Monday 9 October 2000

Today is Columbus Day.

Packed up and drove 120 miles to next campsite at Randolph Centre in Vermont, via tourist information centre to pick up maps and leaflets. Still cold and wet, and the campsite was due to close at the end of the week and so weren't putting themselves out too much; it did have nice views and plenty of space, though. Internet access is available in the office, although grudgingly as they have to disconnect the fax machine to free up the line. So much for America being the land of universal internet accessibility.

General store just up the road which sells everything from rat traps to fishing flies; good pizza at local takeaway / cafe.

The foliage is nowhere near as spectacular as in New Hampshire. We suspect that it may be because of the early snows and frosts which have killed the leaves off too quickly.

Tuesday 10 October 2000

More snow overnight; this is getting ridiculous.

Drove to Shelburne in northern Vermont, where there's a huge (45 acres) museum of old buildings and artifacts transported there from all over, including the last paddle steamer to run on Lake Champlaine, the Ticonderoga. It was brought there more than two miles overland in the winter when the ground was frozen, by means of building a temporary railway across the countryside and winching it along with a truck ...

The museum is so enormous that the ticket covers two days, as it's impossible to see everything in one, so we'll be back tomorrow.

More snow in the evening. We're getting really fed up with this, as we didn't come prepared with much warm clothing or bedding, and we don't want to buy any as it won't be too much use in Florida in a few weeks' time.

Wednesday 11 October 2000

Back up to Shelburne to finish the museum, which is definitely worth the trip if you're ever up this way. Tour round Ben and Jerry's ice cream factory in the evening, including free samples and a huge waffle cone bought from the shop. The weather's not really suitable for ices, but it's one of those things that you have to do as a dutiful tourist.

Found that the local store sells Ben and Jerry's 'seconds' cheap for the benefit of local charities. At the factory they told us that batches usually get rejected because they have too much of the fillings in, so we stocked up (for the sake of the local charities, you understand).

Fixed annoying leak in the bathroom waste pipe by means of epoxy resin adhesive and plumber's putty. Should be done under warranty, but it's considerably easier to fix it ourselves.

Thursday 12 October 2000

Much warmer today: hurrah! Fixed more odds and sods on trailer, then went to Porter's Music Box museum. Mr. Porter started repairing them about 25 years ago, then went on to design and build his own, including a stereo version which uses twin discs. He knocks them out for between $8,000 and $21,000, depending on the model. They are very good quality though, with hand-made inlaid Italian marquetry cases.

Visited the Vermont Castings showroom in Bethel ...

... in the hope of getting a factory tour to see where our wood-burning stove was made. Unfortunately they don't do them due to the possibility of visitors getting showered with molten iron, which I suppose you can understand.

Friday 13 October 2000

Drove around looking at Vermont. It's a pretty and fairly laid back place; lots of small peaceful villages and even some fields with dairy cattle. Excellent lunch at the main hotel in the town of Brandon, and we then found a charity book sale at the local library, whose large four-roomed basement was absolutely crammed with second-hand books: some old stock and others donated. Stocked up with enough reading material for the rest of the year, plus a huge cookery book, for the princely sum of $9.

Bought a small musical box from Porter's - assembled but not made by them, hence considerably cheaper, but still with the nice Italian marquetry. Had our first successful campfire, then packed up ready for an early start down to Massachusetts next morning.