Central Vermont August 7, 2017

Woke to low clouds that cleared up beautifully mid morning, revealing the tops of the green mountains all around us.  Jack wanted to get a few things checked with the engine, so we made an appointment and headed back west to north Burlington area.  They found that the funny noise we have been hearing since we started the trip was low power steering fluid/oil, but it is a "closed" system and should never need fluid.  So, we will have to monitor to make sure it is not a leak.

 After the garage visit we headed back east to Stowe, the ski resort area, to check out the Trapp Family Lodge of Sound of Music fame.  Maria von Trapp bought this mountain top area because it reminded her of Austria to start a singing camp that evolved into a major resort, still owned by the Trapp family.

Our Vermont "foodie" day started by returning to route 100 and stopping at the Cold Hollow Cider Mill where they give demonstrations on how they press their apples using old time practices.  We saw a brief movie and checked out their expansive gift shop, but honing in on their cider doughnuts and personal size pies from their bakery.  We tried to stop at the Cabot cheddar cheese shop, but the parking lot was completely full, so we continued on to the Green Mountain coffee shop and cafe.  Enjoyed some sample coffees, but I was hoping to find a larger french press than the 6-cup Green Mountain coffee press I have, but unfortunately, they were only promoting their keurig makers.

Love the flower display with the old truck left in the field

The reburbished train station in Waterbury is the home of Visitor Center Green Mountain Coffee

We continued south on scenic route 100 through rolling valley countryside, mixed with farms, small towns, forests, and views of the Green Mountains.  We have seen some of the more prosperous looking small farms here than most places - we usually see many dilapidated old barns that have been abandoned, but most here were still in decent shape and being used.

 

Moss Glen Falls

We noticed a number of old homes with windows inserted at a 45 degree angle - huh??  Carole and Bob told us that those windows are set that way because the witches in the area (we are not too far from Salem) cannot enter a window that is not square.

We stopped at a nice Vermont state park - no hookups, but a beautiful site in the forest where we enjoyed a fire for a couple of hours.  Gets dark here early because the mountains block the sun and although the sky was bright blue, it was dusk on the ground by 7:15.