Sculpture Park, Ti Ferry, a Steep Climb, and a Star Trek Museum Tour

Outdoor sculptures are fun experiences.

As August weather cooled this summer, I was inspired to get on with my proposed trips. I pictured this 3-event adventure as an Amtrak overnight, but weekend weather hadn't been conducive. Instead, we packed everything into one day, driving first to Lemon Fair Sculpture Park (on a busy road), later parking in a small town to tackle the rest by bike. 

The sculptures are composed by multiple artists exhibiting their work. We walked a mown trail through a hayfield, sending grasshoppers jumping everywhere! I was drawn to several works: shiny, hammered metal ones, and especially the quad of horses, from lattice depictions to full body to the foreground mixture of both.

The ferry route is the longest running crossing of Lake Champlain, dating to 1759.

On the Vermont side of Lake Champlain, we boarded the Ticonderoga cable ferry, crossing narrow water, then pedalled a few more miles into the small town. It was getting hot.

Ending the one-hour tour on the Bridge!

While not a Trekkie, per se,  I've wanted to visit the Star Trek Museum per rave reviews. The owner has reconstructed the original season film set from plans, and as we later learned, had altered some things to make it more authentic, due to changes observed on film. We barely made the reserved timeslot, showing up sweaty!

A knowledgeable tour guide walked a small group around the set, explaining everything from how they filmed to the intricacies of backdrop decorations gleaned from the studio's stockpile (that appear in other TV shows!). What struck me the most was the flimsy walls, open ceilings, and rooms that were configured to represent multiple rooms on the Star Ship. Other interesting notes: Lucy and Desi Arnez studios financed the first three original seasons (I think?) - because filming Sci-Fi was expensive. The public clamored for more, and thus the reruns propelled the original cast and shows to stardom. I am of that generation, watching in the 1970s. In the lobby, there are many original outfits, plus the museum hosts special screenings on the Bridge. And maybe best of all, cast members show up each year - William Shatner, in his 90s, came last fall. 

Well worth the visit!

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Pressed for time, and not knowing how long it would take us, we climbed the 500ft road to Mt. Defiance. It was tough! We also were low on food and a bit dehydrated, but we made it. The breeze cooled us. What a view and strategic overlook of Fort Ticonderoga on the flat peninsula below.

Mt Defiance is notable because British General Burgoyne's army in 1777 built the road to place artillery overlooking both Fort Ticonderoga and Fort Independence, (located on what's now the Vermont side). The same road that's now, thankfully, paved!

The descent tested my brakes, but it seemed only a hot minute back to the entrance.

We discovered a food coop - who knew? - in tiny Ticonderoga village. Refreshed and satiated, we ferried back and arrived at our car in less than 10 miles.

A Simple Upgrade to Po Campo's Musette Crossbody Bag

My addition: pull the string and cordlock through the webbing and cinch for security.

Po Campo's Musette is a classy, large-sized bag with their signature Visi-Hemp fabric and liner. I am in love with the well-made fabric: sturdy, reflective, and stylish - features I appreciate after using their Crescent handlebar bag in the same material.

Awkward gaping.

The simple opening, however, has a drawback. The roomy size begs to be filled, yet the opening gaps without a closure mechanism. I used this bag as a flight carry-on - it fit comfortably under the seat - but I was concerned about concealing valuables, or worse, losing something important. 

The cord is zigzag stitched beneath the bottom edge of the label, so it remains hidden in the overall design.

Musettes are inherently simple - designed to hold a water bottle and a few additional items. I love problem-solving, especially when it comes to making a much-loved item more functional. While some manufacturers use snaps, zippers, or velcro, I aimed to streamline the solution while keeping the svelte overall style. Along with adding heavy cord and cordlock, I sewed a small piece of webbing - placed between hash-marked design - to blend in.

The cord can be tucked inside if not needed, yet handy to pull out once the bag is stuffed, then slip through the webbing to secure everything. 

I'm pleased that I found an unobtrusive solution! 

