It was a foggy morning, and we were slow getting started. After wandering for the past two days, we both thought it would be great to stay close to town. The day started out very foggy, but it looked like it would burn off. Laura grabbed her book and headed for the Adirondack chairs, and I grabbed my GPS and went in search of a couple of geocaches.
My first target was just below the pedestrian bridge over Otter Creek. I strolled across town to the Marble Works and to the entrance to the bridge. The coordinates had the cache just below, so I followed a small trail to the water’s edge. A side pool held a collection of bullfrogs in plain view, so I stopped to gawk. The coordinates were right on the money, and I knew exactly where the cache should be, but it still took some searching before I found it. After signing the log and replacing the cache, I crossed the bridge and took a couple more pictures of the waterfall, trying to teach myself how to use this Nikon digital camera.
On the other side of the creek, Middlebury Mountaineers had just opened, so I wandered in. They had the topographic atlas of Vermont I had been seeking, so I purchased it. My goal is to eventually have one for all fifty states. I guess I better get busy visiting the remaining 16 states I haven’t been through. I came back to the Inn to find Laura still in the Adirondacks with her book. She had a carafe of coffee, courtesy of the Inn’s proprietor, Mickey. I have throroughly enjoyed the personal attention of this Bed and Breakfast. The employees are courteous to a fault, and have been willing to help us any way they can. I got myself a cup and joined Laura, downloading the images from the camera and looking at the new atlas as we tried to stay in the shade.
My GPS indicated another Geocache about a half mile from the Inn, so I decided to find that one while Laura continued to read. As I set out, the fog from the early morning had transformed into overbearing humidity. As I looked at the GPS and my proposed route, it was evident that I would be walking A LOT further than a half mile to find this thing. The GPS indicated that the cache was on the other side of a high school, but I didn’t think I should walk across the grounds with students present. I had to walk out to the main highway, and continue on for quite awhile before I could find a way to start easing in the right direction. My route took me across some athletic fields, and onto the Trail Around Middlebury. It was apparent that the cache was on the opposite side of the river, and I soon came upon a pedestrian suspension bridge. The cache was not too far on the other side, and very cleverly hidden.
After replacing the cache, I pondered the return trip. I was on the wrong side of the river from the Inn, and didn’t really want to retrace the route. I followed the trail a bit more, and it soon deposited me on a street that led into town. As I walked slowly up to the Inn, I was drenched from perspiration, and Laura said I looked exhausted.
I cooled down, and we decided to drive in air-conditioned comfort for the rest of the afternoon. Lunch was at Noonie’s Grill in the Marbleworks. After a moment of confusion, we figured out how to order a make-your-own panini sandwich. The chef was standing behind an array of ingredients, so I asked what would go best with the mango salsa. I was offered a taste of vegan fake chicken teriyaki,and was amazed at how realistic it was in both flavor and texture. I decided to go with the mango and fake chicken, but didn’t go totally vegan because of the white cheddar. A grilled red pepper and sweet cilantro topping on toasted foccacia finished the sandwich – a masterpiece. Laura had turkey on the rosemary foccacia with sundried tomato vinagrette, also with a grilled pepper. This was quite a bit more than the simple lunch we had sought.
The afternoon drive was to follow a route over the Green Mountains I had plotted using the new atlas, in hopes that higher altitudes might find cooler temperatures. We drove back through East Middlebury, this time noting the Waybury Inn , which was used in the filming of the Newhardt Show. I didn’t look like anything I remembered from the show. We continued on Highway 125 over the mountains, past the Breadloaf Campus of Middlebury College. Robert Frost frequented the area, and was instrumental in founding the Breadloaf Campus. A pullout and historical marker indicated the Robert Frost interpretive trail and woods.
Continuing over the mountain, the road was very rough, and the constant bouncing and curving soon started to get to Laura. We made it to the other side with only a minimum of motion sickness, and connected to Highway 100 southbound. After a few miles, we turned back east on Highway 73 back over the mountains. More bouncing and curves. We stopped at an overlook just below the mountain pass to let the motion sickness subside a bit. The overlook was of a large beaverpond area that look wonderful for spotting moose. We decided to head back this way later in the evening to see what we could.
Down the other side of the mountain, with a sidetrip to Goshen, and we were soon turning north on Highway 53 toward Lake Dunmore. The travelling instantly improved. Getting off of the more-travelled roads meant less destroyed pavement, and less bouncing. This area has more modern houses, and has been build up more around the lake, which itself was quite scenic.
Soon, we were back on highway 7 heading into Middlebury. A short stop at a quilt shop, and we collapsed back at the room.A thunderstorm or two and a couple of hours later, we were hungry. Dinner was at Mister Ups, right next to Tully and Maries from the other evening. The specialty was steak, which was fine with us. The salad bar was the real winner, with calamato olives, portobello mushrooms, and marinated artichoke hearts. An apple raspberry crisp with Ben & Jerry’s vanilla finished off the meal.
After dinner, we headed back out to find moose. Laura wondered if since the offspring of a goose is called a gosling, is the offspring of a moose called a mosling? Since mooselets sounded too much like cutlets, she was happy with “moose babies.” We drove south to Leicester, and turned east over the mountains on the road past Fern Lake. Soon we were back on 73, and at the gap. It was still raining when we pulled into the overlook where we had been earlier, so it was too dark to see anything. Disappointed, we headed back to the Inn.