day while looking for more covered bridges--I lost count of the pictures I took and the bridges I saw--we took a side trip to some beautiful scenery around Hamilton Falls. These falls have a deceptive pool at the top of the falls which look great for swimming. The pool has proved deadly, however, because the water sweeping down the hillside washes the swimmer out of the pool and down the falls. We hiked down the hillside to the bottom of the falls so we could see them better and stick our feet in the "safe" swimming area below. It was a great place to eat our picnic lunch.
We made one special trip to Bennington, Vt. to visit not only the area, but see the Bennington Battle Monument. The monument is a tall column located on one of the highest hills in the town, where the Colonies had established a look-out post and storage depot during the Revolutionary War. The Brits attacked to try and get to the stores and get the hillside for their own post. Ethan Allen and his “Green Mountain Boys” defeated the British and kept the strategic hill. I enjoyed reading all
Looking Outward
Looking at a stream through the lattice on a covered bridge. the historic signs and learning a bit more about the War and Ethan Allen. I have to say that Vermont certainly has a lot to offer for scenery, charm and history.
June 28-July 6: Time flew by and my cousin Vesta was expecting me, so I left my newest good friends and headed south to the Mt. Monadnock region, near Keene, NH. I arrived at their place in time for supper. (Naturally!) I told Vesta I had done so much exploring with Sandy, all I really wanted to do was rest and visit with her and Chuck. So, that is what we did for the next week. Well, we did a little bit of running around. Vesta and I checked out the local book store and drove into Keene to shop and find thrift stores. We did have fun!!! Chuck built their log cabin home at the foot of the picturesque Monadnock Mountain and does most of the landscape and gardening on their property. I also got to see some of the modern set-ups for collecting the sap from the maple trees in order to make syrup.
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Becky & Leo Davis NOMADS
non-member comment
Marty, We are enjoying your blog. This is an area, we hope to visit some day. We hope to get back on the road with the NOMADS this fall. We have not serve since March of last year and miss it. Where are you heading next? Blessings