Hey Hey It's My Birthday: First Up is Lewis~August 25, 2021

 Lewis is a town in Essex County named for landholders Nathan, Sevignior, and Timothy Lewis.

The town was never formally organized due to a lack of a significant permanent population. According to the 2020 census the current population is 2. The town's affairs are handled by the Unified Towns & Gores of Essex County.

Lewis has a total area of 39.7 square miles, 0.25 % of which is water.

You have probably heard the saying "in the middle of nowhere"? Lewis is literally in the middle of f*****g NOWHERE.

Little did I know what we were heading into as I took this picture, still within sight of a paved road. I should have known by the way my husband slapped his hands together with glee after referring to the atlas.*

*1. atlas (noun) a book of maps and charts

Miles and miles of loose gravel road with the occasional obscure sign post.

And nothing else.

It was at this point that I asked

"Are we lost?"

My husband replied with a "Meh" which meant we were "lostish".

I am directionally impaired and there was NO signal because, as I may have mentioned, we were in the middle of nowhere.

So I had no choice but to rely on my husband's  internal compass.

But finally we found a sign with the actual word "Lewis" on it.

Finally.

Enosburg, VT~July 22, 2021

 Enosburgh is located in Franklin County which is in the Northwestern corner of the state, population 2,781.

We decided to visit the Cold Hollow Sculpture Park, which is an exhibit not to be missed. Just remember to wear your comfy walking shoes!

https://www.coldhollowsculpturepark.com/

Burlington~ July 8, 2021

Burlington has a population of 42,545. Established in 1785. 

"Situated on Lake Champlain, it is the heart of a small urban area that acts as Vermont's vibrant and cosmopolitan center. Known for its ultra-liberal environment and free-thinking spirit, Burlington is both a college town and an important commercial city, while maintaining an intimate atmosphere."

https://wikitravel.org/en/Burlington_(Vermont)

"ECHO inspires and engages families in the joy of scientific discovery, wonder of nature, and care of Lake Champlain.

ECHO currently welcomes more than 167,000 visitors annually into a 34,500-square foot, award-winning LEED-certified facility. Through more than 100 interactive exhibits; 70 species of fish, reptiles, and amphibians; major changing exhibits; a 2,500-square foot early learning interactive space; ECHO encourages visitors to view the natural environment as part of their neighborhood and to explore, learn about, and consider opportunities for stewardship. This work is delivered by a dedicated team of 27 staff, 175 volunteers and interns who serve more than 16,000 volunteer hours per year, and more than 45 community partners. ECHO is home to a consortium of organizations working for public and academic engagement in science: the Lake Champlain Basin Program; the University of Vermont’s Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory and research vessel; US Sea Grant Watershed Alliance; and the Lake Champlain Navy Memorial located in Hoehl Park."

https://www.echovermont.org/about-echo/mission/

Burlington is also home to the University of Vermont.

https://www.uvm.edu/

And the Spirit of Ethan Allen Cruises

https://soea.com/

Winooski~June 2nd~ Pingala

On our way to Milton for Vegan Creemees we stopped in Winooski for lunch. Right on the edge of Burlington on the banks of the Winooski River is Pingala. 

https://www.pingalacafe.com/

This place is amazing!! 

https://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/pingala-cafe-to-launch-weekly-outdoor-vegan-food-and-music-event/Content?oid=33005651

With a fantastic view to boot!

Winooski /wɪˈnuːski/ is a city in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. Located on the Winooski River, as of the 2010 U.S. Census the municipal population was 7,267.^[5] The city is the most densely populated municipality in northern New England, an area comprising the states of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. It is the smallest in area of Vermont's nine incorporated cities. As part of the Burlington, Vermont metropolitan area, it is bordered by Burlington, Colchester and South Burlington.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winooski,_Vermont

As early as 750 AD, the Abenaki tribe lived along the shores of a cascading waterfall in a fertile river valley they called "winoskitegw," meaning “land of the wild onion.”^[6][7] Winooski's southern border is formed by the Winooski River, which is alternatively known as the Onion River.^[6]

Five thousand years ago a single family of paleolithic Native Americans came to what is now the city. The prehistoric campground for this transient group is one of Vermont's significant archaeological sites. Other native people came to Winooski in the years that followed.^[8]

The American Woolen Company purchased the failing Burlington Mills in 1901 restoring a measure of economic growth to the area.^[10] This success eventually led Winooski to incorporate as a city in 1922, breaking away from the town of Colchester.

The mills closed in 1954, resulting in two decades of economic problems for the city.^[8] In the 1980s, two old mills were converted into commercial, office, and apartment space, helping to revitalize the area.^[8]

~https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winooski,_Vermont

Milton ~June 2, 2021~Vegan Creemees and An Art Gallery

 

It started with my sidekick announcing that she had discovered a place that sells Vegan Creemees.

Get out!

So off to Milton we went!

Milton is a town in Chittenden County, population 10,984.

According to local legend the town was named for the English Poet John Milton.

