So we planned this trip with the hope of catching color change of the leaves to be in full display. That didn't happen, we were at the early
start of the change, but it was still pretty nice.
I dropped Tina off at the Kennel on Saturday then packed for the trip to Vermont. I had to fly from Houston because couldn't make a one day trip
from Corpus Christi, so I left early in the morning for Houston and left my car at the PreFlight Parking. It was just starting to rain as I entered
the airport. Apparently they left my luggage out in the rain since most of my clothes on the top side were wet when I unpacked in Vermont.
Met Marilou in Midway and we were on the same flight to Albany, NY. Got there around 10PM and started the 2.5 hour drive to Killington. The roads
are dark in Vermont, but we found our way there ok. Weren't real confident on finding the timeshare, North Star Vacation Club, but we got
there ok. Checked in and settled in until morning.
Monday, September 20th :
So today we tried the Maple Sugar and Spice Restaurant that I had researched for it's authentic Maple Syrup on the pancakes. Our roadmaps are
a little deceiving. Distances are much further than they appear. We turned around a few times then stopped at the information center, but they
weren't open yet. Some kind dude told us how to find it, then offered to point it out to us since he was heading that direction. We had a good
breakfast: Marilou the blueberry pancakes and me the house special buttermilk recipe. The place was crowded due to the lack of people wanting
to work during the covid event, but they managed.
Following breakfast we did the Vermont Covered Bridges Driving Tour that was included in the recommendations from the resort.
This is about a 2.5 hour drive from Killington to Tunbridge where you can see 5 covered bridges that are still in use. Then there are 3 more
along Vt-14 south of Randolf. So my navigator got us to the area okay, but wasn't cognizant that we should be looking for the bridges when we
arrived in Tunbridge. So we passed them all and accidentally found the last bridge on the Tunbridge route and looked around for others.
She needed a restroom break and we couldn't find any gas stations or restaurants, so we finally stopped at a place that looked like it might
be a BBQ place, but they turned out to be a machine shop. Anyway they let her use their restroom and the dude pulled up some google satellite
images to show me where the bridges were on VT-14. We were able to find them easily, then retraced back to 110 to find the other bridges.
Missed the last one, because it was more important for Marilou to respond to text than search for the road and I didn't see it.
Tuesday, September 21st :
Marilou made a spinach , mushroom and onion taco for breakfast, then we searched for the Thundering Brook Falls short hike. We had a little
trouble finding the River Road turn off of I-4 as it was further than the map implied. It was a nice little walk and the falls were flowing.
The hike started out on a boardwalk that took us most of the way to the falls, and the rest of the trail was easy also. A woman with her
wheelchair child were at the falls, she said they go there often for the relaxation of the flowing water.
Our next hike that day was to the Leffert Pond. Again there was a little confusion on the getting there due to work on some of the
roads and Wildcat Road didn't seem to be marked. We found it ok with not too much concern. It was a nice walk through the trees with
the sun filtering through the high trees that made the trail a pleasant hike. There were a lot of unexpected optional trails at various
points. I think they were intended for snow mobile or four wheeler riders. Anyway we just picked a trail and walked along under the trees
shade until we just decided to head back.
Wednesday, September 22nd :
So today our plan was to do the Deer Leap Overlook Trail. The parking for this hike was across the Highway 4 from the Maple Sugar and
Spice Restaurant. So we parked there and started the trail next to the restaurant. This was pretty difficult trail due to the elevation
change and the large rocks you have to navigate around. The overlook was rather scary. It was a huge rock that you needed to be careful
climbing up onto it, and if you weren't careful the fall looked dangerous.
Thursday, September 23rd :
Today's plan was to do the K-1 Express Gondola Scenic Ride and maybe do some hiking on top. We started out around 10:00 but saw the
mountain was engulfed in clouds so we headed back to wait for the sun to burn off the fog. Spent the morning watching the food network.
