Lake Champlain VT

The biggest water body in North America after the “Big Lakes” is Lake Champlain that separates Vermont from Up State NY.

In the middle of the lake there are serial of Islands and most of them are connected by bridges this is where we decided to Camp during the next 4 days.

Camping in this C.G allows us to see the beautiful Lake from a close distance,I especially like the early morning and the sunset when the last sun beams play on the water and light the boats that are rocking on the waves,take a chair and just sit looking East and try to remember that this is for real.

The Island are mainly agriculture land ,you can visit a farm or stop next to a “farm stand” and get some fruits & vegetables fresh from the farmer,many leave their stand with prices on the items-just chose and leave the right amount in the bucket,kind of naive way back nice system.

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I have told my friends Rod&Ruth that the only thing that is missing from this picture is them with their RV next to ours.

There are good days and better days….

 

We took a stroll Burlington, a charming town on the lake,it hosts a building of 11 floors and conceders to be the “skyscraper” of Vermont..

BTW VERMONT is made from 2 French words VER and MONT ,in English Green Mountain,

We meet two guys in the park playing their guitars and relaxed listening to them play and sing,we enjoyed it.

The coffee shops and the bars on the waterfront were inviting so we had some drinks facing the lake having the sun warm us up,when trying to get up Shula got soft knees from the Margaritas and had to lean on me and lay down for a while-it was fun.

 

We took a buffet Cruise on the Lake ,the water was calm,sun shining and we are on the deck with some drinks enjoying the scenery of this large “CHAPM” as the locals call it.

During our reservation process the details were lost and therefore we got a FREE ride-nice…

 

            

South of Burlington in Shelburne is the largest outdoors Museum in the state,many historic buildings,first steam ship on the lake,painting collections and many more.

We spent a whole day rooming this place and went many years back…

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On the way back we drove through the marina and coastline of Shelburne and got caught by the beauty of the place.

Tomorrow we are crossing to Up State NY after a great month in this beautiful state.

Jay Peak area

We have moved the trailer North and made a base for 5 days in a small beautiful village of Westfield.

This Passport America C.G is centrally located for our adventure in this area,it is a small place with only 40 spots (only 15 were camping at that time),all on very green grass with a swimming pool run by a nice and friendly couple.

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As we are getting closer to Labour long weekend the owner Mark helped me out with reservations for our next C.G in South Hero,an Island to Burlington on Lake Champlain.

From the C.G there is a path leading to 3 waterfalls just one mile away and we sure will take advantage of this in the next few days.

In the following morning we took of to Newport , 18 miles down the road and the largest town in the area,it is located on Lake Memphremagog (where in the world they have found this name???) and part of it is in Quebec Canada.

The place is just gorgeous,with a marina,C.G and housing facing the lake.

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Afternoon we spent in Big Falls next to North Troy ,finding them was and adventure as no signs what so ever direct you or even suggest that this outstanding gorge and falls are even in the area.

We followed a local person directions and got nowhere , “go till the unmarked pullout and turn into this unmarked road,park next to the rocks and then take the right path…” well this did not get us to far…but after two more guldens we finally made it.

It was a good surprise,just take a look..

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In the second day as the weather was perfect we drove shortly to Jay Peak and took the “long trail” to the peak.

It was tricky to find the head trail as there are no signs on the road or at the beginning of the trail itself,so we asked around and after half an hour in the area we have found a pull out and near to it the trail head.

It took us 2 hours to reach the top of the mountain,it was all up hill and through a forest so no scenery on the way at all,but what a reward at the end –wooow,360 degrees panorama,North –Canada,East- NH and the White Mountains,South-Mansfield Mt VT and West Up State NY.

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Surprise, we meet on the way only one person so we had the Mountain for ourselves.

Waking up in the following day we found out that the “summer” was over,heavy clouds were hanging high above and it was raining,at the time we have finished with breakfast it changed for the better and we were happy that we have done the outdoor activities days before.

So we took a Lake scenic drive in North East VT,stopping at the small villages and visiting the deserted beautiful lakes.

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One stop I remember particularly because of the great Chilli I had in the General Store , the sign said “home made Chilli” and that was enough for me to go for it,and it was delicious.

These General Stores or Country Stores in the small villages are amazing, you can find “old timers” rocking in old chairs and talking about the last catch of fish they had,the smell of nostalgia is in the air while you brows around the tidy shelves of food,nails,boots,T shirts,fishing rods and you name it-and some time you can have a great meal as we did.

On the way back we stopped at a farm that raises red deer for meat and saw some “wild” animals in captivity-sad..

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The last stop in Vermont will be the Champlain Lake area ,we will be staying next to the lake around 10 days as there is so much to see and do before we cross to Up State NY.

Stowe VT

Stowe is a beautiful village at the feet of mountain Mansfield,the highest mountain in Vermont.

In the winter it becomes a haven to down hill skiers and the village a great place for getting all the necessary equipment,lodging and after ski activities.

We waited for the perfect weather to climb the mountain ,no wind,good visibility and no rain.

There are a few possibilities to climb Mt. Mansfield,by gondola,by hiking from the bottom or taking the truck to a parking lot just 2 miles before the peak-and that was how we did it.

The view was stunning at the top,you could see Canada,NH,Upstate NY all at one glance-what a panorama..

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The area also is blessed with waterfalls and we did hike to 3 of them,some are just a short hike from the parking lot and come as a surprise after a turn and some are along a long gorge and the sound of falling waters can be herd from far away.

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We have to come in the winter to see it all in white…

Central Vermont

We have moved slowly North using the roads without huge steep grades to make it easier on the tow,then usually “dump” the trailer in a Campground and do side trips with the truck for a few days .

As you can see we are not exactly in the wilderness (if anyone thought so),the weather was kind with us,it rained from time to time but nothing like what we have experienced in Maine and some times in NH.

Vermont is beautiful,green,and whenever you look up you can see a mountain range around ,many of them are used for ski in the winter and mountain biking or hiking in the summer.

Waterfalls,Gorges,festivals are all over the place during the summer and we are trying to take advantage of all this as much as we can.

 

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Looking around sometimes it seems that people do not appreciate enough these “presents” given to them by nature and it passes  as if it is granted.

We only wish for our family and friends to do what they always wanted but had no time till now to do it.