After a morning swim we drove to Mt Elmore hike. About 15 minutes from cottage. It was a rare loop hike as most have been up and down the same trail.
The climb was a gradual affair
At the top was an old fire tower. This one was not as spacious as the ones you see out west where a ranger might spend the summer looking out while reading books and contemplating life’s greatest questions. It was a tight fit for 2 people with only a brief stay at the top, but providing amazing views.
The trip down the mountain was more direct and steep. When we got back to the lake we found a cool log cabin with a fire going. A peaceful spot I will remember and hope to see again.
After lunch we headed towards Lower Stowe to stop at Umiak Kayak Outfitters to figure out logistics for an upcoming kayak trip. We did not want to go with a group so I had to find a stretch of river that had no waterfalls, was deep enough and had a road along for me to ride my bike back after dropping Amy and the canoe off, enabling us to paddle down to the awaiting car. They really were not much help on the planning aspect but we were able to secure the rental.
Near the Outfitter was Cold Hallow Cider Mill. It is another tourist stop on the Stowe bucket list, but we tried to hit on a slow day to pick up the usual cider and donoughts.
It was a bit crowded and we bolted quickly, but not before Amy scooped up plenty of treats and I bought a 4-pack of their Hard Cider.
This life without work takes getting used to. Thoughts constantly bombard the mind that you should be working. Achieving something tangible. It is something that needs to be worked through in order to find the necessary balance I desire. To be honest, I really should not feel too guilty as I am not sitting at home watching TV. If not outdoors I am doing some meaningless thing on the computer or reading some random self-help book.
We enjoy our cottage but the one room studio is a bit small. I think something more the size of our place in Maine is to our liking (actual bedrooms) but we are not complaining.
We did another short Maple Syrup hike the next day with max in Kirchner Woods.
It was 2 miles, but Max was not feeling it. We drove a couple hours looking at the Lomoille River near the towns of Johnson and Jeffersonville. I think I found a section that will work for our canoe trip that has a bike trail along the side of it. It is always hard to determine how long it will take to go down a river. 2 towns could be 2 miles apart by road, but with all the meandering, could be 10 miles by water.
After lunch I took the dirtbike out again up to the Trapp Family lodge. I found a dirt road and followed it longer than I probably should have. It turned out to be a mountain bike trail (Adams Trail). Fortunately I did not run into any bikers or they would not have been too happy with me
When I returned home Max was breathing fast and labored. He did not want to eat, which means something is seriously wrong as that is his focus 24 Hrs a day normally. Vets were closed so we drove to Burlington and they evaluated him while we slept in the car for 3 hours. They gave him antibiotics and felt he had picked up Pneumonia. All that dog interactions on the Quiet Path in Stowe. It was like Europeans infecting the native Americans. Max has lived in a condo all his life and his immune system was not prepared for the onslaught. We took him home. He was not doing better at home and we drove back to Burlington and admitted him.
We slept in that day and cancelled the canoe rental. Amy stayed in, calling the Vet for updates on Max. I went out on bicycle and rode through town up to the trail head for Pinnacle Trail hike.
It was a challenging alpine trail straight up a creek to a peak. A good workout, made even tougher by fact that I had to ride the bike uphill a great deal even to get there.
The peak had tremendous view, but filled with people so I only stuck around briefly
The ride back to the cottage was all downhill and fast. Max was still struggling in an Oxygen tent and would stay there another night.
The next day we picked Max up and took him home. Wow, that was expensive! His 30 hours at the vet was more than our whole lodging for the month in Stowe. He was still struggling and took about a week to start getting back to normal. It was a close call. No more interactions for a while.
I found a dirtbike trail online called the “Puppydog Trail” It runs most of VT and it runs right by Stowe. I uploaded the GPX file up to my Rever and mounted it to the handlebars.
I was out in the middle of nowhere, but stopped after a bit, hoping to continue further near the Canada border another day. I was riding these dirt farm roads, with the leaves blowing and sunlight creeping between the trunks of the trees that line the road. I had to take the car out to share this magical time of the day with Amy and Max.
Each day I take a look at the tree behind the main house to see how much it changes
We rode the Recreational Path again with a stop on the way back for pizza at Picasso’s
Then hiked up mt Hunger. A hill nearby to Pinnacle from the other day.
No one at the peak on this one and had time to myself to appreciate the view and my health that allowed me to get to the top in one piece. Never know, this may be the last time you see a view like this, that was earned.
The next day I took the gang out on the dirt road I did on the dirtbike the other day. I would be happy to spend every September in VT. Maybe I could find the perfect location on this planet for each month of the year and just cycle through them endlessly.
If you did not know it, VT is the epicenter for covered bridges. There are maps out there that show the location of more than 100 in the state. I feel like it could be a passion for some like Birding. I tracked down about 10 of them and crafted a route between
This next one was interesting. While I was lining up my shot a gentleman came out of his house and started talking. He asked if I would sign his guest book for people coming to see the bridge next to his property. It seemed odd, and I was hesitant as I did not want to deal with touching things and then wiping everything down and such, but I have a hard time saying no. I signed the book and he pulled the cover off a display case with various bridge memorabilia and maple syrup bottles. I left without purchasing but Amy made me go back to provide them a donation. I bought a $3 “nip” bottle of maple Syrup. Amy kept it close at hand and would just sips of it throughout the day like some drunk
A long day of color tour, but I think we can safely say we checked that box and it felt good. Back to Stowe!
We did another short hike to Sterling Falls near our cottage
Followed up with another stop at Farmers Market for Scallion pancakes. An afternoon Zoom call with the parents
Lots of rain for days. I got a clear hour and took bike out and came across this field.
Pot plants as far as the eye can see. It felt like a scene out of “The Beach” where DiCaprio comes across a field like this on an island in Thailand. I was waiting for men with AK-47s to swarm me, but nothing. There must be some sort of security here. Vermonters can’t be that nice, can they?
Happy to say that Max made it through and is no worse for the wear.
Until Tomorrow,
Darren
