Fun Times From Dawn To Dark

What a day and a half!

We started out picking strawberries.

We didn't need to go far because they were hanging on the ground!  The lants were loaded!  Made my poor little plants at home look like they shouldn't have even shown up.

Alaire picked in one spot forever.

Ellis hopped spots.  And Pappy picked a few and ate a few also.

They were huge!  And perfect for picking.

And pick we did!

Something like 18 pounds!

Then it was off to breakfast at the Springfield Royal Diner down the road.  Thank you GPS and Waze!

Biggest pancakes in the world.

I don't know why but Alaire always cuts her pancakes like this.  We had our first taste of real Vermont Maple Syrup.  Oh, my word!!!  And I am not kidding.

I got a message from a friend that grew up in this are that we should go to the oldest General Store in VT.  It is known as Dan & Wit's General Store in Norwich, VT.  It has been serving the community for over 110 years.  The store was really cool.  Wonky wooden floors.  Shelves stacked to the ceiling.  It smelled old and had everything known to man and then some.  It was great but what happened in the parking lot was even better.

Alaire played the piano.  Right there in front of the store in the parking lot.

And then I made a new friend.  I was walking out the door and this man was walking behind me.  He noticed that I had on a shirt that said Cincinnati.  We all walked out at the same time.  Ellis, Alaire and I were having a conversation about the VT maple syrup.  How good it was and how we should get some to take home.

This guy was in his truck and he yells out and asked if we were really from Cincinnati.  I said yes and he proceeded to tell me that he was from Marysville, OH which is not too far from us.  We chit chatted for a bit and I found out that he has 8 brothers and sisters.  They moved to VT when he was young so his dad could find work.  And he and his brother tap maple trees and make syrup.  Then he said for me to come over to his truck because he wanted to give me something.  VT MAPLE SYRUP with their label.  I cried!  That was the nicest thing ever.  I love VT and the people that live there.

We went back to the campsite so Ellis and Alaire could swim a bit.  And we had lunch and strawberries for dessert.  We gave strawberries to the campers on our right.  We gave strawberries to the guy that picks up the trash and the recycling.  We gave strawberries to the ladies in the office and still had them coming out our ears!

I should have made a strawberry cobbler but instead, I made an apple one to take for dessert at Barbara and Mellert's.

We were so spoiled.  This was out bathhouse!

We get to Mellert's and we go for a hike to see the 'Bridges of Grafton County'.   (I hope I got the name right).  Mellert worked on all three of these bridges.  The path that we took was right down the road a little from their house.

I learned a lot about the landscape and what some of the caves mean.  I had it all written on a piece of paper and now I can't find it.

This s an old road that erosion had worked a number on.

The first bridge that we came to.  Been there since 2000.

Rocks placed across a path to help the rain run off without taking everything in its path.

I wish I could remember what this is called.  I want to call it 'the chute'.

Bridge #2.

Of course, they had to get in the creek and leave their calling cards.

Someone else made this carin.

Path marker that was in the ground showing us the way to go.

I'd love to find some of this around Christmas.  You can wrap it into a wreath because it grows from a taproot.  It would smell wonderful in the house.

Bridge #3

beautiful creek

Fungi

And I got to use my 'tick spoon'.  Ellis actually was the only one that had any on him.  I think he found 4 or 5.

And they went to the tick graveyard.

It was such a nice evening that Mellert grilled and we ate out on the back deck.  So peaceful.  And delicious!!

My apple cobbler.

Barbar's banana cream pie.  YUMMM

The whole gang!!!  And us with our Dartmouth treasures from Mellert.

Barbara makes the best apple butter in the world.  And guess who gets a jar.  Biscuits and apple butter when we get home! 

We had a great day filled with jsut about everything you ask for and then some.