Tag Archives: scenic drives

Random Vermont

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Vermont really is a beautiful state and even after most of the leaves had fallen in late autumn we enjoyed our scenic drives.

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Since we live on the Maine coast, we always love to see the mountains.

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Lake Champlain has a bit of both.

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This is the Old Round Church in Richmond, Vermont.

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Built in 1812, it’s a rare, well-preserved sixteen-sided meeting house. Sadly it’s never open when we’re in the area, but maybe someday.

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Oh… the horror! As if the government isn’t squirrelly enough.

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I love barren, scraggly trees against a clear blue sky.

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This colorful moose was on a restaurant we tried called Piecasso. It was always packed when we drove by so I figured it would be great.

I was wrong. It wasn’t. Just an overpriced pizza joint.

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And while I’ve tipped kitchen staff in the past, I didn’t hear any cowbell this time around.

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Something tells me it’s time for a few repairs here.

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Cow!

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Creative wood stacking. You have to love that…

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The sky was too perfect here, I had to snap a picture.

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Yes.

Of course we took that road!

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Late autumn color on Bear Notch Road.

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Leaving the Kancamagus highway, we took an alternate route. Up and over the Bear Notch road.

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In certain sections, the autumn color was stunning.

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And from the scenic lookout where I screamed at my husband to stop the car….

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Pure perfection.

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Breathe deep of that fresh, crisp mountain air….

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And you’ll know why I keep returning to visit these glorious unspoiled areas.

❤️

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The journey home, continued…

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After traversing the Green Mountains in Vermont, we entered New Hampshire.

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Still mountains, but now they’re White. Although technically right now they’re red, orange and gold.

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This is a beautiful section of NH and one we drive through quite a bit in the autumn.

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There are random wooden moose.

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Glorious fall foliage.

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Random skeleton coffee house greeters.

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And more colorful scenery.

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I think my husband shed a tear over the state of this neglected barn.

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Common to this area? Random filling stations for crystal clear mountain fed spring water. Bring your bottles, fill for free and make some amazing tea or coffee when you get home.

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Yes, please.

Do that as well..

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White Mountains trip Day 2… Moose, mountains and fall colors.

 

Moose.

When you think of Maine? You think of lobster… and moose. But let me tell you, I’ve lived here on and off since 1978 and have seen exactly one moose in the wild. Granted we live in the Mid Coast region and they’re more prevalent up north, but still… one in 41 years is not a good ratio.

 

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So when we crossed the border into New Hampshire after leaving the Moose Cave in Grafton Notch….. and I saw numerous signs warning of the dangers of moose crossings?

I thought, yeah.

 

 

We’ll never see one.

Until we did.

Right there on the side of the road…

 

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A moose!

 

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Happily munching away on some swamp grasses.

A real live moose!

 

 

And I was halfway out of the car to get some really good pictures when the husband said no. This was a teenage male and though he was probably too young to rut…. it was that time of year.

 

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So I had to stalk him from an open window instead.

 

 

But I saw a moose!

My second in 41 years…

 

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And then all too soon he was tired of us….

 

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And headed back to the woods.

 

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Goodbye moose….

I may not live long enough to see another wild one of you, but thanks for showing up and making my day.

As I said before, the fall colors were all over the place. We had an early turn this year so by the time we got to the mountains, many places were past peak foliage. But that doesn’t mean they weren’t still spectacular…

 

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Rusty oranges…

 

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Muted greens and yellows…

 

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Peaks of reds.

 

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Even speckled with rain, I’ll take them.

 

 

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It’s different around each bend.

 

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And around each bend?

 

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Another outhouse for the husband to christen.

 

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The journey continues….