Date:  10/13/2013
Location:  Addison, VT
Written by: DJ Doran

TAKE NOTE: This post was written while DJ & Joey were on their RV roadtrip across America. Sadly, their trip ended before it really got started. No worries, Shelly & Lucia are taking the Connextions Out n About Roadtrip to new heights, exploring one RV park at a time!

With our introductions complete and plans confirmed for our Sunday hike, Joey and I decided to head back and take the rest of the day to get some needed work done on Priscilla and to catch up on our writing. 

As Sunday dawned there was a slight mist in the air and I moaned about how the hike was going to be ruined by the weather.  I got up out of bed and turned on the heat so someone who shall remain nameless wouldn’t have to get up to a cold Priscilla.  I began my morning routine of starting the engine and turning on the generator so that I would have the coffee making 110 volts needed to brew the reviving elixir with hazelnut creamer.   As I sat sipping my coffee and enjoying each aromatic whiff of coffee and hazelnut, the sky began to clear.  What started out as a cool, grey misty morning had turned into a bright sunny fall day in what seemed like 10 minutes?   In a much better mood and feeling ready for some hiking, Joey and I left to meet our new friends for a day on Snake Mountain.

When we pulled up to where everyone was waiting, I blew the 2 trumpet horns on top of Priscilla to announce our arrival.  After parking her outside the front door we walked upstairs to a group of people that were excited to meet us and Priscilla. John told us there were coffee and Bagels in the lounge area and we didn’t need to be told twice! After a fresh cup of coffee and a bagel we mingled with our soon to be passengers and got to know them.  The time came to go and we all walked down toward Priscilla.  Everyone ohooed and ahhhed over how much character she had and then they climbed aboard.  John and Mike had asked if they could bring their adorable little Pug named “Georgia” for the ride to which we of course said yes.  She was full of personality and almost right away staked out her place on the cushion covering the engine cowling.  After everyone got seated and situated we cranked up the engine and began our hour-long drive to Snake Mountain. 

Date:  10/11/2013
Location:  Burlington, VT
Written by: DJ Doran

TAKE NOTE: This post was written while DJ & Joey were on their RV roadtrip across America. Sadly, their trip ended before it really got started. No worries, Shelly & Lucia are taking the Connextions Out n About Roadtrip to new heights, exploring one RV park at a time!

We arrived near Burlington Vermont under a bright autumn sun and made our way to the local Wal-Mart to park for the night.  It is amazing how many places will allow you to park overnight for free if you just respectfully ask them for permission.  Anyway, as I found a suitable parking space for Priscilla away from the general parking area we shut down the engine and prepared to go inside to chat with the Manager.  We figured while we were here we would do a little shopping for food and provisions, which I think is the reasoning behind Wal-Mart allowing RV’ers to overnight there.   It is always an interesting experience entering any Wal-Mart and this one was no different.  After a brief conversation with the Manager and our minds at rest about parking there overnight we proceeded to shop. 

When we arrived back onboard Priscilla, Joey busied himself preparing dinner as I sent emails to my contact, John, at RU12. www.ru12.org.  I wanted to firm up that we were meeting on Sunday for the hike to Snake Mountain but also to arrange a meeting the next day to introduce ourselves to each other.  After a few short email exchanges we agreed to meet the next day at their offices in Burlington.  With work done and dinner almost ready I called it quits for the night and Joey and I settled into a quiet evening onboard Priscilla. 

Date:  10/9/2013
Location:  Weston, VT
Written by: DJ Doran

TAKE NOTE: This post was written while DJ & Joey were on their RV roadtrip across America. Sadly, their trip ended before it really got started. No worries, Shelly & Lucia are taking the Connextions Out n About Roadtrip to new heights, exploring one RV park at a time!

The drive to Burlington VT from Bennington started in a little town called Wilmington.  We had decided to change our route because of some insight from Amy Balogh, the Manager for the Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce www.yourplaceinvermont.com who I had been briefly corresponding with about which route to Burlington would be the best scenic route to see the foliage.  Amy suggested taking Route 7 through Albany NY to Bennington, but then rather than taking Route 7 north she suggested that we should go further east to Wilmington -- then north on Route 100 which skirted along the edges of Green Mountain Nat’l Forest www.fs.usda.gov/greenmountain through Weston and then Ludlow. 

The drive was beautiful and we took our time -- the colors of the foliage at every turn were amazing.  Priscilla chugged along as we passed through small town after small town on our way to our next stop, Weston.  Amy had highly recommended a stop in Weston to visit the Vermont Country Store www.vermontcountrystore.com for fun and photos and as we pulled into Weston we could see why.  Cars lined the street as we pulled through and people turned their heads to get a good look at Priscilla as we drove by.  Parking was going to be a challenge for sure but we circled a couple of times before I finally found a place that was suitable and I wedged Priscilla into a space along the fence surrounding a tree lined park, their leaves aflame with bright autumn colors of reds and oranges. 

Date:  10/8/2013
Location:  Bennington, VT
Written by: DJ Doran

TAKE NOTE: This post was written while DJ & Joey were on their RV roadtrip across America. Sadly, their trip ended before it really got started. No worries, Shelly & Lucia are taking the Connextions Out n About Roadtrip to new heights, exploring one RV park at a time!

