Day 2 - Tuesday 7/30/13 Ottawa, ON - Sault St. Marie, MI (678 MIles)

Our "shortcut" across Canada, over the top of the Great Lakes, was 10 hours of 2-lane driving on Rt. 17.  While scenic, it didn't allow many views of the lakes, but it did help us avoid I-90 through MA, NY, PA, OH, IN & IL.  We ended our very long driving day in Sault Saint Marie, MI at this little motel, RIGHT across the street from the locks where we were lucky enough to see a few freighters pass through the locks that connect Lake Superior to Lake Huron. What a fascinating process to watch.

The ship upon entering the lock.

 The freighter in these pictures is 75' wide x 736' long and BARELY fit.  It sat just 5 feet from either edge of the lock.  The prowess of these captains to navigate such tight quarters is impressive to say the least.  It was a Montreal ship full of iron ore heading into Lake Huron.

After the lock has lowered (30-40'). WOW!

  Rick INSISTED that we stop at Tim Horton's for that quintessential Canadian experience. :-)

Road Trip Day 1 - 7/29/13 Bridgton, ME - Ottawa, ON (196 miles)

Ample space

Hi All, We've done it.  We've really done it.  Made the list. Packed the car. Followed our noses and here we are in rainy Ottawa, Canada tonight, "camping" at Auberge McGee.

Loaded Up

Dad, this one is for you.

Choices, choices. 

Auberge McGee

Another Day, Another Adventure!

Smuggler's Notch, VT

Old Man in The Mountain, VT?

Today began rainy as most have this summer, but we were determined to not let the weather dampen our spirits as it did yesterday.  Taking off into the Green Mountains from Jericho was just lovely because the sun broke out and stayed with us most of the day.  Our first excursion was up into the National Park & Smuggler's Notch along very curvy roads.

Smuggler's "Cave"

 We clambered among the smuggler's "caves"

 and even discovered Vermont's Old Man In The Mountain (we're sure to have been the first to notice it ;-).

Onward to Stowe Mountain Lodge, a pretty schmaltzy ski resort where moneyed people ski & stay (so not our style). So we headed for a peek at the Von Trapp Family Lodge just down the mountain. It sits among lovely meadows with the mountains to its back.  After escaping Austria in 1938, the Von Trapps traveled all over the world performing as the Von Trapp Family Singers, then settling here where the family lodge grew to accommodate more than just their expanding circle of friends.

Von Trapp Family Lodge, VT

With our gourmet B&B breakfast burning off, we headed over to Cabot, VT to visit Cabot Creamery, the largest dairy co-op in the U.S.  Needless to say, we grazed about the cheese sample table for some time before our tour began, which featured them making habenero cheddar...Hot, but yummy. Yummy, but hot!  We being cheese lovers brought home a "meager" supply to sustain us.

Habenero Cheddar at Cabot, VT

After a quick look-see at the Rabbit Hill Inn in Lower Waterford, VT, we began the final leg of our journey home.  No trip through New Hampshire would be complete though without a stop in Littleton to either eat at the Littleton Diner or stuff a bag of candy at Chutters, "The World's Longest Candy Counter."  We did both then headed home.

Chutters' Candy Counter

Stay tuned for our next summer adventure starting soon....

Hump Day

Sinclair Inn, Jericho, VT

Hi All - Greetings from central Vermont.  We endured so much rain today, we felt like bullfrogs, but we had a lovely visit this morning with our friends Sam & Maura who own Lester Farm in New Haven, VT.  They've had so much rain this summer that they pumped their fields for almost 6 weeks straight...and we thought innkeeping was hard work!  By early afternoon though, we were on the road again, headed for Ben & Jerry's where, yes, we ate too much ice cream.  With the rain, it was an absolute mob scene and it took us an hour and 15 minutes just to get a cone and take a brief tour.  After hitting the road again, we decided that Burlington would be fun to explore...that is until we hit rush hour there...what were we thinking?!?  We don't DO rudh hour.  So, following our keene travel sense, we headed east for cleaner air and were rewarded when we spotted The Sinclair Inn in Jericho, VT.  The innkeepers are lovely, the house is beautiful and impeccably maintained...and they're for sale.  Needless to say, we've had some interesting conversation so far.  Rick warned me just as I was settling in to post this, that I shouldn't get into bed unless I am absolutely ready to fall asleep because it was uber comfortable...I think his eyes were rolling back in his head as the words were fading from his lips.  So, with that, I'm off to bed too.  Nighty, night!

Road Trip - Part One

Despite our decision to delay the big journey for a few weeks, we just had to get out of town yesterday, and since Vermont was to have been our first "port-o-call" anyway, we decided to take a few days to explore the Green Mountain State.  Of course, any trip begins with Daisy getting shuttled over to Ross' home so she can comfort him while we're away.

Lower Falls, Swift River, NH

4 Aces Diner

And with the handover complete, we were underway.  First stop, The Lower Falls along the Kancamagus Highway, scenic Rt. 112 through the White Mountains of New Hampshire.  Lunch along the way was spent in the rain at a beaver pond, but Rick rallied when he found the 4 Aces Diner right on the Connecticut River as we were leaving NH.  This place, like so many of that era (1952), was built to resemble a train car, but these were ordered (check out the blueprints), built as diners and delivered.  This one still sports the original woodwork and tile floors.

4 Aces Diner "Blueprint"

Next stop, Woodstock (formerly Shiretown), VT.  Found a sweet motel, The Shire Riverview Motel and walked around town.  Besides the covered bridge, we were amazed at how many of the 18th century homes were so well preserved.  The town was a bit "boutique-ie" for us, but pretty nonetheless.

Woodstock, VT covered bridge

Breakfast at King Arthur's Flour

Glassblowing at Simon Pierce

Today was mystery date day and I had a fun-filled itinerary in store for my mate, including breakfast at King Arthur's Flour, followed by a quick trip through their gift shop where we had more fun than a lost dog in a meat market!

Quechee Gorge

Nest stop, Quechee for a short hike into the gorge to walk off breakfast and then over to Simon Pierce Glassworks for a stroll through the studio and glass blowing workshop.  These artisans make lovely table ware, but at $58 a piece for a pilsner glass, their prices were way out of our league. 

The Vermont Country Store

So, we meandered down scenic byway Rt. 100 that skirts the White Mountain National Forest until we reached Weston, home of The Vermont Country Store.  For those of you who've visited Lehman's Hardware in Kidron, Ohio, this is similar in that the store must carry 10,000 items, except here, you can eat most of them.  We may have left with some penny candy and a tummy full of Vermont cheese samples.  This is a great place to spend a couple of hours browsing their nostalgia and it's given us some additional inspiration for our future endeavor.

With our compass pointed North, we drove back up Rt. 100 and across the forest on our way to Middlebury for the night.  We landed a luxury suite for less than the price of a standard room at the Middlebury Inn (thank you Travel Zoo).  The inn is perfectly located right in the center of town, on the green where tonight their summer concert series was underway.   Maybe we had some VT cheddar soup & brewskies for dinner, and maybe we had an ice cream cone in the park, but one thing is fer sher, we had fun today!

Before we sign out for the night, here's our fun pic-o'-the-day: 

Different Strokes for Different Folks

Accumulating

OK, so everything here, except for the bookshelves ;-o must go in the Mini along with our two over-stuffed bodies.  If you're the betting type, your odds are good.

The List

Checking it twice.