Another Day In The Green Mountains

As mentioned in our last post, we extended our stay in Vermont by one day so we could visit a few more sights. We could NOT leave the area without taking a tour of the Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Factory. What a fun place and plus we got FREE ice cream! We learned all about how two young boys met in 7th grade gym class, remained friends throughout high school and afterwards. After neither could make a go of it in college or medical school, they pooled their money to pay for a $5 correspondence course on ice cream making and the rest is euphoric ice cream history. The company has a three-part mission statement which has an environmental, social and financial focus. A very inspiring company with a focus on giving back to the community and world. We came. We saw. We ate ice cream.
























After indulging on decadent ice cream, we rode on down the road to the Cold Hollow Cider Mill. We tasted samples of cider, mustards and Legenday Cider Donuts. Across the way from the cider mill was Grandview Winery. Once again, we could not pass up the opportunity to taste-test the wines that are produced there. We had to taste a variety of wines before deciding on the one to purchase. There are actually many other places along Route 2 to stop and sample syrups, jellies, and candies. Many call this tour the "belly ache" tour. Fortunately for us, we called it quits after the ice cream, cider and wine.

In our travels today, we went through the state capitol of Vermont - Montpelier. A bit of trivia should you need it in a future Trivial Pursuit game - Montpelier is the smallest of all the state capitols in the U.S. It is really just a small town and could be mistaken for any other little village in the area except for there being a building with a gold dome on it as you pass through. Burlington, VT is actually the largest city in VT with a population of 60,000.

We wanted to mention the amazing number of people we have met from Georgia in our few short weeks of travel. While in Northern Virginia at the birthday party we attended, we met several ladies who live in Peachtree City. In Pennsylvania, we were parked next to a couple in the RV Park who was from Anderson, SC. Then, while on the Amish Experience Tour, we sat in front of a man who used to live in Athens and then Habersham county on a chicken farm. He now lives in Texas but would love to live in North Georgia again. We tried to sell him our house but he wasn't ready to make the move just yet. Now, in Vermont we met a couple who lived 31 years in Douglasville, Ga. but who have recently moved to Hershey, PA due to a job transfer. They remain huge Georgia Bulldog fans and say they miss Georgia. They were very friendly and provided us with a list of things to see and do in the area. Tonight they came over to visit and informed us of two more campers in this small RV Park who are also from Georgia. It is definitely a small world!

There remains much to be explored in this beautiful area but we will be moving on over to Maine in the morning. It is amazing how much unique beauty we have found in each of the areas we have stayed. It only gives us impetus to keep doing what we are doing so we can keep visiting places again and again to see what we didn't get to see previously.

As Ben & Jerry would say...

If it's not fun why do it?

J&K