Just don't ask us about the ziplining fiasco!

Ausable Chasm

After two glorious nights on Mount Washington in Northern New Hampshire, we started our long trek to Vermont – (it's actually about an hour border to border in the north of the state). Vermont has to be called the WOW state because that was our comment at every turn in the highway. The terrain is mostly mountainous with wonderful little lakes spotted here and there. The ditches were alive with wildflowers from soft velvety mauve wild flax, to saucy white daisies, jaunty black eyed susans, sunny yarrow and all set in a bed of robust mossy green ferns. There were trees of every kind and we were imagining how it would look to drive this way in October. The roads here are great! Nice high speed limits and mostly four lane divided. What a pleasurable drive.

At Montpelier, we stopped and had a good visit with my probable cousin, Doug Bragg who runs Bragg Farms – Maple Products. E just missed a big Bragg Family Reunion by a day – which would have been so neat! Whey have a great little store with more quality souvenirs than most places we're seen at the tourist destinations. The special treat there, though, is their maple flavoured soft ice cream – which we enjoyed on the porch in our rocking chairs. I got the family discount – free!!!!

About 1:30 we boarded our our ferry at Burlington, for the one hour crossing of Lake Champlain. The ship was called the Valcour and as soon as we were all loaded, we turned and sailed across the Lake backwards. It was a little like experiencing Magnetic Hill – only longer. The weather was beautiful and sunny and it was fun to watch all the people out enjoying the day on the water. We saw some incredible sail boats, a few yachts, some power boats a few water skiers and plenty of personal water craft. The entire shoreline at the upper half of the lake is peppered with lovely sandy beaches and some amazing cottages. And there we were in our own private little stateroom (the motor home) enjoying lunch and watching the water go by.

Tonight, we're camping at Ausable Chasm, America's oldest natural history area. Rather like a compressed Hells Gate on the Fraser River, it flows through amazing, towering rock formations and falls over steep granite ledges to create some pretty spectacular views. I'll send along some more pictures tomorrow.

Everyone has been asking about the cats. Well, they are again being little troupers. Digit goes and gets into the bed as soon as the engine starts and Nosey has his little space beside the bed where he feels safe. They both have Ann totally in their power and she can't resist the sad meows Digit makes as she rubs against the “treat” drawer. They have covered her with scratches and cat hair and yet she forgives and comes back to lavish on them all her care and love. Pretty lucky little kitties!

Tomorrow, we are heading to Ogdensburg where, hopefully, we can find a Target store. In 5 days here, we have yet to see one. Then it's over the border and heading west again.

To be continued.....