Stowe, VT...Day 1

Some things you should know before you begin:

Besides that this is really long. My grandparents have a time-share in Stowe, Vermont. This year, they were only able to use it through Monday and had to come home Tuesday morning. Upon asking if any of our family would like to use it, I jumped at the chance and immediately called Joe and informed him of the opportunity. We had been wanting a vacation for a little while. And we got it, despite an unsure schedule issue with Joe's time at work.

This may not be as juicy as some entries you've come to enjoy but I will try and avoid the tedious play-by-play (though it will be difficult as this is simply a conveyance of the events of the day) and make it at least somewhat interesting.

This is the account of the first day.


The morning started fairly uneventfully aside from my waking up a half hour late. If it weren't for my mom telling me the time as I lay in bed, I probably wouldn't have even gotten up then. So thanks, mom.

I ran around like crazy putting things in the car. This goes in the trunk, that can go in the backseat, why am I even taking this? My car was already getting full and I hadn't picked up Joe yet. More stuff.

Then it was time for the bikes.

We had spent a good three hours gettingn the Thule racks on my car on Sunday evening. Our mountain bikes, and Joe's road bike, were to accompany us on the trip up to Stowe. Their seats would be a little less comfortable than ours but for a bike I think there is no better place than being out in the 70 mile per hour wind on top of the car. It's exhilerating.

Wait a second...wait, my bike won't fit on here. I'll try the other one. Oh shoot, it won't fit on this one either.

So despite the several hours of bolting, clamping, fastening, tightening and fitting we had done two nights previous, this Pirhana (the bike model) was not going to make it. I had to call Joe and give him the bad news.

Rather than give you a play-by-play, I'll just say that, despite there being an alternative bike rack solution, the decision was made to leave the bikes at home. This would be a hiking week. The heart of man has many plans but the Lord's will prevails. And so it was to be.

Somehow, perhaps due to some time vortex that opened up, we made it through Springfield (Massachusetts) in twenty minutes. It normally takes about forty. So...we were quite surprised (not that we were complaining). It ended up working quite well because the rest of the drive took much longer than we had expected.

We played phone/voicemail tag with my father all morning who had been up with my grandparents for the weekend. But of course we're in Vermont, so service isn't guaranteed anywhere. We ended up pulling off on the exit we last knew their location to be (exit 1 off of 89N). Quechee. Dad had said they were going to check out the Quechee State Park, home of a massive gorge. We had passed an Antique Mall (yeah, really...it's Vermont) before passing the entrance to the park. On the lookout for a white Chrysler minivan, we turned around to head back. Knowing my grandfather, we checked out the Antique place first.

And sure enough, there they were trying various Cabot cheeses, infused maple syrups and meandering around the store to see what it had to offer. The cheese were quite good. The syrups, while interesting, were far from that like-no-other taste of pure maple syrup.

Being that my dad was unaware that our bikes had stayed home and that the racks were still on the car, we decided to have a little fun. While still in the store, a small but opportunistic conversation about the safety of our bikes came up. Joe and I played along. Then we got outside.

"Your bikes are gone," my dad said.
"Already? We just got here," I replied.

My dad's not stupid.

"Alright, where'd you put the bikes?" he asked.

I had to confess that we had left them at home, which he was surprised about until I further explained that they just don't fit right. Joe came out of the store after asking for directions to the Harpoon Brewerey.

"Oh my gosh! Our bikes are gone!!"

But of course my dad already knew. Anyway, trying to avoid another play-by-play again, we exchanged hugs, got necessary directions, suggestions on what to do while we were at the time-share (like not leaving the windows open and food on the table because squirrels will get in...an isolated incident that happened to one place) and so on. After departing, we headed to the Harpoon Brewery.

For that, however, we had to backtrack two exits.

Now, in Connecticut that's fine. That would take all of five minutes. But in Vermont, where there can be over ten miles between exits, it takes a while longer. Vermont is absolutely beautiful but that's one thing I don't like. Highway driving here is so tedious and drawn out. If it weren't, that would make Vermont more populated and I don't think I'd like that. But still...I'm just used to the highways in Connecticut where even in rural areas, it's a quick drive. Whatever.

There were no tours being done when we got there but we did happen upon a specialty beer that we could only get there at the brewery. It's called "Framboise" which means "raspberries" in French. That's no coincidence. It's a raspberry lambic which we have yet to try (I'm writing this on Thursday morning). But wow are we looking forward to it. We would have already if it weren't for the other beers we've picked up here and there and the wines we brought up. No, we're not getting drunk. We just enjoy the drinks. There's flavor in there, ya know.

Upon getting off the highway and nearly entering Stowe, we stopped in at a local winery. "Grand View". I will sum it up by saying that while we were polite and respectful in the tasting room, this is what were both thinking on our way out and really wanted to say:

"Your wines are dull, and you are dull. Good day, sir!"

Next door was the Cold Hollow Cider Mill where we ate fifty cent apple cider donuts (veeeery good) and tried to acquire unpasteurized apple cider. It tastes much better than the regulr pasteurized you can find at any store. And apparently here, it comes with a form we have to sign. Why, you ask? Because when you pasteurize something, you're taking out all of the bacteria, worms, parasites and other things that are potentially unhealthy for you. Whereas unpasteurized still contains those things. But unfortunately the owner/manager could not be found and we were forced to concede defeat (at least for the time being) to health.

Next stop was the Cabot Annex (as opposed to the main Cabot Creamery) where we purchased some cheeses and a bottle of apple cider wine. We skipped Ben & Jerry's (right down the road), though I imagine we'll be in there before the trip is over. They are of course among my favorite ice creams (the others being Edy's, Hagen Dazs, Godiva, and Brigham's). I have expensive ice cream tastes.

We checked in at the Trapp Family Lodge and discovered that it is, according to some survey done, the 376th hotel to stay at in the world (out of the top 500). That's fairly impressive. But of course we weren't staying in the hotel, we were staying in the "guest houses" down below. It's on the side of a mountain and rather beautiful to see, and to look out from at the opposing mountain. I'll get some photographs up here at some point. Perhaps not for years but they'll get here.

Dinner was eaten at "The Shed" where we encountered perhaps the most "goal-oriented" owner/manager we have ever met. That's how Rachel, our waitress, put it. Apparently no one's a big fan of her but she gets things done. Our conversation with Rachel was pleasant and enjoyable. I would say "conversations" since she's back and forth and it could be one subject now and another later but really it's just one big one with pauses in between. We told her we'd be back again (Thursday or Friday because that's when she'll be working next). It wasn't just for her though, the food was great and they brew their own beer. Their porter is delicious as is their "Barnyard Brew"...or is it Farmyard? Well, whatever the agriculturally derived name, it's good.

After coming back, we ate more (we're eating way too much). Cheeses, humus we bought at Shaws earlier, crackers, chips and a pumpkin/maple cream cheese roll/pastry thing I purchased at the cider mill earlier. All good but way too much.

Too much food is a theme developing over our time here. You'll see as more of these entries come.

Falling asleep with my laptop propped up on my legs, I decided to go to sleep. Sorry to those of you who were talking to me at the time. I didn't mean to neglect you.

Anyway...good first day. Let's see if the others can follow.