Quechhe Gorge and Woodstock Vermont

Quechhe Gorge

downtown Woodstock

view from the lawn of the mansion

The mansion that was lived in ata different times by Marsh, Billing and Rockefeller

Drove all over Vermont today and these were the only colorful leaves we found, outside of Bennington

October 18th-We moved a little south and enjoyed seeing the view of Quechhee gorge today and viewing the quaint, beautiful town of Woodstock.  Spent the afternoon at the Marsh, Billings, Rockefeller National Park.  We did a nature hike on the beautiful property and learned a lot about trees and conservation as part of the Junior Ranger program.  The  movie at the visitor's center was very informatative about the positive influence of these three men and their families and their contributions to preserving the land around Woodstock and the US.

Ben and Jerry's and Von Trapp Family

October 17th-We started our day with a historical tour of the Von Trapp Family Lodge.  It was extremely interesting and educational. We loved our tour guide, Kristina, who is the granddaughter of Maria Von Trapp.  She was very engaging and articulate.  We loved hearing how the movie deviated from the truth; ie. Captain was a very warm, engaging person that loved taking off camping with his family for months, Maria was the one who was more structured and affectionately reserved, the oldest child was a son not a daughter.  Some other interesting bits were:
l. In Austria, the Von Trapp's would rent out there home and travel extensively.
2. Maria only made $9000 for the rights of her story so the family gets minimal royalties from the Sound of Music.
3.  The Sound of Music Musical is opening in Austria in a few weeks for the first time.
4.  Maria and the Captain had three children together.  The youngest Johannes, currently runs the Lodge.
5.  Their mother died not in childbirth but in nursing to health her children with scarlet fever.
6.   There was a priest who was their arranger and big reason for their success.
7.  The cast of the Sound of Music, get together once in awhile with the Trapp's. In 2008, they sent a plaque and apple tree in honor of the death of the second son.  They affectionately call themselves the Non-Trapp's
8.  They walked nonchalantly to the train to leave Austria
9.  Hitler was very upset when they wouldn't sing for his birthday party.
10.  Their true engagement story is hilarious.
11.  We enjoyed meeting the Scottish Highland cattle
12.  Most impressed with the resourcefulness and fortitude of the family
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Ben and Jerry's Tour-Interesting and great samples.  Fun tour and loved the fact that two best friends could split the $5  cost for an ice cream making correspondence course and through creativity, fortitude and hard work make the kind of business they did.    Most impressed by the social consiouness they instilled as a company (closing down for community service projects and employees encouraged to do this as well on  own time).

With Kristina Trapp

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Sunday in Stowe

We enjoyed a church service this morning in the Stowe Community Church.  The serman was very inspirational and it was nice singing out of hymn books.  People were not particularly friendly but we initiatedsome conversation and had some nice connections.  After lunch, we changed clothes and went to the open farm day at the Percy Dairy Farm.  Very interesting.  He is one of the bigger farmers for Cabot and owns several hundred acres in Stowe.  We met him and talked at length.  A real farmer through and through.     We loved seeing the newborn calves and seeing where the milking occurs.  We make it just in time to the Farmer's Market before they closed.  Great booths of crafts and food down in the hollow along the bike trail. Janae even got a horseback ride.  Just a mile down the road is the Bingham Waterfalls that we went to.  Beautiful and an easy hike. Back home at the campground, met a great guy and his mom from Tyler Texas. He's a child's dentist with a major, great personality.  He took Stefan right into his supped up jeep and let him play with some of the gadgets.

Stowe Community Church where we attended today.

Lake Champlain

The Adirondecks from Lake Champlain

A view of  Burlington from the water

Enjoying boating on the Ethan Allen

On the bike path in Burlington-Awesome, goes right on edge of lake.

The Ethan Allen

Saturday-Oct.15th-We woke up to rain but then the sun came out.  It was windy and chilly but we had a great family soccer game on our campground lawn.  We then loaded up and drove 30 miles to Burlington and Lake Champlain.  We rode our bikes on the bike path for a short while before the weather turned.  It is a great, paved bike trail that goes down along the water.  It feels like your riding along the ocean with all the crashing waves and beaches.  We went on the Ethan Allen cruise that tooks us out in the lake with great views of the Adirondecks and of the Green Mts and Burlington.  Great history narrative as well and we all enjoyed it.  Mark and I enjoyed the scenery and the sun that came out as we got going.  Janae and Stefan I think liked being served hot chocolate and snacks on a boat.  They thought this was pretty special.  Burlington is a cool town and has almost a coastal flavor to it.  Rhythm kind of like Eugene, Oregon or Ithaca New York.  University of Vermont is here along with Champlain College. We walked a bit on Church Street which is like Pearl Street in Boulder.  It was fun to see all the gray granite everywhere.

