I have been needing to go and see several of my customers in the Northeast for awhile, so I decided that this week would be as good of time as any. I realized peak foliage in VT is right around this week every year, so I decided to bring Kristin and the kids along for the car ride. They could hang out at the hotel (play in the pool, etc.), while I go and visit customers during the day.
We left home late Monday afternoon, after Owen was given a clean bill of health at his 6 month appointment. His weight and head size are literally off the chart. His measurements have made their own parallel line to the typical chart, just above it. His height is within the expected range, but around the 80th percentile.
We drove straight north from our house for a few hours and left PA for NY:
We stayed just north of Albany in a town called Saratoga Springs, which is known for horse racing and their natural springs. After my meetings in the morning, we went is search of one of the natural springs in the town. I was told by the receptionist at the hotel that there are springs all over town, and that each has its own history, and they are all free flowing. She gave me a map to a few that she knew of, and off we were.
We stopped at the first one on her map, Old Red Spring, which started being used around 1784.
I was warned that these springs did not produce the clean tasting water that you buy in the store, but that it was not bad for you, it just might leave a bad taste in your mouth. There was no way I was convincing Kristin to try a sip, but thinking about all the streams I drank from as a Boy Scout, this shouldn't be too bad.
It actually didn't taste too bad, but definitely high in iron as the sign indicates. I should have probably taken a bath in it, as they did back in the 1700's, but I was with the kids, I needed to be a good example. :)
Natalie thought the spring was a bird bath, and was not about to drink out of it, so she just opted for a picture with mommy and Owen.
After my swig of spring water, we headed east, to drive through the mountains in southern Vermont. We made a slight detour to drive through the Revolutionary War battlefield at Saratoga. The kids were asleep, so we didn't get out to take any pictures, but it would have been nice. As I drove through the National Park, I felt more and more like my father, who would stop to read every historical marker on a roadtrip...it is funny how things change?!
After about an hour of driving, we crossed the state line into Vermont:
Right after we crossed the border, I had to pull over to take a picture of an old covered bridge which looked amazing in the fall colors:
After we accended into the the mountains for a little bit, we found a picnic area that was perfect for a family picture. I am glad that we took the time to stop because the picture turned out well:
The whole area had these large historical markers, so this one is for you Dad:
We then weaved our way through the Green Mountains, until we reached what seemed to be the peak of the range. At the top was a gift shop called Hogback Mountain:
The view from up there was tough to beat. It is advertised as a 100 mile view, and it did not disappoint (although it was a little cold).
Poor Owen was all bundled up, and kept close to Kristin to stay warm in the picture.
And of course, I couldn't resist taking a picture of my Red Raider front license plate that was experiencing fall foliage with us as well.
In the gift shop, you could buy ANYTHING that is known to come from Vermont or has Vermont on it...cheese, wine, beer, etc...but the biggest selection is Maple Syrup, and by the gallon, literally, which will run you about $63 if you are interested.
After buying a piece of maple syrup candy for Natalie, a Christmas ornament, 3 pieces of fresh fudge (which I forgot about until just now...I need to find those...), and some cheese, we continued east towards New Hampshire:
We didn't stay in New Hampshire long, probably about 30 minutes, but it was long enough for me to figure out that people come to NH to buy liquor and cigarettes, as the taxes are much lower than the surrounding states. As much as I have been dying to buy a few cartons of menthals, I decided to just keep driving. :)
By this point, Owen was sick of his car seat, and we needed to find a place to eat dinner. The sun had just gone down, and we were focused on getting into Massachusetts. I take the ramp to south on I-91, and a MA State Trooper turns his lights on to pull me over. I know I wasn't speeding, so I thought that he was after someone else, but when I started to ease over, I knew he was wanting to talk to me. So, here we are, in my company car, Owen screaming his head off in the back seat, and Natalie wanting to know why the Policeman is walking up to our car...like the perfect storm of road trips. It reminded me of the scene in National Lampoons Vacation where Clark was pulled over after he tied his mother-in-laws dog to the bumper and drove for 30 minutes...great movie...anyways, where was I...So, as the officer gets to my window, I have my license out, Owen magically stops crying, I ask him what the problem is, and he said that he clocked me going 68 in a 55...I KNOW I wasn't going that fast, not even close. So, I tell him, "I am sorry officer, I wasn't going that fast. I haven't gone over 60." We go back and forth a few times, and then he says, "oh, well, I guess my radar must have had an error, drive safely" and then walks away...didn't even look at my license or ask for any paperwork...weird.
So, of course, Natalie wants to fully understand what just happened, and we try to explain it to her in a way she can understand. We quickly find a restaurant to eat dinner, while I utilize my cruise control just to be on the safe side.
After dinner, Kristin and the kids fall asleep in the back seat, and I entertain myself with music from my iPod as we drive into Connecticut.
And there you have it, 5 States in 1 Afternoon.
Landon
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