Sunday morning started with a breakfast worthy of a nice restaurant.
Fruit to begin with, coffee & a raspberry coffee cake. I opted for the breakfast choice with the most unique name, ‘Lumber Jack Mash’ and cinnamon raisin toast. It was ground corn and steel cut oats combined. Nice texture and taste!
At 10:30, I followed ‘the ladies’ as everyone calls the group from Cape Cod, to the Weston Priory for church service. It was very serene. It had music, singing, prayer, and readings from the bible. The first one was when Abraham offered hospitality to the three strangers and the second was Martha and Mary offering hospitality to Jesus.
Afterward we had communion. I didn’t know any of the songs and I got kissed by people on the cheek as they said ‘peace.’ It wasn’t my normal service, but I did enjoy it. It was held in a big barn with the monks in the middle and the congregation on each side and then the front. They faced each other for the service and singing, but moved to a single line facing front for the Lord’s Supper.
Monday, I explored. I took side roads off the main road. Everything is rural here in Southern Vermont even the main road, which today was 30 South. I have gotten much more comfortable with going up and down the mountain curves. The maximum speed on 30 S is 50, but it’s rare to go that fast. Mostly everyone drives 40-45 mph. It’s easy to see when you’re coming upon a small town because it drops to 30 mph before the town can be seen.
I love these small towns! A church or two in everyone of them. They usually have a country store (that’s the name along with the name of the community), and an Inn of some sort with a restaurant/tavern in it. Sometimes a gas station, and always a memorial to their fallen solders, and the most beautiful houses with gardens that I’ve seen. Day Lillie’s grow wild on the side of the roads here. I saw a small town that had a high school and a pizza place across the street. It’s rare to see a school because the towns combine for their students. I have only seen four schools here, but there are frequent bus sign warnings.
Stopped at a farm that makes maple syrup and the owner was kind enough to give me a tour and explain the process. I had the idea that they collected by hand, but not so. They have tubing that connects to main lines that bring it into a barn and into huge vats for holding and then it starts going into the processes of making maple syrup.
Lots of nature exploring. Next to the rivers, they have recreation sites and people enjoy the river. Under the cover bridge you can see people playing in the river. Some are more isolated than others.
I stopped at one with lots of cars hoping to see fly fishing. These are just trails along the river, no steps going down, so slips and slides for the novice. No fly fishing, but I did get an eye full of a nude male sun bathing…whoops! He stood to cover and I turned. I had to laugh! I should have watched! It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a nude male and he was a fine specimen.
My last planned stop is Brattleboro and I haven’t got to explore yet. It will be fast since I want to hit the east coast. Rainy weather is currently happening, but I think it is passing quickly.
Life Continues 