3 Day Tour Around Lake Champlain - Oh, the Lilacs!

On Memorial Day weekend, I set out on an easy, scenic 100-mile route circling northern Lake Champlain, doable with my current fitness, divided into 3 manageable days. I like to enjoy roadside wildflowers, architecture, historic markers, and even garage sales! I waited until the bike ferry opened; it's a pleasant lake crossing, bypassing a busy road in favor of pedaling South Hero's gorgeous Westside Road. With some rain in the forecast, I hoped the light itinerary would allow me to choose a dry window for cycling each day.

Lilacs were in bloom, their heady scent perfuming the route, so much so that I dubbed my adventure "the lilac tour." Mmmmm.

Point Au Roche's rooms purposely lack a TV, overlook manicured grounds, and have private decks. It's a wonderful spot to enjoy birdlife, and I even saw a woodchuck.

One of my favorite places to stay is Point Au Roche Lodge. Located at "D" on the map. It's a low-key, rustic place with lovely, large rooms, a gazebo to relax in (or park your bike discreetly out of sight), and a kitchen to cook your own food. I brought some items from home for dinner and breakfast, supplemented with convenience store food.

The lower right photo shows the remains of a wooden railroad trestle that once crossed the lake.

It rained early on the second day, but let up by 10am, so  I cycled northward on an amazing tailwind, all the way to Rouses Point! I ate a breakfast bagel at Lakeside Coffee Roasters, relaxed for an hour, then slowly climbed and descended the Missisquoi Bridge to Vermont, amidst buffeting sidewinds. 

The roadway was busy, though with wide shoulders, until I turned towards Alburgh, then located the Alburgh Rail Trail, a few yards off the main road. The trail is only 4 miles, but the remoteness and nearly singletrack through wetlands were a delight, with a birdsong serenade. The trail conveniently intersected with a side road to my destination, the Alburgh RV Resort, located at "H" on the map.

It was raining by the time I arrived at the campground, so I ducked into the recreation hall. I had a good experience last year at this spot. While primarily an RV resort, there's a communal grassy area beneath trees that serves as a tent area; people are nice; there's a lakefront area, and I called ahead to pay, because reception is often closed, though the proprietors are only a phone call away. It was a chilly 50F and still windy, so I snuggled inside my packable jacket - a necessary item - and read for a while, until the rain stopped. I set up my tent, then returned to the sheltered entryway to cook dinner before settling down to watch a movie on my Kindle in the tent.

I was warm and comfortable, earplugs blocking out the rain that continued overnight, but for some odd reason, that has never happened before, I didn't sleep for more than an hour - that was a long night! 

I had planned to make coffee on the third morning, but after packing up a soaked tent, I wanted to start on my 40+ mile journey south, once the storm had passed, knowing I could eat breakfast at a Maplefields convenience store 20 minutes away. The coffee and waffle breakfast sandwich tasted great!

The rest of the ride was pleasant. A slight headwind didn't hinder progress; Google's routing kept me off busy Route 2, and the lilac fragrance freshened the gentle island miles. I'm always amazed at the nicer waterfront homes slowly emerging along the lakeshore. I stopped for a rest at Hero's Welcome, engaged with cycle tourists from St. Louis, and waved to a lone tourist soon after I set off. 

I ate half my sandwich at the familiar Grand Isle ferry landing, filled water bottles, and an hour later returned on the bike ferry, arriving home at 3pm.

What a great route!

Colchester Cemeteries Quest - Exploring History, Part 2

 
Like the previous outing, I set out to visit two more local burial grounds. The largest of the Colchester Cemeteries, the Village Cemetery sits behind the Burnham Library. 

It's also worth noting there's strong historical interest within our community with an active Colchester Historical Society. We recently went to a talk about a regional railroad line.

Thus, I was intrigued to immediately spot the Burnham name. But the library wasn't named for Herbert, but rather Etta. Upon his retirement in Massachusetts, they moved back to where she grew up, both serving the Colchester community. After Herbert passed, Etta lived a few more years. She willed most of her estate to “build, furnish, and maintain a library.”

The Leggett headstone is a sad reminder that parents, especially during wartime, often outlive their children. Only 2 of 4 children lived to old age.

