It’s not always about the boat.

After a very long off-season getting the house ready to sell, selling it, and moving into an apartment, we needed to get away.  Typically a weekend getaway for us would be Boston or NYC, but this time we wanted something relaxing.  Vermont during mud season would be perfect.  Although we’ve only been there a handful of times, I have a soft spot for Vermont.  It’s so relaxing. Maybe it’s the lovely topography, maybe it’s the people who are so friendly.  If it wasn’t for the winters and the fact that it doesn’t border an ocean, I would seriously think about moving there.

We drove up to Bennington, Vermont after work on Friday, April 9th, and less than two hours later we were checking into the Four Chimneys Inn in Bennington, Vermont.  We must already be getting used to apartment living because the room was huge!  Making good use of the gas fireplace and the heated private porch, we spent the weekend recharging and reconnecting.  It was fantastic.

After a delicious breakfast, Saturday found us driving around, stopping at little shops on the side of the road and buying chocolate and iced cider.  We also poked around Bennington, visiting the Bennington Monument which commemorated – unsurprisingly – the Battle of Bennington.  Apparently there’s an elevator to the top but it wasn’t open yet for the season.  However, we did read the plaques which told us that the Battle of Bennington was a decisive victory over the British during the Revolutionary War, playing a key role in bringing France into the war and leading to the British defeat at Saratoga which marked a major turning point in the war.

More attractive to us than the Monument, Bennington also has three covered bridges within a few miles.  The last time we drove through Vermont was a few weeks after Hurricane Irene on our way to Montreal.  Vermont was hammered with many roads and several covered bridges damaged or destroyed.  Not taking them for granted anymore, we had an extra appreciation for the ones that we saw on this trip.  I love how cars coming from opposite directions take turns coming through without the benefit of a stop light or other guidance.  It’s so civilized.

Silk Road Bridge and Paper Mill Bridge

Saturday was also spent browsing at Bennington Potters, nosing around antique shops and art galleries, and eating lunch and dinner at Madison Brewing Company.  We didn’t intend to eat there twice, but after ordering an inedible pizza at Marigold Kitchen and discovering nothing else open this early in the season, we made a repeat visit to Madison Brewing for dinner.  Good thing it was there!

Saturday morning was cloudy and cool but the afternoon brought the sun, and it remained on Sunday with temperatures in the upper 60’s.  Lovely!  We took the Molly Stark Trail as we drove back home, stopping in Wilmington to poke around, and visiting a few cheese shops and a maple syrup farm.

One of my goals was to buy maple syrup at a farm since it was sugaring season, so we screeched to a stop when we saw the “open” sign at Whetstone Valley Farm in West Brattleboro, VT.  Unfortunately, all was quiet on Sunday and we weren’t lucky enough to watch syruping in action.  We were able to buy some syrup at the farm using the honor system, however.  There was a handwritten sign in the shop with a phone number to call for assistance, but we didn’t have any bars on our cell phone so we left exact change with a note of explanation in the guest registry.  I’m sure we weren’t the first ones.

We wrapped up our trip with an afternoon browsing in the shops in Brattleboro, VT before driving back home to West Hartford.  I have to say, knowing that we’re going to move onto a boat in three years definitely helps to keep our wallets in our pockets,  After all, if we’re just going to have to get rid of it soon why bother buying it at all?

Overall we had a wonderful, much-needed weekend away, and we returned home refreshed and more than ready to get back to Pegu Club to prepare her for splashing!