Rambling in Vermont

Arrived in Vermont to check out the local healthy products and get in some exercise...

First we stopped at Cabot Cheese to learn how this Vermont dairy coop has been making and selling cheese for almost a hundred years ...and then samples, of course - good. 





Then on to Hill Farmstead Brewery where they make the #1 rated beer in the world.  Is that why we stood in line for almost 2 hours to place our order and get our official HF growler?  And, no, we didn't try the #1 beer, but did purchase some "Aaron",
$20 a half liter. 
Beer was especially good on this hot Fall day, after we had biked uphill to visit.
                                                                                                  

SHOULD THIS BE OUR NEXT RV ?

Next on to Waterbury for an overnight at Little River State Park {where some upgrades and tree trimming is required}.  On the following morning we headed to Green Mountain coffee and then the highlight of our Vermont product tour; Ben & Jerry's.  We learned all about how two guys from Long Island created the world's best ice cream, how they manufacture this creamy stuff, and then...again....a great sample of a special made flavor for our tour.  [Sworn to secrecy, so we can't divulge this new flavor.]


After all of this eating and drinking it was time to roll into Grand Isle State Park, north of Burlington, but first we made a stop at Ethan Allen's homestead where we learned that no one knows what Ethan looked like, what his homestead actually looked like, and even where he is really buried.  This made for an interesting tour. 

After setting up at our camp sight overlooking Lake Champlain, we made plans for our biking adventures. 

Biked a total of 38 miles on the Island Line Trail, to and from Burlington.  Followed the rail causeway, which included a short bike ferry across the 250 of open water where the rail bridge had been taken out in a 2011 hurricane.  Great biking on a beautiful day.

Next day we did a 22 mile ride around part of Grand Isle up to North Hero.  Our destination was Hero's Welcome General Store, advertised as the world's most unusual....well, it wasn't that unusual, but the peanut butter cookies were pretty good!

Now BIW is heading home for a month before our drive through the Appalachians to check out the Fall leaf extravaganza.

Skowhegan Indian is being restored!

Drove across Rt 2, four years ago, and the native american was looking pretty old and tired.  But, now the Skowhegan town officials have decided to restore this carved wood statue; the largest in the WORLD! back to its glory.  Scaffolding is still evident, but the new paint job looks great.  Thanks!  {Compare to our blog post of June of 2010}

Ahhhhhhhhhh......ACADIA !

Back to Acadia National Park after only four years.....we had forgotten what a wonderful place this is.  Lobster, wild blueberries, ocean, rocks, trees, camping, biking, hiking......WOW, all good.








This time we spent 5 nights at Blackwoods Campground, and then moved to Seawall Campground in a quiet part of the island for three more nights.  To add to our terrific time, our friends Marc & Susie, joined us in their new trailer (and the first time for them dry camping).

We biked over 40 miles of carriage paths, stopped at Jordan Pond
(twice!) for popovers & blueberry sweets, rode many miles on the Island Explorer buses with and without our bikes, wandered Bar Harbor (good ice cream), and enjoyed our walks along the ocean crashing on the granite rocks.


After our move to the Seawall campground, more biking and more eating.  Yes, our eating was definitely one of the highlights of this visit.  First the Seafood Ketch in Bass Harbor (foggy biking and viewing).  Then, Thurston's Lobster Pound in Bernard, the best.  And we biked there in only 4.2 miles...

Thurstons

Seafood Ketch