Mountains of Green

Although I've been to Vermont several times before (twice with Joel and at least once with my family), this was my first time visiting the Green Mountain State in the summer.  It was like a whole different state, and I felt like I was seeing everything for the first time.   Sure, it was beautiful and white and snowy in the winter, but it was also COLDCOLDCOLDCOLD.  Beyond cold.  Cold makes for great skiing, but it also makes for me being extremely unhappy.  I could not get over how gorgeous Vermont is in the summertime - there are wildflowers everywhere, the mountains the background are covered as far as the eye can see in greenery, and the wildflowers... seriously, they are EVERYWHERE.

We landed in Burlington on Saturday afternoon, and all I could think about at that moment was getting some hand lotion.  I'd forgotten put any in my purse, and after two hours of dry airplane air, I was DYING.  I could not wait for our checked bag to arrive so I could get some out of my toiletries kit, no.  "I need to find a Body Shop the second we get off this plane so I can get some hand lotion out of one of their testers," I told Joel.   "Uhhh... I'm not sure if there are any Body Shops in this airport," he told me.  Nonsense!  There is at least one Body Shop in EVERY airport, I thought.  I have seen quite a few airports, and trust me - this is not the first time I've forgotten to pack any hand lotion.  I know where to get some free moisturizer in a pinch, don't you worry.

Yeah, there were no Body Shops.  There wasn't even a food court.   Nor was there a separate arrival and departure gate.  There were no cops hovering curbside, ready to issue tickets to anyone who dared to turn off their ignition while unloading the car.   I realized we were not in Kansas anymore.  And then I realized that I actually had packed some lotion in my purse.

We had lunch in Burlington with my friend Sarah, who has just moved to Vermont to be a real live doctor, and then we headed off in our rental minivan (we'd requested a compact car, but the BVT Thrifty had all of three available cars, so we happily took the minivan, Massachusetts plates and all).  Joel decided to take the scenic route so I could enjoy the beautiful views.  I promptly fell asleep and woke up in the driveway at his parents' house.  What, all that hand-lotion searching had me exhausted.

We spent the rest of the week with his family near Stowe.  I wanted to do something "Vermonty" every single day, and I think I succeeded.

Day 1: I petted the neighbor's goats.

OMG!  Goats!  So cute!  I fed them grass and the said "baaaa" and everything!  And then some hot air balloons flew by very low and the poor goats ran around their electric-fenced area like maniacs and cowered together in their shed!  SO CUTE.

Day 2: We toured a cheese factory

We drove out to Cabot, VT and visited the place where Cabot cheese is made.  We didn't get to see all that much since it was a Sunday and therefore the actual factory was closed, but we did get to eat our weight in free samples.  Joel warned me that Vermont's version of "sharp" might be a little ahem, stronger  than I was used to, and that it might not be a good idea for me to shovel the entire bowl of "Seriously Sharp" samples into my piehole, but I was starving so I didn't listen.  Oh. My. Gah.  Not only was that shit SHARP, it was the most delicious cheese I've ever tasted in my life.  We brought two two-pound bricks home with us.  Four pounds of deliciously sharp cheddar.   I cannot wait until our stupid Safeway brand cheddar is all used up so I can bite into those babies.

Day 3: We were outdoorsy

My mom is going to be so proud when she reads this: WE DID TWO HIKES IN ONE DAY.

First, we went to see Moss Glen Falls, which wasn't a very long hike, but it was a hike nonetheless.   I took lots of pictures of flowers and berries and fungi and general greenery, and then we hopped into the Massachusetts minivan and drove to Smuggler's Notch, where we did a very long, very steep hike and saw more trees, more flowers, more water and a whole bunch of very, very green mountains.  

On the way home, we got a "creamy", which is pretty much a soft ice cream cone, only better.  Because it's called a "creamy".  Or "creemy", "creamie", or "creemie", depending on the preference of whoever made the sign.

Day 4: We went canoing

We rented a canoe, threw it on top of our Massachusetts minivan, and drove out to the local reservoir to paddle around for the afternoon.  We saw multiple beaver lodges, a couple of loonsand a dude kayaking with his dog. 

After dinner, Joel suggested that we take the canoe out on the river, and well... the sun was setting on one side, the full moon was out on the other and I didn't have to paddle at all because the river just took us along (and Joel steered).    Now, THAT'S the way to canoe. 

Since it was twilight there were tons out animals out and about, and we saw: two beavers swimming, a mama duck with twelve ducklings, several small sandpiper-type birds, another loon, and a gigantic owl.   I managed to get exactly none of them on film.  Oh, well.

