Expertly produced map of where we drove in Vermont.
Touring New England in the fall is a travel dream of just about every red-blooded American. It is something I’d wanted to do my whole life and I recently had a great excuse to do so when one of my best friends got married in the Green Mountain State. She arranged blue skies, 80-degree temps and according to her, she hand painted all the leaves. She did a really good job.
I’m Canadian
At the Burlington, Vermont, USA airport, they gave me a Canadian rental car. I didn’t think much of this until I was going down the highway at 100 and thought to myself, Wow! This Kia Soul handles really well at 100 mph. Then I realized I was going 100 kilometers per hour. Then I noticed a gauge telling me I was getting 7.4 liters per kilometer. I had no idea what that meant.
So I was a little annoyed at having a Canadian rental car. This is ‘Merica, Damn it! But then I got to touring the backroads of Vermont and my mindset changed, because I drove like a 100-year-old blind man with a car full of screaming children. I am used to driving in Alaska, with frequent turnouts, wide shoulders and virtually no traffic. Roads in Vermont are extremely narrow, the shoulder is about half an inch wide and there are never any turnouts. Whenever we’d pass a scenic lake, a colorful grove of trees or a photogenic barn, which was about every 100 feet, I’d slow down to look at it, drawing the ire of the line of cars that had amassed behind me. “I’m Canadian,” I’d say and give a friendly, languorous wave.
Stopping in the middle of the road for photos of a cemetery is okay if you are Canadian.
Canadian tags gave me permission to commit a multitude of sins. Is that a parking spot? Not sure, well, it is now. I’m Canadian! Whose turn is it now at this 4-way stop? I guess I’ll go. I’m Canadian!
Once I was driving down the road, looking over at a cemetery, debating whether to stop and take a photo, while simultaneously trying to read a road atlas and drink a coffee. A motorcycle passed me, the driver looked over and shook his head in disbelief as he cautiously passed me, allowing a wide berth, I might add. I am sure he expected to see a half-paralyed, blue-haired octogenarian but instead saw what should have been a capable young man.
Being Canadian was liberating. It gave me permission to drive like a Floridian.
Hiking in Vermont
Aside from touring the backroads, attending weddings and permanently harming American-Canadian relations, we made time to go on a few hikes. I am a huge fan of national parks and at first glance there are no massive parklands in Vermont in which to explore. However, I realized that the entire state is a giant park, with excellent hiking trails, lakes and waterfalls scattered all over. The state is a true outdoor lover’s dream.
On the trail to Mt. Wheeler. The fall colors were perfect.
We hiked an excellent trail to Sterling Pond in Smugglers Notch State Park. The area was ruggedly beautiful, with towering granite peaks. The park was also crowded as just about everybody in the area woke up, put on hiking boots and made a pilgrimage to the area as if drawn by some magical force. The next day we drove to the Northeast Kingdom, hiked Mt. Wheeler and only saw five other hikers. I also made an early morning hike to Moss Glenn Falls near Stowe and was the only person there. The crowds can be avoided, I learned.
I am sure I will be back in New England again for some more leaf peeping. I managed to get some decent photos, but as you might imagine, on the days with clear blue skies I was busy with wedding activities, and on the days devoted to exploration and photography I was cursed with thin, ugly clouds. I will have to return and try this again someday, and I’ll be requesting a Quebecois rental car.
Moss Glenn Falls near Stowe. I had it to myself in the early morning.
Where is your favorite spot for fall foliage?
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I know the territory well. Glad you got to experience and appreciate it, too! And the colors are predicted to be gorgeous this year.
I don’t have other years to compare it to, but the colors did seem to be very vibrant. Where are you from?
I’m from all over but presently reside in the NM High Desert. Two of my sisters have homes in VT. 🙂
Reblogged this on thelittlebigspot and commented:
Sounds amaze!
Thank you for the reblog. It is an amazing place for sure.
like this
Thank you!
Autumn (Fall) is like a second Spring when every leaf is like a flower..
I have seen this quote before and thought of it a few times on the trip. Thanks for sharing, Jim.
I think the quote is originally attributed to Albert Camus…captures the beauty of Autumn, particularly if you can find a place like New England to see the leaves in all their autumn glory (like a natural firework display)
It is like a natural fireworks display. We arrived at the airport in Burlington and none of the leaves had really changed, But as we headed to higher elevations the trees got more vibrant and as the days went by, changed to outstanding color. All the locals were a little sad because after that goes away it gets brown and ugly until the snow falls. I guess that is the downside. After such an amazing display you get a big let down. 🙂
I’m glad you had such a great trip! Two years ago, I went to Stowe for a Thanksgiving getaway and hiked to Moss Glen Falls. There is so much to see in Vermont. I hope you got to sample some of their famous cheeses. Stowe is also home to Ben & Jerry’s ice cream! Love your explanation of driving in a “foreign” car, makes perfect sense to me.
Laura, I thought about your blog a few times when I was cruising around Vermont. There are so many cute towns and places to see in New England – and it is all so close together – it is a great place for traveling around. I didn’t make the Ben and Jerrys, but next time I will!
Great post again. I could feel the congestion on the road the pull of the wonderful scenery. Great use of “Canadian.” I may or may not have done the same a few times in our US forays.
I am sorry to give you and your fellow countrymen a bad name, but maybe I am just getting everything back to even.
Jeff there you are giving us Canadians a bad name. Sheesh!
Wonderful photos and looking forward to the upcoming tales from Indonesia!
I am sorry for giving you Canadians a bad name in Vermont, but as Lyle – a fellow Canadian commented – I may just be getting things back to even.
🙂
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