 |
| Time to hike the Quechee Gorge Trail! |
 |
| What a beautiful view from the bottom of the gorge! |
 |
| Looking down from the top! |
Then we walked over to the dam area where we talked to a worker for the electric company who told us that the water gets so high it can cover the power "house" which is like a submarine inside and can not be harmed when the water floods it. The upper part of the dam is like a solid wood fence and he said it has to be replaced 2 or 3 times a year. Sounds like a lot of work to me!
 |
| Above where the water is flowing is a wooden barrier that needs to be replaced 2 or 3X's a year! |
 |
| This area often floods over what looks like a storage tank, |
 |
| So pretty! |
Then we walked up to the bridge over the gorge and enjoyed the views from that area.
Across the bridge is Quechee Gorge Gifts which had many interesting souvenirs, etc. at extremely reasonable prices. Ken got a long sleeved T-shirt and I got some spices for making delicious hot apple cider.
We met the owner of a maple syrup operation that was selling his syrup at the outside the Gift center. He has 8,000 sugar maple trees that he taps using 50 miles of tubing. He gets approximately 45 quarts of sap per tree that boils down to 1 quart of maple syrup. No wonder maple syrup is a bit pricey!
 |
We left there, after hiking about 2 miles, and went to the Simon Pearce Glass Blowing Factory. It is quite a special place with its beautiful sales building, bar area, restaurant, and then the actual working glass blowing factory in the basement. I was not only impressed with the expertise of the glassblowers and "shapers", but how they all work as a team. Everything is done so precisely and the workers seem to read each other's minds of what is needed and when. So much fun and at the same time so amazing to watch!
 |
| One of the Pearson brothers also carves wooden items. Quite a talented family! |
 |
| This is what they were making today that we were able to watch! |
 |
| This young glass blower was so personable and talented. He really got into his art! |
 |
| The crew works together so well that the gentleman making the wine goblet doesn't lose a minute in the making of the glass piece! |
 |
| Amazing! Each one he created, and we watched about 3 that he made was measured to one he had sitting beside him, and it was always the right size without making any corrections! They had made 50 all the same on Sunday and only 1 was a second! |
We ate our packed lunches on a stone wall in their parking lot overlooking a falls and covered bridge.
 |
| Not a bad place to eat lunch! |
On to Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park. This is the only national park to tell the story of conservation history and the evolving nature of land stewardship in America. The park interprets the historic home of the Marsh, Billings, and Rockefeller families, their conservation work and stewardship of the forest landscape, and the emergence of an American conservation ethic. The 550 acre woodlands continue to be managed for protection of natural resources, education, recreation, sustainable forestry, historic character, and scenic beauty.
 |
| Built in 1850 and so stately! |
We went into the Visitors Center and watched a 30 minute film about the Historic Park. Well, we saw most of it. All four of us were drowsy from being in the outdoors so much, so a little "snooze" felt good. We did learn a lot about 3 families who have owned the property and their conservation efforts.
There are many carriage trails on the property and Ken suggested we take the Mountain Trail up to The Pogue (pond). He failed to tell us that it was uphill the entire 1.3 trail. He kept telling us it would be worth the hike! I did some moaning and whining, but again, he was right. It was a gorgeous area.
 |
| An uphill hike! |
 |
| Love the reflection on the water on the pond! |
 |
| The leaves are getting so pretty! |
I thought we would begin our downhill trek, but Ken suggested we take the Overlook Trail for a view of the mountainside and the town of Woodstock. Oh, sure!!!! Again, he forgot to mention that a lot of the .9 mile trail was uphill. Amazing what he chooses not to tell!!!! But, I must admit it was worth the trip.
 |
| A view of the landscape and town of Woodstock from the overlook! |
 |
| This star is at the top of the overlook and is lit every evening to be seen from Woodstock! |
 |
| The town of Woodstock! |
While there we met a young gal who had jogged up the trail pushing her 2 daughters in a stroller. Oh to be young! She and her husband recently moved back to Vermont, her home state, after living in Scotland, the birthplace and home of her husband. They are both downhill ski racers, him being on the Olympic Ski Team when the Olympics were in Salt Lake City. Chuck asked if she knew Lindsay Vaughn, and Lindsay is a good friend who actually introduced them. Small world!!!!!
 |
| She was fun to talk with and her daughters so cute! We helped them find a geocache on the top of the overlook! |
The hike back to the car was relatively easy, since most of it was downhill.
 |
| This carved message was way too deep for me! |
 |
| Much better on the downhill hike! |
From there we drove into Woodstock to get some ice cream at a well known creamery, but it was closed! We were back to the CG by 5:30, ate dinner, cleaned up and went to Chuck and Melissa's from 7:30 to 10. The men finally won a game - Skip Bo, but the women were victorious in Pinochle. So, we all went to bed with winners.
 |
| A very long covered bridge we passed on the way back to the CG. |
 |
| What a "Kodak" moment! |
Tomorrow we are going to take it a little easy. We had planned to do a bike ride, but decided to wait until Thursday. We had over 18,000 steps today and need some rest time. I also need to visit the laundromat!
 |
| The happy campers on the Great American Leaf Tour! |
 |
| Tomorrow will be a more relaxing day - I guess we are all happy about that!!!!!! (Probably amazed too!) |
WOW... the leaves are gorgeous! I've always loved watching the glass blowing in Manheim. It totally amazes me!
ReplyDeleteYour Sis