Sunday, September 23 & Monday, September 24, 2018 - Exploring Southern Vermont

Sunday, September 23 & Monday, September 24, 2018 - Exploring Southern Vermont

Sunday, September 23

We spent 4 days in Vermont the end of August with much of our sightseeing in the northwest part of the state and a day at Montpelier and nearby towns.  With our change of plans to begin working our way back to Kansas a little earlier than originally planned, we find ourselves back in Vermont, camping not too far from Montpelier, in nearby Marshfield, VT.  We enjoy this state for the beautiful mountain vistas, the gorgeous trees, especially the many types of pine trees; and the fresh air.  The largest city in the state is Burlington, with a population of slightly over 42,000.  Nearby Montpelier, the state's capital, is a city of only 7,484 residents.  While the larger cities have some nice amenities, what I love about all of the smaller towns is they really seem to support each other with what they have.  Maybe there wasn't much there to begin with but what buildings there are, seem to be full.  I love that.  One little town, Danville, caught my eye.  We drove through it on the way to our campground yesterday.   I noticed how clean and neat it looked, and like many towns it had a "Village Green" right on Main Street.  Throughout Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, we have seen a number of "green spaces" in the downtown area.  It really takes what is often seen as nothing but grey like matter - streets, signs, sidewalks, and too many times bland colored or deteriorated buildings, and changes the atmoshpere with a beautiful color that at least makes it feel as if something is happening.    What buildings that were in the downtown area seemed to be in relatively good repair and most were operable businesses.  It is so sad to see so many empty buildings on main streets all across the nation.  It really makes me smile to see a town making it work.  It is not an easy task and it takes the whole community working together to make it happen.  I noticed many of the towns have signs before entering the town limits with the names of businesses on them with a distance direction 1.2 miles, right on Main, etc.  When I noticed this on a sign:  Bentley's Cafe & Bakery, I immediately said to Dean "we have to visit Bentley's before we leave".  Had the sign not been along the road we might have missed it.  It made a difference!  

So, with that lead in, we left our campground pretty early this morning as we expected to spend a good amount of time away from Marshfield today.  It was quite foggy.  I took pictures here in the campground as I was afraid I might not remember to do it by the time we returned.

You can enlarge the collages to original size to view each picture in more detail.

Most of the folks in the campground were seasonal, but everyone we (Dean mostly) talked to was very nice and welcoming.  Erica, the owner was fantastic, and we would not hesitate to stay here again.


What a glorius morning it was - bright and clear in places and so foggy in others in seemed as if it were early evening rather than early morning.  

I loved the sunrise in these pictures -this was such a gorgeous morning!

Bentley's Bakery & Cafe was what was for breakfast today on our way to Woodstock, VT, located toward the southeast side of the state.  It was a very foggy morning and my camera could not seem to stop snapping pictures because it truly was total awesomeness (is that a word?).  (see above)

Bentley's Bakery & Cafe

We had decided before we arrived that we would share a breakfast sandwich and a roll so we wouldn't overeat.  We didn't realize the roll would be almost the size of the plate, but it was very, very good.

The breakast sandwich, egg, cheese, spinach and ham on a croissant was equally delicious.  Unfortunately we received the roll before the sandwich and I was too full to finish my sandwich.  I did eat most of it though.  

I had to have one of Bentley's Bakery & Cafe coffee mugs for our Bentley!

We still had quite a drive to Woodstock after our breakfast.

Really thick fog.

Beginning to clear up a bit.

Outside of Woodstock a short distane we passed Quechee Gorge.  Of course, we had to stop to check it out.  The gorge is 165 feet deep and over a mile in length.  It was well worth the time to visit this beautiful site.

Quechee Gorge

Pictures taken from the bridge (walk ways on both sides of the bridge)

After our walk along the bridge, we walked a portion of the Quechee Gorge State Park Trail

These trees were beautiful and so tall!  

This is a very interesting read if you care to enlarge it.

 Our next stop was at the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park

Gorgeous View from the Parking Lot

Visitor Center

Enlarge this to read the quote on the left.  On the right children from different states painted or drew pictures portraying their state.  Kansas is on the left hand side about 7 down.

Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller Mansion

Each of these families were very involved in conservaton practices.  See information from Wikipedia on the part these families played in the history of this National Historical Park.

As we approached the house with our tour guide and group.  It was limited to 12 people which was wonderful.

From the front porch - who would not love this view?

Look at the detail of the porch

Beautiful length of porch providing enjoyment for a number of friends and friends.

The main entrance.  The ceiling was beauitful and very detailed with wonderful carvings.

Do you recognize this beautiful site?   If you guessed Niagara Falls, you are correct....many, many years ago.

The Dining Room

The Parlor - was very relaxed, large and comfortable, and where they entertained their guests.

Tiffany Picture that is on the wall  - see in the picture above.

 The other end of the parlor.  There was seating everywhere allowing guests to easily visit.

A close up of the wall paper in the Parlor area.  It was gorgeous.

Portrait of Mary Rockefeller

Wallpaper in the Library

I can't remember the exact name of this statue but it was something like (and may have been) The Beginning and The End - it shows a buffalo and the railroad.  While Billings brought the railroad to the area he also saw it as an end to the large herds of buffalo.

Laurence Rockefeller's Library

Mary Rockefeller's Bedroom

Wallpaper on her bedroom wall

What a beautiful site each day as you open the window!

Outside behind the house near the gardens

The side of the house with a large wrap around porch from the front.

The front of the house

Notice the people at the bottom - these trees are tall!

Side yard

There are trails where you can ride your horses.

Another gorgeous view near the parking lot.

The Billings Farm & Museum is across the road from the Mansion.

