http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Vermont/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from North America , United States , Vermont en-us Wed, 25 Nov 09 06:41:28 +0000 Wed, 25 Nov 09 06:41:28 +0000 One of the greatest reggae bands ever is 'The Black Seeds'. They're from New Zealand and I never got a chance to see them while I was over there. Lucky for me they did an american tour and played in South Burlington while Sandra was visiting from Germany. It was a great show and well worth the 5 hour drive. Katie sister accompanied us out there and Sandra and I were able to meet up with one of http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Vermont/Burlington/blog-452808.html With a long travel day ahead of us we set out early in the morning for our drive across Massachusetts and into Vermont. Up until today we really had not seen much of the changing fall colors. The drive through Massachusetts changed all that once we started driving through the western part of the state. Closer to the coast most of the trees along the highway had still not changed colors. As we d http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Vermont/blog-447402.html Vermont New HampshireStaying at the shopping mall was not bad. It was quiet and we woke up to yes RAINOn the road rain isn't so bad. I pulled out my assistant to step up on so I could get the wipers to work with a swipe. AH HA.... that no longer works. The wipers have quit completely.The farther we drive into Vermont we start seeing cars with snow on them OMG now we will hav http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Vermont/blog-446512.html The sun setting on Luke's 23 birthday...there is no sunset like a Vermont sunset. http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Vermont/Pittsford/blog-443949.html Some pictures from this summer...enjoy. http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Vermont/blog-443941.html SelfGuided Two day bike routeStart in Middlebury. Stay at the Swifthouse Inn. Beautiful BB with good breakfast and walking distance to town.Bike to Shoreham and stay at the Shoreham Inn. It has a great gastropub and a renovated 1860's house. Very clean and cozy atmosphere with a nice patio and 5 acres of land to walk on. There is nothing else in Shoreham so arrive for dinner and spend the nigh http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Vermont/Burlington/blog-440318.html Luckily for us it was easier to leave downtown Montreal that it was to get there probably partly because it was 6 am on a Saturday. We ate breakfast in Waterbury VT and that was the beginning of a day spent eating our way across this part of the state. We went first to Cabot Creamery the 100 yearold dairy cooperative responsible for the cheeses of the same name. Even though the pla http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Vermont/Stowe/blog-436303.html Well would ya look at that My very own blog. My mom has been an avid blogger throughout the last couple of trips and now I guess the reign is passed on to me. But not really because she'll continue blogging her adventures and probably much more avidly than me.I have mixed feelings about starting a travel blog... I probably wouldn't even be doing it if it weren't for my family getting on my cas http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Vermont/Jericho/blog-435234.html Jaz leaves in ten days Over the past few months it has sometimes felt like the day of departure would never come and now it's almost here.I knew that at some point my excitement and envy about Jaz's plans would be overshadowed by my own anxieties and awareness of how much I will miss her. Yikes She's about to fly away to a thirdworld country on the other side of the world and her plane tick http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Vermont/Jericho/blog-432181.html Day 2 Today the weather was not so cooperative for outdoor activities so we took advantage of the indoor activities. First we went to breakfast at 158 Main. Took a while to get our food but they made up for it in quality good stuff. Next we drove over the notch to Stowe with our first stop being the apple cider mill where we had of course cider and an apple cider cake donut. Then across the lot http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Vermont/blog-425377.html Okay before I get started on VT I have to apologize that there are little if any pics for the next few entries. I am trying to finish this with my iPhone from the road. So that's also my excuse for all the typos. Heck let's just blame it for the grammar errors too. Sam and Casey kept us entertained as you will soon read. I promise to add pics as soon as possible. Here we go...The next part of ou http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Vermont/blog-425366.html Boxed in by western time constraints and personal morals the least thing i can do is try.Tomorrow morning I'm west bound with a back pack and a bike.Freedom.Remarkably this feels just like leaving for Peru almost two years ago.Scary.Building a wheel in a living room the night before I would ride on it.Deja Vu.The nerves are their too and I've yet to get a handle on them.ButtHairFlies3000 mil http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Vermont/Lake-Champlain/blog-425323.html And it is already time to leave.I meet the parents Ken and Dian in southern Vermont at where else A BMX track.Ken gets dropped off with his 1987 Peugeot mountain bike and a homemade pannier. Good times to come.A historical glimpse into Vermont. We ride on old rail road beds turned to bike ways. Stopping off at slate mine manmade lakes and state parks we meander on back country roads.A mini http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Vermont/Lake-Champlain/blog-420690.html After 50 years my Aunt and Uncle were selling their home in Vermont and moving to North Carolina of all places in order to live near my cousin. I actually lived here as a todler but I hadn't been back since high school. I'm pretty happy to report that Vermont remains beautiful and idyllic.Mom and I flew into Boston Logan then were supposed to transfer onto a Cape Air puddle jumper to Rutlan http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Vermont/blog-417539.html Oh my goodness yarsquoll it was 54 degrees when we woke up this morning Have you ever experienced a July 1st in this kind of weather It is freezing cold and Tim is lovinrsquo every minute of it He walked outside in his shorts and flip flops and never even skipped a beat. I on the other hand was trying to figure out a way to wear my long johns under my clothes today. Jon has pretty mu http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Vermont/blog-414316.html We awoke this morning in beautiful Cape Ann Massachusetts. We were told that it was a popular tourist town with scenic coastlines beautiful beaches and elegant restaurants that serve some of the worldrsquos finest seafood. We even heard that the old movie The Perfect Storm and the new movie The Proposal were filmed here. Of course we would have to take everyonersquos word for it because http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Vermont/blog-413930.html Just in case anyone is still checking this I thought I'd do one more travel update regarding the move to Vermont... and into the new apartment. I do realize it is well PAST June 1st that being the day I moved in... but let's just say I was a bit forgetful my first couple weeks or so and then lost my internet. Since returning to the US and getting used to everyday english again I've slowly al http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Vermont/Burlington/blog-413857.html The rain stopped just before dawn. We were concerned about our ability to cross the stream between us and the trail. All the rain in the past few days has caused all the water levels to rise. Looks like we will have the morning to get out before the rain starts again. The plan is to walk out to the next road and get picked up about 330 and get taken to Manchester Center where we will get pick http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Vermont/blog-412570.html We made the right choice of staying here last night. I found that flat spot for CC to be in the tent safe from all the creatures that roam the night. I had a nice spot in the shelter which was mice free all night long. Best is the thing was water tight. Rain started up about 3AM along with wind. I thought CC might retreat into the shelter but she toughed it out all night in the tent. She was http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Vermont/blog-412568.html A quiet night had by all. A light breeze fluttered the fly off and on all night. Birds gave us a wakeup call about 530. Packing and eating went smooth and we rolled out onto the trail at 730. Par for the course there was an 800' climb first thing. We are still walking in the thick black mud called the AT here. Seems the trail has become just another stream running down the mountains and mud http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Vermont/blog-412567.html