Moonlight in Vermont
Aug 11 2009
The moonlight came out for our visit to Stowe, Vt. So did the ice cream, the waterfalls, swimming under waterfalls, hiking, biking, new German friends, library used book sales, and everything else.
Stowe is a fantastic place to visit and we tried to take advantage of everything there. We hit the Ben & Jerry’s factory tour (skip it if you go to Stowe), but had better homemade ice cream at a little ice creamery in town.
There were plenty of outdoor activities. There was a bike trail up the hills that we rode the first day. The next day we hiked the area’s three falls and ended up swimming in 50-degree water at the base of Bingham Falls. The kids were jumping into the water off rocks — a 20-foot jump does a child good, I think.
We also met a German family who was spending a three-week holiday touring the Northeast in a rental RV. Joe trekked the nearby stream with their boy: A nice two-mile stroll in the water practicing his German also does a child good.
Then the full moon came out and showed us what the song meant about moonlight in Vermont. We ended our stay chatting with our new friends under the Vermont moon and introducing them to s’mores. This cross-cultural cuisine exchange must have been successful since they ate three of them. Another milestone in German-American relations!
You have seen more of New England then I have makes me home sick
I would of had a heart attack watching the kids jump 20 ft into the water!
As usual sounds like you are enjoying your trip. I think you should head back to Cape Cod the beginning of Sept so that I can visit with you and your family
Greeting from the ‘left coast’ -ahem California. (near Vandenberg AFB) I JUST discovered your adventure stories on MOAA and read a whole bunch of them -loved it SO much. Thank you for ‘taking me back’ to my New England roots and the military references. I wanted to make comments on just about every report but haven’t quite figured out how to do that -yet. So hope this is a good start? (guess I have to register but lately I’m so careful where I register)
I’m a army widow (on DIC) in my 70′s and, believe it or not, JUST returned from Paris on the brink of a 2 month adventure in Europe, which was cut short by an emergency at the CDG airport last week, with me landing in the American Hospital of Paris -very interesting and tasty food -but what a trade-off! Now I’m Home Alone (don’t ask) and looking to the future -or what’s left of it. But I’m a big believer in Carpe Diem -and found your stories so interesting and inspiring and informative. After wknd C-span pgms, this was wonderfully educational, too. So well written, too -frank and funny.
SO interesting about the ‘reality show’ issue -altho not surprised at all. They are getting out of hand lately -too MUCH conflict so it’s kinda lost it’s reality -at least for me. (except for a couple of ‘guilty pleasures’)
On my way to France in late July, I spent a few days in Boston/Lexington and we took train to Portland -as I thought I had to taste blueberry pie and a lobster roll -didn’t I?. Ended up with a 2 hr ferry ride around the harbor islands and wished I lived there -so beautiful and had that Old-fashion feeling, which I loved -all the while worrying about a Short Sale (forclosure?) about to take place in Las Vegas. I kid thee not. Talk about conflict!
Will read the rest as I didn’t know you’ve been traveling for quite a while and there’s a backlog to look forward to. So happy to read about your visit to MOAA with Cmdr Ryan (?) and that they’re running this Travel Blog -so we can live vicariously. The best Armchair Travel -ever!
Since I’ve lived in many places with the military -(or with Grand Circle, Elderhostel and others), there’s usually something that strikes home on each of your reports. Amazing. Also it’s fun to put my own 2c response in -so I feel connected, somehow.
Adios…until…later
Bon Chance (I can’t shake that French feel -yet)
Nancy Watson
MOAA member
@Pat: New England is great, we really liked Stowe. Too bad there wasn’t a job there for me. We’d like to meet you at the Cape, but we have to head west!
I agree with Pat–it makes me home sick to hear about your great experiences in New England. Where out west are you heading to now? Sounds like you really liked Fort Collins, but I am betting you will end up in CA! Are you getting anxious to settle down? Stop by if you are out this way.
Paula
@Paula – We really liked CO and your area. Can you find me a job there? We did discover that in CA a vet with a VA rating can get free tuition at the state and UCal schools for their kids. That’s a big plus.
Tom, would love to find you a job in CO–I think Metro State (Don has three courses this semester) may have some courses:>) CA is a good deal with ed benefits, but you will pay $$$ to live there. As my brother the economist tells me–there are no free lunches!!! I start school today–can’t pass up the GI Bill! Paula
@Nancy – thanks for the note, the greta story, and the kind words. And, I agree, MOAA and Adm Ryan do a great job. If you would like, please feel free to see our family website:
http://web.me.com/wahlsacrossamerica/
or email us at wahlsacrossamerica@mac.com.
We’d love to hear from you.
Please keep posting. And we’re happy to take you along in the armchair.
Tom