Day 11
Monday, October 18, 2021
The day began promisingly enough...
The weather guessers all seemed in agreement. The chance of rain went up sharply after 12P. With that in mind, I plotted my day. I could dash back out to Stowe, hit the toll road to the top of Mount Mansfield and then try and do the hike out and back to the high point before the rain.
But first, a quick stop at the Winooski Gorge. There’s a small park with an overlook just a couple of blocks from the Days Inn. The view from the overlook.
There's also a path that leads back into the woods.
While finishing my coffee in the gorge parking lot, I punched in the address for the Mount Mansfield Scenic Toll Road and let the GPS do the rest. When I punched in the address, it gave me other toll road options. Somehow, I hit the wrong one and ended up not even close to Stowe. I should have gone with my gut on this one. I drove past the exit for Hwy 100. The GPS said to go three more. So, I did. Long story short, it was sending me to a completely different mountain toll road. Lesson learned. Double check that you're going to the right one, before hitting the Go button.
Not that it mattered in the end.
The previous day was the last of the season. The road up was now closed until spring. As I was about to get out and take a picture, the rain began and it didn’t fully let up until late in the afternoon.
So, I pulled out the map. Just north of me was Bingham Falls. It was only a half mile out and back from the road. As I pulled off by the trailhead, the rain seemed to taper off a bit. I grabbed my hat and jacket and off I went.
Continuing north on Hwy 108, the road seemed to get a little more steep, and a lot more twisty.
It was all part of Smugglers' Notch State Park. Numerous times I contemplated getting out in the rain to take pictures. When I did, I just used the phone, which is probably why this one is a bit shaky.
Since traffic was light, I simply shot this waterfall through the car window, just opened enough for the shot.
As I climbed, the outside temperature dropped. When it hit thirty-eight degrees, the car chimed in with a warning of "possible ice."
Just south of Jeffersonville, sits the Grist Mill Covered Bridge. Yup, still raining.
From Jeffersonville, I picked up Hwy 104 West. Just shy of Fairfax, I passed this old bridge and felt compelled to turn around and go back.
It turned out to be a fortuitous move. Otherwise, I would have missed the Fairfax Hydro Dam and waterfall.
With the rain all but over, and the sky starting to clear, I began thinking about lunch. Up ahead at the crossroad with Hwy 128, I found Erica's American Diner.
While I did pass on the burger with maple syrup, I did try a Maple Stout from 14th Star Brewery. Interesting flavor with just a hint of maple.
I made the turn here onto Hwy 128 South, through the town of Westford. I noticed the faint rainbow first. When I pulled into the Post Office parking lot, that's when I saw the peace sign.
With the sky trying to clear, a quick stop at the Browns River Bridge...
Hwy 128 would eventually bring me to Hwy 15, and back into Colchester...
My home for the night was the Starlight Inn.
Every room has a theme. Mine was Bonnie and Clyde.
It just meant there were a few movie posters on the wall, as well as photos of the cast.
Adjacent to the motel is a four screen drive in movie theater, with two screens visible from the parking lot.
With the promise of something more from sunset, I went off exploring. The map showed a small park a few minutes away. The map didn't mention all the parking was by permit only. It didn't seem busy, and no one seemed to notice.
Coming Up,
I visit a place responsible for over twenty deaths, and learn about Hexadecegons
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