Our next stop was at Sugarbush Farm where they make cheese and maple syrup.  We first walked down to an area where they provide an educational display of making maple syrup.  They had a few recipes available - Trational Vermont Home Cooked Breakfasts Topped with Pure Maple Syrup - such as Pancakes, Waffles, French Toast; and Favorite Vermont Maple Syrup Recipes such as Maple BBQ Sauce, Maple Oatmeal Bread, Vermont Baked Beans, Maple Ham Glaze, Fritters with Maple Syrup (Mrs. Ayres's), Maple Butter Spread, Vermont Maple/Apple Pie and a few others.  They suggested .25 or .50 for each item you picked up.  There were other options but I just chose the recipes and gladly provided a donation.  

Barns on site

Beautiful vistas near the building explaining the process of making maple syrup.

Information on Sugarbush Farm

As we walked along reading the various items on the wall, we came to a large map of the world on the other side of the room.  Push pins were provided for visitors to mark where they live - and of course, I proudly placed a pin on Oswego, Kansas (which was actually shown on the map, since we are the county seat).  A young couple was behind us and the woman picked up a pin and was moving her hands towards the middle of the US - sure enough, they were from Kansas.  How ironic!  So of course, I had to ask where they were from - Wichita, Kansas.  We had a great visit with them, before moving along.  

We wanted to visit the gift shop next.  As we walked in the door, I thought maybe I was in the wrong place.  There were a number of people sitting at counters with white coats on.  In fact, I asked is this the right place for us to be - and they said yes, come on in.  Thinking about it now, I'm not really sure what else they were doing besides giving free tasting of cheese - there was quite a few people in there but once they started offering tasting, I lost interest in what the others might be there for.  It's all about the food, right?

Another couple joined us, and we tasted the Mountain Jack, Sharp Cheddar (18 mos.); Extra Extra Sharp Cheddar (4 yrs); Super Extra Sharp Cheddar (6 yrs); Sage Cheddar; Smoke w/ Bacon; Horseradish Sharp Cheddar; and Jalapeno & Cayenne Pepper Cheddar.  Well, Dean tried them all except the last two.  Neither of us cared for the Sage - that was a selection the other couple asked for.  We ended up purchasing a small size of Extra Extra Sharp Cheddar, Smoked w/ Bacon and Horseradish Sharp Cheddar.  I think the Horseradish Cheddar will taste good alongside a grilled ribeye or filet mignon.  Yum!

Then we did the maple syrup tasting - and silly me, I forgot what this did to me last time we tasted it when I got so shaky.  I tasted all four strengths (delicate, rich, robust and strong) which was probably about a teaspoon of syrup altogether.  Yep, I got shaky again, but not as bad as the first time.  I told Dean, I think it's time to go eat.  I need some real food and some water, so that is where we headed next.

Pretty wild flowers along the road on the way back to Woodstock

High School Theatre Group having a bake sale at the Covered Bridge. 

We stopped to see this covered bridge on the way, and there was a bake sale taking place. I walked over and purchased two blueberry muffins and gave a donation to this HS Theatre Group.  We enjoyed visiting with the students and their chaperone.  

Taken from our site alongside the road.

Waterfall

Taftsville Covered Bridge

And we drove over it

By now we were hungry - it was after 3:00 when we arrived at our second Bentley's of the day.  What are the chances that we would find two different restaurants named Bentley's in the same day about 100 miles a part?  Of course, we had to try it out too!

Our second "Bentley's Restaurant" today!  We could not pass it up.

Rueben Sandwich/Fries - the sandwich was very good except for a few pieces of corned beef that were overcooked.

Dean had a chicken salad sandwich on a croissant.  It was not the greatest sandwich he said.

Woodstock Town Crier - A list of events for the week

Windsor County Courthouse

It was well after 4:30 when we left the restaurant and walked up and down a few blocks in the downtown area of Woodstock, before returning to our truck.  I walked across the street to take a picture of the Windsor County Courthouse (above).

We were both tired having left Bentley a little after 7:30 this morning.  We took Highway 100 back toward Monteplier, VT.  



If you wish, you may enlarge the collages to original size, in order to see each picture in more detail.

Pictures on our drive home from Woodstock.  

Beautiful barns on our drive home from Woodstock.

What a great day we had visiting some great sites and beautiful vistas as we returned home on a very scenic road.




Monday, September 24, 2018

Today was a much quieter day.  We wanted to visit the main Cabot Creamery, which was not too far away from us.  We discovered after we arrived they no longer give tours, so we just visited their onsite store.  We tasted a few cheeses and looked around, but left without purchasing anything.  From there we drove north through the countryside just enjoying the beauty all around us.  Dean and I both love driving country roads.  

Once we had made a circle back around to Bentley where we stopped for a quick restroom break, we headed toward Barre (pronounced Barry), VT, just outside Monteplier to Hope Cemetery.  I mentioned earier that Erica, our host here at the campground, suggested we visit here.  I'm not sure if it is because there is a granite quarry near here, but I believe almost every memorial stone in this cemetery is made of granite and there are some very interesting and elaborate stones in place.  It has become an attraction for the area and while we were there a large tour bus pulled in to unload a large number of passengers.  

I'm just going to share the pictures I took:

To me the following 8 pictures were the most moving of all.  You will need to enlarge them to read each side of the two, 4 sided pyramids.  What a wonderful testament these two people provided to everyone that visits their memorial. They have and continue to share God's word to all who visit here.  It was very moving to me, and the most impressive of all the memorials.

Another beautifully landscaped cemetery.

A very unique place.  It was very well taken care of, with a number of crew members mowing and weedeating while we were there.  They do a very good job, as it was a very beautiful and serene place.  

We returned to Bentley where I spent time catching up on blog posts for the past several days.  Tomorrow we will pull up our jacks and move on down the road to Iilon, NY.