Our idea of R&R: go camping in the middle of winter in Vermont's Green Mountains, snowshoe, ski, read aloud, cook good food, sip coffee slowly, explore in rain and snow, and enjoy the route getting there and home. We followed the maple syrup trail, from our favorite pancake and syrup shack in western Mass (where we had our second annual meet up with friends from North Hampton on saturday morning) to the hundreds of tapped maple trees and miles of sap lines that connected them in the woods where our cabin was. We went to Merck Forest and Farm Center, which has a working farm and sustainable forest. The cabin was so "rustic" that it snowed in on me one night, but we had plenty of firewood to keep the place comfortable. Our dog and gear will probably keep our apartment smelling of wood stove for weeks! There's nothing like getting a waft of a smokey mitten sitting on my desk while at work to remind me of the relaxation we enjoyed on this long weekend.
It rained most of our first day, but we were prepared and headed out on snow shoes anyway (for staying above the slush). Banjo loved every bit of it, especially once that rain turned to snow and he got to play ball on the mountain in 4 inches of fresh powder.
We found an adorable general store in northern vt that sold everything, including Carhartt gear, horse equipment, and amazing scones. We found a brew pub in Greenfield mass that had incredible ambiance, oatmeal stout, and a farmer plate of artisan cheese, fruit, nuts and biscuits.
Our definition of cabin fever right now is very different from most others: we miss cabins and camping and setting our daily activities around nature's light and weather cycles. This was a much needed trip for all of us to recharge and reconnect. We will certainly be back to this place!
Our definition of cabin fever right now is very different from most others: we miss cabins and camping and setting our daily activities around nature's light and weather cycles. This was a much needed trip for all of us to recharge and reconnect. We will certainly be back to this place!
Fun fun fun!!!
ReplyDeleteThose photos are gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteOh what a fun glimpse into a totally dreamy weekend! But, the burning question from Minneapolis is . . . what were you reading aloud to one another?
ReplyDelete(I think the next time our reading club meets we will finish A Wrinkle in Time, that we started with you two over New Year's!)
Ah, we were reading "Songs of the North" a collection of essays by Sigurd Olson. His writing is largely about the exploration of nothern Minnesota and Ontario's Superior-Quetico country. I'd never read it, while Z read it in high school after returning from a month long Outward Bound trip in the Boundary Waters. Needless to say, we're excited for the day we can make a long voyage through the Boundary waters together (maybe 2012?), but until then we're going to start by practicing in canoes with Banjo this summer.
ReplyDelete