Joey, Priscilla and I arrived in Bennington, Vermont to stunning foliage colors.  As we entered into town we could see a beautiful white church straight ahead of us surrounded by a cemetery and a line of cars parked out front. I eased Priscilla around the bend of the road and we parked right in front.  It was nice to be stopped for a rest surrounded by trees filed with leaves of bright oranges, pale yellows and vibrant reds.  We decided to make a light lunch before stepping out and walking around the church and cemetery.  I love fall in New England and sitting there aboard Priscilla amongst the trees I felt calm and happy.  After a few minutes of lunch and chatting, Joey and I were ready to begin exploring our first stop in Bennington.  We decided to walk around the cemetery first, and it was amazing to read the headstones of the people who were buried there dating as far back as the mid 1600’s.  We took some stunning photographs of the trees, leaves and headstones as we walked up and down aisle and aisle of headstones, careful not to walk directly across the graves out of respect for those buried there.

We came across a map of the cemetery and saw that the Poet Robert Frost was buried here!  We made our way across and down toward his burial site and stood there briefly remembering the contributions that this man had given to the world through his poetry and writing.  I had noticed when we first got there that there were coins of every denomination sprinkled upon the flat gravestone and I reached into my pocket and placed a penny between his first name and last name.  After a few more moments reflecting about his life we walked back up toward the The Old First Church.   The Church was dedicated to the separation of Church and State and was first congregated in 1762, fourteen years before the beginning of the American Revolution.  We walked inside and you could feel the history of the building and its occupants surround you.  The interior was starkly beautiful and everything was painted white.  There were no icons decorating the walls or altar and when I asked why the curator told us to look up.  Within the domed ceiling was a large box cross design with a hanging chandelier in the center.  I thought to myself how subtle that was until it was pointed out to me.  Now I could not get away from the enormity of it, very clever.  It was also explained that the founders of the congregation did not want any glaring religious décor for fear of reprisals so this was their way to honor God without it being “ In your face” so to speak, I know a few people who could take a lesson from that.

We walked through the church and marveled at the boxed seating areas on either side of the pews before taking the staircase to the balcony.  The view from the balcony was amazing and I could imagine a full congregation in Colonial dress in my mind.  As we departed the church we purchased some maple leaf candy and took a few more photos before we boarded Priscilla for town.  

We entered the town and drove down main street looking for a large enough place to park Priscilla.  After a few circles down the narrow streets we settled on a wide parking area next to the local doggie park.  With a few short snorts and hisses Priscilla was safely parked and secured.  It was a gloriously sunny day and about 70 degrees as we began our exploration of Bennington.  Like any other New England town at this time of year there was no shortage of tourists.  We started our walk when Joey and I noticed that we had forgotten to charge our iPhones and that would be a disaster!  So we walked into the first coffee shop that we came upon which happened to be South Street Café’ www.southstreetcafe.com and proceeded to order some hot spiced apple cider while we charged our gadgets.  Joey and I chatted and sipped our cider as time slowly went by.  We watched the people come and go and the baristas make small talk with the tourists and a few locals.  After what seemed like hours we were charged and ready to go.  We said our goodbyes and thank yous and began walking up Main Street.  Bennington is such a quant little town with an ornate clock on the corner and cute shops lining both sides of the street.  We walked and talked about how cool it would be to have a place here and even looked at some window listings at the occasional realtors office as we walked by.  As we headed back to Priscilla we commented on the beauty of the town and the friendliness of the people.  We have found that Vermont in general is a very tolerant state and you can be free to be yourselves, which is why we love Vermont and look forward to coming back soon.

Date:  10/8/2013
Location:  Bennington, VT
Written by: DJ Doran

TAKE NOTE: This post was written while DJ & Joey were on their RV roadtrip across America. Sadly, their trip ended before it really got started. No worries, Shelly & Lucia are taking the Connextions Out n About Roadtrip to new heights, exploring one RV park at a time!

The drive to Bennington Vermont was easy and quiet.  Joey was working in the right seat as I drove Priscilla at a comfortable pace.  I took in the changing landscape and colors and reminded Joey to stop and take photos as we passed any particularly photo worthy scene.  I was excited to arrive in Bennington because I had read so much about its quaintness and beauty.  The day started out with bright sunshine and just a touch of coolness to make it comfortable.  We finished passing through Syracuse and Schenectady NY and entered Vermont, The Green Mountain State. 

I eased Priscilla off of the highway and onto Route 7 (The Ethan Allen Highway) and the drive became a leisurely passage through rolling hills, red barns and white churches.  New England is known for its maple and it was evident everywhere we stopped.  Maple syrup, maple candy, maple ice cream etc…  As we made our way to Bennington I happened to spy this small building with animal decorations all over it and even a giant ice cream cone.  It wasn’t my fault that there were no signs or warning that this cool place was just up ahead on the right!  I had to make a command decision and I did.

Forgetting that I was driving a 37,000-pound motor home I pressed the brake -- hard, probably too hard in hindsight and turned abruptly right into the parking lot full of cars.  Joey immediately starts yelling at me that I am crazy and reminds me that I am not driving a 2-door vehicle.  I carefully slide Priscilla into a parking spot in the back of the building and lock the air brakes.  Joey, glaring at me and clearly irritated says, “You will never get her out of here”!