August 6-21                                    North Kingstown and Vermont

We returned to Westerly on a lovely cool day that allowed us to escape the boat interior.  We were awed again by the many grand homes lining the streets of that small town.  We drove past the Ocean House, where we had lunched with the Carpenters several weeks ago, and noted it was busy with arriving guests.

 Walnut Hill is a small area below the hills of Westerly and is the quintessential coastal town.  With a picturesque marina, it is a favorite destination for area boaters.  Unfortunately, it is too shallow for The Bottom Line and we do not like to anchor out. Many small shops and restaurants overlooked the marina.  We were impressed with the high quality of displayed goods in the stores.  People were everywhere, shopping, eating and going to the magnificent beach nearby.  We enjoyed a delicious lunch while sitting outdoors with a great view of the marina. 

As the boat remained docked, we made plans for an automobile trip to Vermont.  With the help of “ my newly discovered AI skills,” I planned a five-day trip on scenic routes through major sites of that state.   We would leave on August 17  and return on August 21l.  Before departing,  we met Sadie at the office to leave Pretzel in her care before heading for Manchester ( VT not MA ) our first destination.

Our six-hour drive was on excellent roads with beautiful mountain views and many pristine small towns.  We stayed at a lovely inn and dined at Ye Old Tavern, the oldest restaurant in the state.  It was charming and we enjoyed excellent food.  David had a flaming duck entrée that won praise.  My lobster mac and cheese was also a hit.  Before leaving Manchester, we visited Hildene, the magnificent summer home of Robert Todd Lincoln, a son of President Lincoln who amassed a fortune in railroads.

Woodstock (VT not NY) was our next destination  We traveled on scenic VT 4 and soon were in covered bridges country.  I planned a special lunch at Simon Pearce Glass Studio overlooking the Quechee Gorge.  A high-end glass manufacturer, Simon Pearce’s unique showroom was featured in the movie “Sweet Home Alabama.”  The attached restaurant is equally famous.  Lunch was memorable and delicious.  Porcini mushroom taco was David’s choice but our favorite was the outstanding blueberry sorbet.  I was delighted to find and purchase a beautiful irregular shaped pitcher.

We stayed at the lovely Inn on the River whose expansive grounds provided a great view from our windows.  Dinner was at a local favorite, Oates and Evelyn.  Another wonderful meal.

Our drive to Shelburne was delightful.  On winding mountain roads, we passed numerous large silos, picturesque red barns, antique shops and Victorian style homes.  Small ski areas were evident as we ascended the mountains.

The Shelburne Museum was easily accessible on our route and we were amazed by the variety and size of the many buildings.  Nestled in a lovely valley only a few miles from Burlington, it is a popular tourist destination.  The founder, Electra Havemeyer Webb, was the daughter of major patrons of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and was a compulsive collector of art and artifacts. 

As our time was limited, we chose to take a tour of the property before viewing the Needlework Exhibit.  Magnificent examples of early American needlepoint and quilting were on display.  Dioramas of miniature scenes were fascinating.  We were pleased to view the excellent collection of American art with fine examples of the works of Andrew Wyeth, Albert Bierstadt, John Singleton Copley and artists of the Hudson River School.  Several paintings by the iconic Grandma Moses were on display.

In Burlington, we stayed at the Hilton Champlain Hotel to take advantage of its excellent location overlooking Lake Champlain.  We watched a beautiful lingering sunset before going to the nearby Hen of the Wood restaurant.  Its casual ambiance was in contrast to its limited menu of gourmet choices.  An appetizer of grilled bread accompanied by strawberry jam and Vermont brie was followed by entrees of the best pork loin ever.

 Friday, August 20 was our 72^nd wedding anniversary!   Before leaving Burlington, we took a trolley tour of the city and admired the many Victorian homes and the expansive campus of the University of Vermont. Vermonters are proud of their state and they maintain a pristine environment.

Our brief drive to Montpelier was a partial repeat of our previous day’s journey.  Again, the scenery was outstanding.  Montpelier is a small but vibrant community  dominated by its impressive golden-domed capitol building.  Our anniversary dinner was at Sarducci’s, a favorite Italian restaurant.  We had a lovely table outdoors overlooking the river.  The veal marsala was tender and delicious.

Our drive home was mainly on interstate highways to reach Putnam, CT. by two o-clock.  We were scheduled to have lunch with John and Maria Carpenter at their beautiful farm.  Their large white Victorian home was partially built in 1820 and retains many of its original features, i.e. wide planked floors and woodburning fireplaces.  It’s truly a showplace!  Maria served a delicious lunch of clam and linguine with a tomato-cucumber salad.  Stuffed mushrooms with sweet Italian sausage was a tasty appetizer and garlic bread completed a wonderful lunch.  We dined on the porch overlooking the red barns, white fences and acres of green pastures.

I was interested to see again Maria’s extensive collection of Fontani nativity figures.  They are displayed always in the front parlor of their home, and I enjoyed having the opportunity to see them.  It’s a wonderful collection.   Maria is a talented craftsperson.  She always has a project!  With an assortment of colored glass beads, she is creating  key holders that are not only functional but beautiful accessories.  Maria and John are soon celebrating their 48^th anniversary and we had fun looking through their wedding album and reminiscing  about that event and the family and friends attending.

Our visit with John and Maria was a highlight of our trip and we reluctantly left to return to the boat.  We had traveled through four states—Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Vermont.  It was a great experience.