This was the sunrise that greeted us this morning. We were looking for COLOR and how wonderful that the day began with it.
Our road-less-traveled allowed us to meander through small villages, discovering treasures along the way. How adorable is this glass pumpkin patch?I love things like this stone, an early historic milestone marker along the old military and stagecoach route tracking from Albany north toward Canada. Historically, these stone mileage markers were carved and placed along early turnpikes or posts roads to guide postal routes, military forces, and early settlers journeying between the capital and the Canadian border. In the late 1790s and early 1800s, early pioneers like Roger Edgecomb established some of Bolton, NY’s first settlements and taverns right along these critical thoroughfares. This stone was placed by Mr. Edgecomb in 1802 and here it still remains. Wow.Remember, our day's theme is COLOR. How cute are these moodibars?This was definitely a worthwhile stop. The Ticonderoga pencil was officially introduced in 1913 by the Joseph Dixon Crucible Company, named after the town of Ticonderoga, New York, where the company mined its graphite.The Heritage Museum preserves and interprets the history of paper mills, graphite mining, and pencils. Housed in the 1888 building, the museum is the last remaining structure of the Ticonderoga Pulp and Paper Company. The docent explained the process of making a pencil. I will never look at these rods of golden goodness the same way.Some interesting pencil dates: 1799–1827: Inventor Joseph Dixon created his first graphite and clay pencil prototypes and founded the Joseph Dixon Crucible Company in 1827. Civil War (1861–1865): Demand surged as soldiers needed reliable writing tools instead of messy quill pens and ink, leading to massive industrial scaling. 1876: Pencils began featuring attached erasers. 1913: The iconic yellow-lacquered No. 2 Ticonderoga pencil made its debut. World War II: Metal shortages forced the company to temporarily replace its brass ferrule (the metal band holding the eraser) with green plastic and cardboard; the resulting green-and-yellow striped design became a permanent signature look. The rest, they say, is history.Next we excitedly boarded the only ferry service that runs between Ticonderoga, New York and Shoreham, Vermont. Fort Ticonderoga Ferry, which crosses Lake Champlain, was established in 1759. So dang cool.
As we rounded a corner, we saw a sign that made us stop. Turns out Mad River Glen Ski Resort offers scenic round-trip foliage rides on its historic Single Chairlift to the summit of General Stark Mountain. We were so in.
The Single Chair is an iconic piece of ski history and the last operating single chairlift in the lower 48 states. Founder Roland Palmedo commissioned the American Steel & Wire Company to build the 6,000-foot-long lift. It officially opened on December 11, 1948, and climbs a 2,037-foot vertical drop to the 3,637-foot summit, taking about 12 minutes for a solo ride across 158 chairs.
When we began the journey, I had no idea how long it was or how high we'd go. It was a bit unnerving for me.When we exited, the line to ride down was so long we decided to walk back.We walked the 'easy' run which was over 11,000 steps at an average of a 9% grade for 2½ miles through spectacular terrain. WOW.Our day ended at von Trapp Brewing & Bierhall in Stowe, Vermont. 𝅘𝅥𝅮These are a few of my favorite things𝅘𝅥𝅮... We all know The Sound of Music. But do we all know that the story ends here? I did and I needed to visit.A brief history. The family fled Nazi-controlled Austria in 1938. They traveled by train and ship to the United States. They performed across the country as the Trapp Family Singers. Maria von Trapp saw a farm for sale in Stowe in 1942. The green mountains reminded them of their Austrian homeland. They bought the land and named it Cor Unum, which means "One Heart" in Latin.While away on tour, the family let visiting skiers stay in their home during the winter. The demand grew quickly. In the summer of 1950, they opened a rustic 27-room lodge. A terrible fire burned down the original building in 1980. The family rebuilt a larger, 96-room alpine-style lodge that opened in 1983.Johannes von Trapp opened North America’s first commercial cross-country ski center on the property in 1968. He later started a craft brewery on the property to make Austrian-style lagers. Today, the 2,600-acre estate remains family-run by the next generation of von Trapps offering outdoor activities, farming connections, and Austrian heritage.Rich history, delicious food, outdoor live music... Yes, these really are a few of my favorite things.Our home for the night was the hospitable von Trapps' parking lot. When we awoke, this was the view out of our dinette window. It appeared we were the only ones there.That was until we went outside. For those who boondock (a style of off-grid camping where you stay without utility hookups—such as water, electricity, or sewer—outside of traditional, developed campgrounds, and usually alone), our neighbor's proximity is pretty ridiculous. Look at the vastness of the parking lot. It's hysterical. "Safety in numbers?"
Our day could best be described as one of vibrant colors, rich history, and new vistas! We have so much more to look forward to.
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