Tue., 8 Oct/13

Looked at the weather forecast and the leaves and we decided that we should head to Vermont to do some leaf peeping.

We are enjoying a beautiful fall. The next week predicts sunny or light clouds and temps into the high 60's F and low 70's F. The leaves are at their peak in several areas of Vermont so we decided to fire up the motorhome and head for Lake Champagne (no - not Champlain) Campground in Randolph Center, VT. We called and are booked in for a week.

http://www.lakechampagne.com/

This is our favourite place to stay for leaf peeping in Vermont. It is just off I-89 and dead center in Vermont. The campground has full services and the sites are spread out with great views. We use this as the base camp and go in a different direction each day to enjoy the leaves in Vermont and New Hampshire.

We crossed over from Canada to the USA (NY) at Cornwall, ON. This bridge could easily make the Guinness World's Records for the longest, highest and bumpiest international non-suspension bridge with the most curves in the world. Emphasis on the roughest!!! I have driven the RV on lumber roads in Northern Quebec and they were smooth in comparison.

The new low level bridge is virtually complete (bottom view).

(Bridge Photos Courtesy of my Cousin Keith)

We may start a "Pool" on how many months it will remain completed before it gets used. Canada Customs can't decide on where to build the Port of Entry as it is an International Bridge. Maybe we will be able to use it next year?

We usually stop at main Bear's Den Trading Post for fuel and breakfast when heading this way. Try the Hash (not hash browns) - it doesn't come from a can. (RV Parking in the rear)

Unfortunately, the RV was full and we were leaving late morning due to the spur of the moment decision to go leaf peeping.

We take RT-37 to Westville Center where we turn onto RT-122. This is a "shortcut" and saves time, distance and delay by not having to drive through downtown Malone, NY. It connects with US-11 east of Malone. We stay on this road until we cross into Vermont.

We pull into our other usual stop - the McDonald's in Champlain, NY at the junction of US-11 and I-87. This has a great RV parking area.

Soon we were on our way again. A short time later we arrive at Rouses Point, NY were we turn left off US-11 onto US-2. Make the turn or you will be in Canada in a few moments if you stay on US-11)

After the big sweeping right hand curve we pulled into another usual stop - the Alburgh Welcome Center. There is parking on the edge for the RV - make sure to slow down to make the first entrance! You can spot it by the wind generator (much smaller than the ones you saw previously on US-11)

We stay on US-2 through Alburgh and continue on to Alburg Center without turning onto RT-78. No - I did not make a spelling error - strangely the spelling changes (official names use/don't use the final "H"). RT-78 will connect with I-89 quickly. US-2 will connect with I-89 much later. The ride through the Champlain Islands is much more relaxed and scenic.

My favourite view is at North Hero, VT - much better in real life.

As we leave the Champlain Islands we turn onto I-89 southbound. Approaching Burlington the speed reduces to 55 mph. This area can be very congested. Best advice is to stay in the left lane until the speed increases back to 65 mph just past were I-189 joins southbound I-89.

 

 

A very short time later - on the left (Southbound) you might be able to catch a glimpse of the Whale Tails (Reverence Sculpture created by Jim Sardonis in 1989) between Exits 12 and 13. The sculpture depicts two tails of whales "diving" into a sea of grass and is meant to symbolize the fragility of the planet. The tails were made from 36 tons of African black granite and stand 12-13 feet tall.

The sculpture was originally commissioned by British metals trader David Threlkeld, who was then a resident of Randolph, VT. The tails were to be at the entrance to a conference center that Threlkeld was planning, but financing fell through and Threlkeld moved to AZ. In the original unusual location it depicts sea creatures in New England's only landlocked state. After ten years at this Randolph site, they were sold and then moved to Technology Park in S. Burlington where Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream has its corporate headquarters.

 

It was an easy drive on I-89 to Exit 4. A few miles later after a left turn onto VT-66 we pulled into the campground. The entrance was beautifully decorated with numerous pumpkins on hay bales. Mums, leaves and other decorations surround these spooky, carved symbols of Hallowe'en.

After checking in and setting up on lot M we headed into Randolph, VT. As usual we stocked up on food at Shaw's (groceries) then moved on to the Village Pizza for supper.

The pumpkins were even "spookier" when we returned in the dark with the candles flickering through their toothy gaps and eyes.

Looking forward to tomorrow's adventures.