A roaring fire warms me and dries my rain spattered clothes. Jasper the golden lab contentedly lies in front of the fireplace emitting the familiar odor of wet dog. A sip from glass of small batch rye whiskey warms me all the way down to my belly. Through large glass doors misty mountains painted with the last golds of a New England autumn disappear in the distance. Nearby, a few cows graze in an impossibly green pasture flanked by white bark of now bare birch trees. I can almost hear the rush of the water in the river in the Kedron Valley below. I look up and admire the soaring post and beam structure of the living room in Gordon and Doria's magnificent home in Woodstock, Vermont. (Long time readers of the blog may remember an earlier post about a tramp through Deadfall Meadow with Gordon and Doria who is Deb's cousin).
"NEW HAMBURG, NEXT STOP, NEW HAMBURG,"blared the speaker above our seat. An afternoon trip up the Hudson River on the Metro North Railroad is nearly at end after a rush along the river glistening in the afternoon sunlight. Distant low flying seagulls dipping their wings in the water become sailboats as we near our stop. The river is flanked by a kaleidoscopic vision of reds and oranges and golds and rusts in the hills above.
We have arrived in New Hamburg near Jean's house; another of Deb's cousins. (She has a lot of cousins in New England. Must be something about the long winters) We gather our bags and rush from the train.
The next morning after enjoying the hospitality of Jean and husband Tony, we are off to Vermont. We follow back roads flanked by riotous foliage to the Taconic Parkway. There are few better drives in the world than a drive through New England in the fall. As we speed through the rolling hills of New York, Massachusetts and Vermont, a bright sunny day sets the hills on fire. After a circuitous route using a smart phone as our guide we eventually arrive at Doria and Gordon's just as the sun is setting. Gordon is quick to press a microbrew into my hand as we watch the sun set over Killington Mountain behind firey orange clouds. After a pot of Gordon's beef stew, several more microbrews, too many glasses of red wine, local artisan bread, and much laughter, somehow I find my bed and fall in for a good nights sleep.
The next morning dawns rainy and cold so most of the day is spent in Doria and Gordon's gorgeous house looking out across the verdant hills and lush valleys of Vermont. Frankly, there are not too many places I would rather be on a cold rainy day.
We take a break in the early afternoon for a drive to the very quaint town of South Royalton. South Royalton has a small claim to fame as the birthplace of Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon Church. Other than its charming houses, buildings and setting (as if that isn't enough), South Royalton has a burger joint to recommend it called Worthy Burger. A short menu of organic beef burgers, beef tallow fried french fries and an extensive microbrew selection provide a perfect way to while away an hour on a rainy New England day.
View from Gordon and Doria's Living Room
"NEW HAMBURG, NEXT STOP, NEW HAMBURG,"blared the speaker above our seat. An afternoon trip up the Hudson River on the Metro North Railroad is nearly at end after a rush along the river glistening in the afternoon sunlight. Distant low flying seagulls dipping their wings in the water become sailboats as we near our stop. The river is flanked by a kaleidoscopic vision of reds and oranges and golds and rusts in the hills above.
Afternoon on the Hudson River
We have arrived in New Hamburg near Jean's house; another of Deb's cousins. (She has a lot of cousins in New England. Must be something about the long winters) We gather our bags and rush from the train.
Bridge over the Hudson
The next morning after enjoying the hospitality of Jean and husband Tony, we are off to Vermont. We follow back roads flanked by riotous foliage to the Taconic Parkway. There are few better drives in the world than a drive through New England in the fall. As we speed through the rolling hills of New York, Massachusetts and Vermont, a bright sunny day sets the hills on fire. After a circuitous route using a smart phone as our guide we eventually arrive at Doria and Gordon's just as the sun is setting. Gordon is quick to press a microbrew into my hand as we watch the sun set over Killington Mountain behind firey orange clouds. After a pot of Gordon's beef stew, several more microbrews, too many glasses of red wine, local artisan bread, and much laughter, somehow I find my bed and fall in for a good nights sleep.
Vermont locals
The next morning dawns rainy and cold so most of the day is spent in Doria and Gordon's gorgeous house looking out across the verdant hills and lush valleys of Vermont. Frankly, there are not too many places I would rather be on a cold rainy day.
We take a break in the early afternoon for a drive to the very quaint town of South Royalton. South Royalton has a small claim to fame as the birthplace of Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon Church. Other than its charming houses, buildings and setting (as if that isn't enough), South Royalton has a burger joint to recommend it called Worthy Burger. A short menu of organic beef burgers, beef tallow fried french fries and an extensive microbrew selection provide a perfect way to while away an hour on a rainy New England day.
Back row: Gordon, Lynn, Richard
Front row: Doria, Dennis (another cousin!), Deb
Doria and Gordon's house-Woodstock, Vermont
Lunch is followed by a backroad tour through a quintessential northeastern countryside of rolling hills, rushing streams and hardwood forest, much of which is still in full fall color. Old farm houses dot the countryside with cows, sheep and horses populating the meadows. We stop by Ben and Amy's (son-in-law and daughter of Gordon and Doria). A short conversation through the open window of the truck spatters me with rain and I am happy when Gordon suggests that a fire in the fireplace is just the thing for a cold rainy day.
Is this New England or what?
Richard "lost" in the woods of Vermont
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