In Vermont!

57 degrees at 7:10 am near Marshfield, Vermont.

Left Little Wolf Pond in bright sunshine yesterday.  Had checked on Gas Buddy and the $2.90 gas in New York state changed to about $2.50 in Vermont, so got only enough to get us into that state.  We descended from the 1,600 feet above sea level at the lake to about 260 feet at Lake Champlain where we crossed on a ferry like the one at right.

 We were first one on to the ferry, but last row to leave.

As we got to the Vermont side.  With our length we got to pay $32 to use the ferry ($28 for vehicle and $4 for one passenger beside driver.

Yes, it really was the cheapest gasoline we have bought in 6 weeks.  That includes some gas bought in Canada at $3.50 per gallon (Converting the liters to gallons and Canadian money to US Currency).

We had stopped in Plattsburgh, NY where Phyllis got a hair cut at Walmart and we bought a new TV at Sam's Club.  (With the highly adjustable mount -- and much swinging from the bedroom to dining room -- the co-ax cable broke off right at the frame.  The wires are all now taped to the closest piece of the wall bracket to the TV itself.

We drove over a lot of beautiful tree-covered hills and valleys in Vermont, getting to Montpelier where we found a parking space on the street within a few blocks of the capital.  When we walked up to the front of the capital a tour guide was just starting a tour so we filled right in with him.  He gave a very interesting tour -- assuming he was telling us the truth!

Phyllis, by the flowers near the street in front of the capital.  Vermont was the 14th state to join the union, having to pay New York state $30,000 to be allowed to join the original 13.

Vermont, like many of the capitals we have visited, had a fire that burned down their 2nd capital, and the current one was built with much stone, cast iron stairs, and plaster walls (new in 1859 when the last capital built).  So they considered it relatively fire proof.

The Statue of Agriculture is atop the copper-covered dome.

 We drove just a few miles (and up hill some 600 feet) northeast of Montpelier to Morse Farm.  We had stopped here 3 years ago when on a Neihart Tour (to Prince Edward Island) and wanted to return.  I get Bur Morse's newsletter every month and enjoy his writing.

We were lucky in that Bur came up to us and we had a short visit.  I later bought his latest book in the gift shop, but he had left in his car when I inquired about having him sign it.

This is on the wall at their place - it is carved in relief with the center picture painted.

We enjoyed our visit there, was able to purchase the video that they show with Bur's dad telling a busload of people how they draw the sap from the trees and boil down the maple syrup.  We did buy a container of syrup as well as a maple ice cream cone.



We are near Martshfield, VT and today are going to visit a cheese factory at Cabot, VT, then the Ben & Jerry Ice Cream factory at Waterbury, VT, then go to granite quarry at Barre, VT before heading to Bethleham, NH for overnight.  Plan on going to top of Mt. Washington tomorrow.

Just a note --- I don't always put a link to my blog on Facebook.  Any time you want to read posts that haven't been linked to, just go down on the pate you are on and you should see "earlier Posts".

Later, Lynn