Vermont

We left the White Mountains of New Hampshire and made our way to Stowe, Vermont. So incredibly green and great hiking and biking trails. Made our way to Ben and Jerry’s and also visited the VonTrapp ski lodge. Remember that name from the Sound of Music? They relocated to Vermont from Austria. Pretty cool lodge.

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I’ve never walked on a trail with so many tree roots!
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VonTrapp Cross Country Ski Lodge
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A must when visiting Northern Vermont, they even give good size samples at the end of the tour!

 

New Hampshire

Leaving Maine, we headed to the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Quite a few waterfalls and once again, great hiking. One of the places we wanted to visit was Crawford Notch State Park. Gary has a picture from when his family visited there more than 60 years ago.

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The Bogart Family visiting the park in the mid 50’s
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The Bogart family visiting the park in 2018!

Hiked to the top of Mt Willard and sat atop the granite peak. You can see the road in the picture.

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On top of the granite wall of Mt Willard
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Mt Willard from the road – Can you see me?

 

 

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Typical morning breakfast, I’m sure I am having my 2nd latte. Gary usually serves me my first latte in bed! Who wouldn’t want to continue this?
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Just finishing up breakfast – probably 10 am- getting energy for a morning bike ride!
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A typical campsite

 

 

 

What we have been up to!

We so enjoy the Provincial Parks in Canada but are glad to be back in the USA – at least for a while.

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One of our last sunsets in New Brunswick, Canada
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Little cool down for Jake and Judy along the Canadian Coast.

We returned to the US via the border in Calis, Maine, it was much easier leaving Canada than entering it- Canadian Border Patrol searched the entire RV and it took us over an hour, entering the USA it took us maybe 10 minutes.

The first campground in Presque Isle, Maine – Arndt’s Aroostook River Lodge, was such a nice surprise. Big sites and such nice people. The majority of the campers stayed there for the season so us coming in for four days was a bit unusual. One of the best parks for tent camping, nice secluded sites far removed from the RV’s with plenty of trails.

They tap their maple trees, over a thousand on their property, and use this huge machine pictured below to evaporate the liquid and make the syrup. They said it takes 40 gallons of sap to make approximately a gallon of syrup. This machine is about 3 feet wide and 10 feet long; the three pipes are vented through the roof. Of course, we had to buy some Maine Gold Syrup. It was and is delicious!

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Hiking one of the many trails with such a variety of hardwood trees, loved seeing all the birch with the peeling bark!
What a happy dog!
What a happy dog!

Nova Scotia

What a treat this province was, I would love to spend summers here! Definitely old world charm, incredible warm and friendly people and  such beautiful scenery! I feel like I just barely got to explore this area!

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A bit cheesy but visited the Maritime Museum in Halifax and couldn’t resist not becoming part of the Titanic exhibit.

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One of my favorite lighthouse photos, on the way to Sydney, NS
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Beautiful scenery, wonderful during the summer, not so sure about the winter.
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Along the Cabot Trail on Cape Breton
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Along the Cabot Trail on Cape Breton, NS, Meat Cove, the most northern point on the Cape.
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Breathtaking views everywhere you look!
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We wished we could have seen a whale! Still was so beautiful.
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Just barely got the sunset…..
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Couldn’t resist sharing the popular fast food of Cape Breton – think this restaurant would make it in the USA?

Prince Edward Island

We traveled through New Brunswick across the Confederation Bridge, a curved 8 mile long bridge, the longest in the world crossing ice-covered water which was just completed in 1997, to reach Prince Edward Island.(PEI) Prince Edward Island is located off the eastern coast of Canada,  between the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Québec and Newfoundland and Labrador in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Confederate Bridge to PEI
8 miles long

 As we drove towards PEI National Park, I couldn’t get over how lush the island was and how beautiful. We bought local potatoes, which were so creamy and beets that were incredibly fresh. Almost as good as the seafood!  The beaches are so numerous and each so different, I don’t think I’ve ever seen sandstone beaches before. What a treat to have such beautiful beaches and minimal houses.

Waiting or the crowd!
Early morning on the beach!
Prince Edward Island beach
Cavandish Beach
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Perfect weather, location and company!
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Taking a break on our bike ride as we check out the beach
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Long, empty beaches to explore 
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Sandstone beaches
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Spent one day riding on the island, smooth level trails!
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Beautiful sunset from the campground at PEI National Park.

 

The Bay of Fundy

One of the places we wanted to visit in Canada was the Bay of Fundy, located halfway between the equator and the north-pole separating New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The first morning we were there I managed to get up early enough to see a glorious sunrise.

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Twice each day, 160 billion tons of seawater flows in and out of the Bay of Fundy — more than the combined flow of the world’s freshwater rivers! The Bay of Fundy’s tides transform the shorelines, tidal flats and exposed sea bottom as they flood into the bay and its harbors and estuaries.

Amazing difference between high and low tides.

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The tide needs to rise high enough for the boats to be level with the docks.image

The forests are so lush, which also means it is incredibly humid, so much different than Colorado. The moss is thick enough to support  growth on the rock.

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The Perfect Christmas Tree!

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Maine

 

What a beautiful state. We hiked Gorham Peak, 525 feet, right on the coast with gorgeous views. We could summit many peaks here compared to Colorado! Hiking the coast, enjoying the vistas and even kayaking a bit!

Took one of my favorite photos of the trip, suitable for framing don’t you think? It is just amazing how the fog rolls in – you see it coming, feel the moisture as it moves over you and then it’s gone, at least that is how we experienced it on this day. Maine Shorelie

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Memories of our Windjammer Cruise in March. Yes, the year continues to be marvelous!

 

Vermont and Shannon’s visit!

We left New York and got to Vermont July 3rd and boy was it hot….so hot that you didn’t want to do much if it didn’t include soaking in water of some sort! My niece, Lindsey Anderson, lives in Bennington, Vermont. We had a very enjoyable 4th of July with her boyfriend’s family after picking up Shannon in Albany, NY!  The next day we found a river to cool off  in under a covered bridge – how appropriate in Vermont! IMG_2274IMG_2278

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                        We left Lindsey and Vermont and headed for Maine feasts onIMG_0675IMG_0677                                                               lobsters and clams! 

It was so much fun having Shannon join us, just wish it could have been longer!

New York, Vermont and Shannon’s visit

We left the Lake Erie area and headed to  Four Mile Creek State Park in Youngstown, NY in Niagara County and spent the next day at Niagara falls! What a fun experience feeling the mist of a powerful waterfall hit your body – or any part that was not covered. We took the Maiden of the Mist tour boat and got so close to the base of the falls (blue poncho)and then hiked down the Cave of the Winds and felt the spray as it fell over the precipice (yellow poncho)!

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Maiden of the Mist tour – at the base of the falls
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Niagara Falls – NY
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Cave of the Winds hike to the base of the falls
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It feels soooo good!
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Such a quick cool down!
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Gary watching his crazy wife!

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Just spectacular!