Day 5: I shot a gun

Now, I am not a fan of guns.  Up until last week, I'd never held one in my hand, let alone shot one - and that was perfectly fine with me.   But Joel really wanted to take me a-shootin', so after a quick lesson and some practice shooting at cansin the backyard, we piled into the Massachusetts minivan and drove out to the local gravel pit.  (Which, incidentally, was surrounded by MORE GORGEOUS SCENERY.  God, Vermont, give it a break one in awhile). 

Target practice from Pink Herring on Vimeo.

Not only was shooting more fun than I'd anticipated, but I was actually a pretty decent shot!  Now that I come to think about it, that's probably why it was kind of fun. 

Not to worry, though.  I only shot at paper targets, and I practically threw myself in front of an adorable little woodchuck (who has been destroying the family's garden all summer) to keep Joel from shooting at it. 

Day 6: We went to the Ben and Jerry's factory

Enough said. 

That evening, we went out to see the sunset.  I took one million pictures, naturally. 

I could really get to liking Vermont, if only it didn't get so damn cold in the winter.

Day 7: We went Champ-watching

 

On our last day, we said our goodbyes in the morning, and then spent the afternoon in Burlington before our flight departed.  Burlington is an adorable little town (ahem, "big city"), but the thing I love most about it is Champ.   For those of you not in "the know", Champ is the mythical Lake Monster that lives in Lake Champlain.   I have been obsessed with Champ since our last trip up to Vermont in December 2006, and my favorite Champ Fact is that he is protected by both Vermont and New York State law, should he ever be proved to exist.  

Alas, we did not see Champ because it was too hazy.  Maybe we'll see Nessie next month when we're in Scotland.

The entire photo set is on Flickr, and there are a few more videos on Vimeo.  If you watch the videos, just know that I really, really like loons.  Just because they're called loons.

Comments

[Lizzy]

I like the Loon video and all...But, wheres the video from the jersey shore party?!

[RA]

Um, I would have TOTALLY made JG take a picture of me hugging Champ, even though the thought of him existing makes me want to scream. But the sculpture is so cute! He's like Puff the Magic Dragon!

[Kirsten]

I just read in a little fact booklet that Ben and Jerry, like the real people, wanted to start up a bagle bussiness, but the capital costs were too high, so they went to like a $5 ice cream making class.
I dunno if its true, but funny.
Sounds like a fun trip!!

[Operation Pink Herring]

Kir: that's totally tue about Ben and Jerry. They told us in the tour. Best of all, the $5 correspondence course they took on ice-cream making was from PENN STATE.

[heidi]

see the real thing you missed out was totally cows. :) I grew up in the 802, so it's always amusing to me to hear people be like "VT IS SO PREETTTYYYY OMGOMGOMGOMG" and i'm just like m'eh. it's cold. boring and living there for 18 years blew. But i have a greater appreciation for it now that i've been a city dweller the past 6 years. :) Love the pict0rs

[Stephanie]

But here is my question, beyond the cheese, the ice cream, the gorgeous scenery, how was the fam?

[La]

I think that touring a cheese factory is pretty close to my version of heaven.

[nancypearlwannabe]

That video of you shooting the rifle is both cute and hilarious. Ahh, New England gravel pits.

[elise - All Or Nothing]

I love the pics! I have never been anywhere near Vermont, so it's just like looking at pictures from...Thailand? Vietnam? Or anywhere else I've never been and don't know if I'll ever visit. It looks beautiful though, and I gotta say, your evening canoe ride sounds PERFECT.

[Kristabella]

I think I stopped reading after the cheese tour. Because I LOVE CHEESE! And I got so excited I fell out of my chair.

[janet]

I lived in Vermont for about 9 months....LOVED IT. Would totally move there if I could eliminate winter and make it a little closer to home.

[almostgotit]

Oh yes, definitely the cheese. And the Ben and Jerry's. What else is there?

[Laurel]

VT is green! My aunt lives in Brattleboro and every time I visit she, her husband and any random friends or neighbors we come across say, "Isn't Vermont BUCOLIC!" They are all addicted to that word.

[Julie]

Vermont looks really pretty in the summer.

I have never been there at all but these pictures make me want to go!

Glad you had fun!

[Laura]

I absolutely love those photos of the bee on the flower, and the lake with the sunset. Stunning.

[Lindsey]

My sister went to college in Burlington (actually, Colchester) and I visited a couple times. I LOVE VERMONT! So jealous you were there! Also, I LOVE LOVE LOVE The North. I'm such a Yankee at heart. I miss The North so much.

[HollowSquirrel]

Damn, I should have read this earlier, as we're close to Vermont and I would have come and stalked you on your hike! Isn't Vermont pretty?

Did you get an ILOVERMONT! bumper sticker?