Rock of Ages and Vermont Treats

The cow robot at the Cabot Creamery

Listening to how syrup is harvested.  Left when the old geezer kept swearing on the video.  It was fun though sitting in the barn with the rain pattering on the roof.

Friday, October 14th-It was raining today so we took the chance to explore the natural resources of Vermont.  We started down the road at the Cold Hollow Cider Mill where we watched the process of pressing cider. Got to sample some along with some cider donuts.  Yummy!We next ventured to the largest granite quarry in the world.   Rock of Ages is known worldwide for their gray stone that is used in many mononuments and memorials.  It was fascinating to go to the quarry and watch the process.  An excellent tour and visitor center.  Very educational and fun.  We learned if they keep quarrying at the current rate, there will be enough granite to last for 4000 more years. Highlights were picking our own pieces of granite out of the scrap bin and watching Janae and Stefan sandblast their own momentos.  We then were off to the Cabot Creamery to watch the cheese making process.  This coop is owned by 1200 farmers and they are very successful winning top honors every year for their cheese.  We had a blast sampling the wares and of course bringing some home.  On the way home, we saw the smallest state capital building in the US (Montpelier) and stopped at a Maple Sugar farm to learn the process.  The rain was pouring on the tin roof and we watched a video in a barn theater.  Pretty cool atmosphere!  The movie had a little too much colorful language so we enjoyed learning and tasting the different grades of maple sugar.  The kids liked the fancy best , Mark and I the A grade best.  We collapsed in bed tonight.

More Beauty

October 13-We had a down day today but still soaked up some beauty. Miss Jim B in the last picture is content too.  Sondra also played her trombone down by the creek which was a real treat.

Playing in our campground yard

On the road to the Von Trapp Lodge

Sondra found her dream home

Mama's Happy

October 12th-I think that today was one of my favorite days.  We got up and after breakfast rode the 10 mile Stowe Bike Path.  It was awesome.  The colors had just peaked and the farmland and river were all so beautiful.  It fulfilled my dream of seeing Vermont in the fall and it surpassed all my expectations.  The trail had 10 bridges that crossed the river and we had our lunch in a little rustic gazebo along the river.  Coasting dwownhill in the midst of the glorious surroundings in the company of my family was a true blessing and wonderful memory.  We stopped by the Laughing Moon Chocolate Store afterwards where they were making and giving free samples of chocolate caramel cashews.  Deadly delicious and of course we had to buysome.  We got the wild hare to drive and went down Route 7.  We hiked Mt. Philo and when we reached the summit, it took our breaths away.  The Champlain River Valley-Words don't do it justice.

Stowe, Vt

Our new home

The Stowe Bike Path

Janae and Stefan's new friends they met at the corn maze

We left Tuesday morning, October 11th for Stowe.  We drove Rt. 302 which was a little longer but more scenic route.  It was beautiful but when we pulled into our campground in Stowe, we all went WOW!  A big, open green meadow surrounded by incredible foilage.  It was a 70ish sunny day and we didn't pull into around 2:00 p.m..  After a quick lunch, we were off.  We took the gondola ride up Mt. Mansfield.  This was a little bit of a disappointment.  Very expensive and the leaves were already gone.  We also thought we would get great views of the town but we lived and learned.  The children and Mark stumbled upon a corn maze and I rode my bike on the bike path.  Unbelievable beauty!  Can't wait to ride the whole path
tomorrow.

On the top of Mt. Mansfield

A perfect President's day

Monday, October 10th-One of those perfect weather days again.  Mid-70's, not a cloud in the sky.  We had debated weather to leave for Vermont today since bad weather is coming in soon but we just couldn't pull ourselves away.  We had a relaxing morning where Mark and I both practiced (first time in 6 weeks) along the river and beaver pond across the road from our campsight.  Janae read, Stefan shot his BB gun, and Mark did a little fishing.  We had  lunch in Miss Jim B and then we had a family baseball game in the campground.  The campground was wooded but this little ball field was a large piece of grass and the sun shone so warmly on this spot.  We really had fun playing and two  other 8 year old boys joined us.  We then rode our bikes on the road outside our campground.  It was all canopied with trees and it had an upgrade.  It was fun to ride a couple miles up and then coast down.  Mark wanted to hike  up this southern exposed  ridge that was very pretty and the lighting magnificent. Our glorious day ended by going to the Mt. Washington Hotel where we bought sandwiches and salad from the deli and ate on the wrap around porch overlooking Mt. Washington and the full moon.  Ahh!  Very nice!

Where we started our day

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The pumpkin heads of New Hampshire

We enjoyed seeing each store, school celebrating fall in such a fun way.