The Sunday trip to Stowe was leisurly and EXCEEDINGLY BEAUTIFUL! We were sad to leave the lovely fall leaves in the Callicoon area, expecting fall coloring to have reached the north earlier resulting in less beauty at our destination. It seemed that our guess was right, because we encountered quite a few bare trees. But as we continued, the leaves got more and more beautiful — by the time we reached Stowe, they could only be labeled as glorious!
Verle commented that the time will come when we will be taking our last trip. If this should happen to be it, it couldn’t have been a more lovely drive — for mile after mile after mile. Soon into our day’s drive, we realized that the computer was taking us across Lake Champlain on a ferry. We drove through quite a rural area as we approached the ferry site, and Verle had himself more and more convinced that the ferry wouldn’t be running. We reached there just as the ferry was coming in. We got out and enjoyed the scenery for the 2 mile plus ferry ride — what a lovely time it was!
As we got closer to Stowe, Vermont, we found that the cars were coming our way in a solid stream. They were evidently out to enjoy the fall leaves and for a craft fair etc. in Stowe. In checking in, the hostess said that the leaves usually reach their prime on Columbus Day here, but they are early this year. Stowe is in the mountains of Vermont, and it’s so beautiful with the continuing fall colors on display everywhere. Our condo is on the second floor, so Verle had totes to carry up — not so handy as lifting them over the bannister at Callicoon. The pool and hot tub are next door — it’s great. Maybe we’ll visit it every day!
Monday: The weather predictions were for a week of rain and colder weather starting on Tuesday, so we went out to ride the bike trail that is right in Stowe. It’s along the river, and was a relatively easy ride. We really enjoyed the ride until Verle got a flat tire, and he hadn’t taken his bike repair tools, so he rode my bike back to the car and I walked his bike across the meadow and up the side of the ditch (very hard – had to hold the bike brake, or I’d never had made it.) We were surprised that we had almost reached the top end of the trail, so when he came with the car, I rode my bike back down the trail while he repaired his tire. Returning to our condo, we went to the hot tub again, had pizza and tossed salad for supper, and played Nurtz.
Tuesday – my birthday! How wonderful to celebrate it here together in these beautiful mountains with all the fall colors! Because of the predicted rain the rest of the week, we decided to ride the trail again to celebrate my birthday. We started at the top, rode easily to the bottom, and had a snack at the coffee shop there. Vlad phoned from Moscow to wish me a happy birthday and to tell us of their plans to come to Nebraska for Christmas.
As we walked back down the hill to our bikes, I could see a couple standing next to our bikes and stuffing things into a bag. It looked like they were taking the things out of our bike packs. When we got closer, we realized that there were 2 bikes between them and our bikes. They were still standing there, so I joked with them about my false assumption. We started to visit, and Verle told them that it was my birthday. They each wished me “Mazel tov”, and said they were from Israel. We had a great long visit — they are terribly concerned about the worsening conditions in Israel. The man expressed a great deal of concern for the Palestinians in Israel. He opened up a long holder for his phone to take a selfie of us together.
As we rode back Verle took several photos. We realize more and more that we like the rural and uncrowded areas.
Wednesday: Although the weather was cooler, it didn’t rain as we had expected, so we decided to drive up to the Trapp Family Lodge again as we had in 2007. It was gorgeous up there with the broad view of the mountains and the colored leaves and the mums and other flowers in prime bloom. We went to the restaurant there and each ordered an Austrian dessert. I got a dark chocolate torte and Verle an ice cream sundae dish with hazelnut brittle pieces. We shared them – excellent! On the way back to our resort, we decided to ride the north part of the bike trail again. The leaves are filtering down from the trees and when the wind blows, more come down quickly – it’s lovely but a little sad. However, the hillsides across the way remain lovely. We are so thrilled to have been here for this season.
Thursday: Though cool, the day was total sunshine and gorgeous. Such a wonderful surprise when we had expected rain all week! We decided to drive up through Smugglers Notch on Mt. Mansfield (4393 ‘) again and hike the Sterling Pond Trail up from the parking area to the pond, elevation 3000′ — the highest trout pond in the state — 880’ vertical rise . It was a beautiful hike, but we found out afterwards that it was rated “most difficult.” (the ratings were from “easiest” to “more difficult,” to “most difficult,” to “experts only.”)
We had thought it was rated moderate in ability. We struggled to get up and down again (it took two hours to get down, and except for the fear of slipping and falling on the wet rocks, it was much faster and easier coming down.)
The lake at the top of the trail was beautiful, but the view was probably not worth the difficulty of the climb. The computer says that the trail is only 2 miles round trip. It’s hard to believe that it wasn’t longer – it sure felt like it. We were pretty wiped out by the time we got back home and were glad to go to the hot tub — it felt so good!
Friday: We spent the day in the condo, catching up on things and playing games. I spent a long time writing another letter to Chris. The view from our windows is still gorgeous. We watched Marilyn’s movie, Beethoven, and watched Nebraska sweep Northwestern in volleyball.
Saturday: This is a special day for us, because we were able to check out of our unit at 10 and check into a fourth floor unit at 3. We packed a tote with things we need for the rest of the day/night, and transferred everything else to the van. We went to the hot tub in between and drove around. The fourth floor unit is exactly the same and in the same basic location as our second floor unit, but the furnishings, carpets, and bedspreads are new and much nicer; also, the view is even more lovely from up higher. This was SO much better than trying to find a motel between Stowe and our New Hampshire destination tomorrow, and for the same price as a motel. It was a bit chilly, so the fireplace felt really good. We’d almost forgotten how good it feels to stand in front of that kind of heat! We packed in, got comfortable, ate grillers and a baked potato, and I beat Verle at a game of Boggle! We were able to get good TV reception of the Nebraska/Minnesota football game starting at 3:30. SO much better than a motel!