The sun came out and after our hot dog lunch we headed back toward Mount Killington. Took a few pictures of the maple tree and some
strange mushrooms that sprouted out that night under the pine trees.
We were happy to see the fog gone. When we asked for the senior pricing, I asked if Marilou's 80 qualified and found out Marilou got in
free for her age, my 67 didn't rate free. There was still a little fog here and there, but it soon cleared up. The changing shades of the
clouds and sun made the views continually differ so that the same view often looked different.
Marilou was a little shakier with the height issue than I remember her being. So she didn't do the short hike at the top to the other lift
that I did. When I got back, I convinced her to travel a little bit to be engulfed in the smell of the pine trees.
Part way back on the Gondola ride Marilou noticed that her I-Pad wasn't in the case and must have fallen out at the pic-nic tables we rested at. We convinced
the conductor at the bottom to let us go back and look for it. He called ahead to the snack bar where we had rested at and when we arrived there
the lady had her I-Pad waiting for us. So we got another view of the leaves changing from the gondola. Near the end of our return trip
we saw a wild turkey under the gondola.
So apparently Thursday through Sunday are the only days the restaurants are open during the Covid event, or maybe that is normal
during off season. we walked to the Foundry next door to the resort for the Lobster they show on their sign. We took a seat outside so we could
watch the geese and ducks on the pond. Apparently the sign hasn't been updated in a while because the waitress had no
clue that they ever had lobster on their menu. So we were both disappointed. I was disappointed a second time when she told me they were out
of the lamb chops, my second choice. Had to settle for the duck breast. It was ok, but a letdown from the lobster we were hoping for.
Friday, September 24th :
So having rested from hiking yesterday we decided to hike from the Gifford Wood State Park to Kent Pond. If my shoulder wasn't so sore and
if ATA had double kayaks instead of all singles we'd be kayaking the pond today. So we paid the $4 parking fee and headed down the park road
and crossed Vermont Highway 100 to get to the start of the trail. It was a short hike to the pond but passed over a flowing creek and through
some thick forests until we got to the pond itself. The color change was less developed here than up the mountain. Did get a few pictures
of mushrooms growing along the forest floor on our return walk.
When we got back to the car I noticed a tiny tick on the car roof. Anyway I remembered Marilou reading the warning of Deer Ticks to shower
when you get back to prevent getting Lyme Disease. I'm pretty sure that wasn't a deer tick, but we went into the heated pool when we got back,
and sealed our clothes in plastic bags. That seemed equivalent to showering to eliminate the ticks.
That evening we ate at the Sushi Yoshi restaurant. They had more than just sushi. They also have Hibachi where the chef does the knife
twirling and cooks your food in front of you. We didn't do that. I had the garlic scallops, Marilou had the Vegetable Tampura. They were good
and we had enough left over for tomorrow's dinner.
Saturday, September 25th :
So today we did the Mount Equinox Skyline Drive. This was an easy one to find since there was only a couple of turns: hwy 4 west then
hwy 7/ 7A. This is purpurted to be the longest private highway to the top of Mount Equinox. We noticed that there were pic-nic benches
along the way and at the summit so we cooked some hot dogs and hard boiled eggs for a pic-nic lunch there.
After eating lunch we tried one of the hiking trails at the top, but it was very steep and very large rocks to negotiate, so we just
smelled the pines for a while then headed back.
When we got back to the timeshare we finished our lunch with wine and cheese.
We attended the 4:30 Mass at Our Lady of the Mountains Church. It looks like the Catholics use it on Saturday and the Protestants use
it on Sunday. I got another photo or two of the mushrooms growing under the pine tree.
Links:
North Star Lodge and Resort
Vermont Maple and Sugar Restaurant
Thundering Brook Falls Trail
Lefferts Pond Trail
Deer Leap Overlook Trail
K-1 Express Gondola Ride
The Foundry at Summit Pond
South Kent Pond
Sushi Yoshi
Mount Equinox Skyline Drive
Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church