Milton was chartered by Governor Benning Wentworth of New Hampshire on June 8, 1763.

Milton was a filming location for some of the scenes in the Farrelly brothers movie Me, Myself & Irene, which starred Jim Carrey and Renée Zellweger.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milton,_Vermont

So Vegan Creemees first........

And then there was the Art Gallery.

We spent over an hour here admiring all the beautiful and unique works of art.

And even bought a few treasures to take home with us.

https://www.miltonartistsguild.org/

Montpelier, May 19, 2021

 

Montpelier is the capital of Vermont. According to the 2010 US Census the population of Montpelier was 7,855, making it the least populous capital in the the country. However, the daytime population grows to about 21,000 due to the large number of jobs within the city limits.

https://vermonthistory.org/museum/

Originally chartered on August 14, 1781, "Montpelier" was named after  the French city of Montpellier. 

https://statehouse.vermont.gov/

https://statehouse.vermont.gov/

Looking for a place to eat while touring around the capital city?

I would highly recommend Locally Social.

http://thesocialvt.com/

We had a delightful breakfast with outside seating on the porch.

Lovely atmosphere, excellent food, and awesome service.

South Royalton, May 13

 South Royalton, Vermont is located in Northern Windsor County.

Current population of 668.

Home of Vermont Law School and the Joseph Smith Birthplace Memorial.

Fun fact, South Royalton is the town pictured in the opening credits of the WB  television show Gilmore Girls.

We also had sandwiches from the Bethel Sandwich Shop in Bethel, grabbed on the way to South Royalton. 

No picture from Bethel today-next time though!

And coffee from First Branch Coffee in South Royalton.

It was a beautiful day for an outside lunch at a picnic table on the green.

Randolph~May 6, 2021

 Randolph, VT is a town in Orange County first settled in 1778 when Vermont was an unrecognized state in defiance of the Government of New York, which claimed Vermont as a part of New York. As of 2010 the population was 4,778, making Randolph the largest town in Orange County.

"In 1921, Randolph was the setting for, and provided some of the cast of, a silent movie called The Offenders. In 1922 the same was true for the film Insinuation."

~Wikipedia

Randolph is home to Vermont Technical College.

https://www.vtc.edu/

And my alma mater, Randolph Union High School. Or more commonly referred to as RUHS.

https://orangesouthwest.org/RUHS

Which brings me to the Whale Tails......

For years I rode by them, stuck on the school bus, longing for the opportunity to get up close to them.

And then they disappeared! Only to be found between the northbound and southbound lanes of I89 in Williston.

https://www.sevendaysvt.com/LiveCulture/archives/2019/07/19/whale-tails-return-to-randolph

Which, to be honest, was kind of a bummer.

And then they reappeared in Randolph, just off Exit 4.

Or at least a new pair of them did.

Happy Day!

And we both thought that this was the place to take our picture for Randolph, so here we are.

Brookfield~ May 6, 2021

 Brookfield is a town in Orange County Vermont established by Vermont Charter August 5,1781. Population of 1,292 as of the 2010 census. Brookfield is best known for the Floating Bridge that spans Sunset Lake. This bridge is the only floating bridge east of the Mississippi and was originally built in 1820 by Luther Adams and his neighbors.

Over the years the bridge has been closed from time to time for repairs. Most recently in 2014 with the bridge being reopened in May 2015.

Sunset Lake is also the site of the annual ice harvest festival.https://brookfieldhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com/events/ice-harvest/

I grew up in Brookfield and spent many a hot afternoon swimming here.

https://www.ourherald.com/articles/sculptor-jim-sardonis-to-help-celebrate-father-and-son/

There is a common thread connecting the three towns we visited yesterday, Braintree, Brookfield, and Randolph. And that would be the work of Jim Sardonis who lives in Randolph.You can read more about him here:

sardonis.com

Next up, Randolph!

Braintree~ May 6, 2021

 

Hello and welcome to my travels in my home state of Vermont! Shortly after Covid crept in and put the whole world on hold I joined the 251 Club. I thought it would make for a great home school project. My now 15 year old decided maybe not so much. Clearly I was in need of a new side kick. 

And here we are!

I'm the one on the right with the grey hair and wrinkles.

 

Today was our first day of jumping into our role of playing tourist in our own back yard so to speak.

And we couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day!

We spent the afternoon soaking in the scenery and being truly appreciative for the beautiful day after a long string of rainy days. 

I just love old cemeteries! Don't you?

A relative of mine.....maybe???

And then there is this guy! Mr. Dorcas. Born before the Revolutionary war and lived to be 104 years and 9 months old!

Here we are at the Braintree Historical Society.

Braintree is a town in Orange County, VT established by Vermont Charter August 1, 1781.

Braintree includes Braintree Center, Braintree Hill,East Braintree, West Braintree, Peth and Snowsville.

Population as of 2018 was 1,201.

And Bent Hill Brewery......

They weren't officially open today, but we have plans to go back when they are!

Next up.... Brookfield.