The Nourse name caught my eye because there's a region where Bay Road meets East Lakeshore Drive, with a pretty view of Malletts Bay - still marked as Nourse's Corner on Google Maps. It was a snack bar hot spot in the 50's, and I recall my parents mentioning the place. George Nourse started the snack bar, which specialized in toasted hot dogs, and it ran for 20 years, though it didn't survive his passing. 

Regionally, Michigan-style hot dogs, split lengthwise, grilled, then topped with meat sauce and mustard squiggles, served on a toasted bun, were popular when I was younger, and still found today at Beansie's Bus in Burlington's Battery Park. Once in a while, I stop for this irresistible treat. 

Moses headed the Colchester regiment in the War of 1812.

The Moses stone is unique because the raised lettering is still visible on the marble stone. It's customary to see debossed lettering, like the right-hand gravestone, that, in time, marble doesn't weather well, especially in a harsh New England climate. Sometime over the past 200 years, stones were replaced with harder granite. Because of the differences, it's easy to spot older graves in any cemetery.

The older stones have interesting inscriptions: for example, specifying days lived or age at death. So much character in the old headstones!

I found an excellent, comprehensive online Colchester history resource, something I'll surely reference time and again.

The second stop was at the Old Methodist Church Cemetery, tucked away behind a firehouse on Main Street, formerly the Old Methodist Church site. At first, the grounds seemed neglected, sandy and barren, scrubby grass trying to survive. While a nice iron gate bordered the cemetery, it lacked signage, so I hope the colorful official marker is in the works. 

Upon closer inspection, I noticed the old stones were cleaned, and fragments pieced back together. There is a statewide Old Cemetery Association that helps communities preserve historical markers, with the help of volunteers.

 

Celebrating the life of Charlotte Johnson at 101 years old - amazing longevity for that time period. She outlived her husband by 40 years!

While headstones remain, trees and, eventually, stumps morph into headstones. 

Two more cemeteries to go!

Fort Collins Visit - Family, Snow day and Cycling

I spied a wonderful Peanuts-themed book box. One afternoon, we made slab pottery at their place.

 I visit our eldest son in Fort Collins every year. My husband drove again, hauling our mountain bikes. This year was extra special because of staying at their first home, a 3-level townhouse, close to Horsetooth Reservoir, foothills trails, and a city park. The location suits them: great for walking, riding trails, and daily walks with their large dog. Their basement alone is good-sized, complete with a large bathroom - a perfect setup for guests. And their garage, well, let's just say they love cycling as much as my husband and I do.

For 10 days, we stayed near Fort Collins in general, this time around. We hung out with old friends one evening, visited a brewery for trivia night, and cycled almost every day except for the day a wild, but beautiful snowstorm dumped 5" of heavy snow, breaking limbs all over the city. We sat in recliners at a cool theater.

 On Mother's Day, we visited an amazing train museum in Greeley, complete with a humongous model train set up - per my request - and it was wonderful. But that's not all, we had lunch nearby at Weldwerks, a recommended brewery, and later my son and I mountain biked in a natural area, then we all had pizza at a low-key spot. It was likely the best Mother's Day ever!

The high desert climate speaks to me. Dry air, abundant sunshine, low-growing cactus, wildflowers, non-poisonous bull snakes, prairie dogs, deer, magpies, open landscape, cliffs, reservoirs, rivers, and canals. It is interesting in an arid climate, how water is captured, contained,  and channeled (sloped sidewalks direct water to street-side catchment areas that drain to canals). I learned that 40% of Fort Collins' water supply comes from the Colorado River! That kind of diversion wouldn't happen today. It makes me wonder how many other communities east of the Rockies rely on the same resource. Even with all that, Fort Collins and the surrounding communities are growing. Unfortunately, drought conditions were abundantly clear - a brown landscape - compared to my last visit.

We cycled most everywhere for groceries and errands. I used my son's Peugeot for city jaunts, and my hardtail on trails. We rode in Hewlett Gulch, Bobcat Ridge Natural Area, and right from their home into the hills. I went by myself a couple of times - my husband had an annoying injury - exploring Spring Creek Trail, Mason Trail, plus discovering more of the foothill network.

I'll be back next year.