One Dog's Writer

Sunday, August 8, 2021

Road Tripping: What I learned and where I went

Our travels

I learned a lot on this trip. First, I overpacked. I don't need a lounge chair for sitting outside. I certainly didn't need a suitcase plus multiple plastic boxes for dozens of Clif Bars (granola bars) and dog treats and clothing and more. I have to think of clothing this way: It can be washed. (Duh.)

I loved finding Willard Ski Area on the map and driving there... Surprise! A fun little area with good people trying to make it work for the greater Washington County community. I like doing these adventures.

I discovered Hipcamp as a quick, safe place for overnight parking. Most Hipcamp sites seemed to be owned by regular folks. Twenty bucks is small price to pay for the ease involved. I don't generate toward cities for their free overnights at Walmarts, Lowes, Cabellas, or the like. Harvest Hosts calls for reservations in advance; furthermore, HH is free but you're asked to buy local products. If it's a winery, that's fine. However, I don't want to be buying meat from a farm while parked in a field surrounded by cows whose sister you may be eating. That ain't happening. Moo.

Bailey seems fine when we're driving. He sleeps on the puzzle bed (where the kitchen table would be), on the floor, or in the passenger side captain's chair. I'm not sure if he's nervous in the van, but when we get out to stretch our legs, he's quite involved with the variety of smells freeway rest stops or town greens offer.

Sitting. I must be aware of the amount of sitting I do during drives. I"ve got to get Bailey outside and walking, and for my own legs, I've got to stretch and walk. Right now, even though I usually hike during my adventures, RVing like this feels unhealthy because of the sitting and quick meals (e.g., 2 hot dogs in Newport VT).

I had planned to work on my book and, as a favor, to edit another book by a friend. (I have two other books to read and review, too.) I didn't do any of this work. That's a problem. I need to settle in to the adventure––I can't rush. I have to take a breath.

The final thing is to feel comfortable leaving my home. Fortunately, I have neighbors across the street who will pop in to check on the place. Thanks, Gina and Gregory. Then, bills mailed to the house that need paying. This, I need to figure out, especially if I leave for 3-5 weeks. We'll see what happens.

The route we took ending up with 750 miles with
a gas mileage of 16.8mpg.

Road Tripping: Newport VT

The mountains in the distance are in Canada

I've been to Newport VT three times now. It's a neat, lake-side tourist town on the Canadian border. I had a couple of hot dogs (unusual for me) and took a walk around the village out to the town pier. Bailey peed on every shrub, flower, fire hydrant, and cement block for a mile. Where does he store all of that?

Road Tripping: The Hub & Hipcamp

The Hub

On our way north on 87, I slipped off an exit looking for a camping spot. I grabbed a sandwich in this neat bike, hike, and kayak store. Their parking lot was large and gravel, and I asked the bartender if folks were allowed to park overnight in the lot. She introduced me to Hipcamp and I discovered for $20 I could park in their lot. Golden. By 8pm, the little town was dead quiet--except for a mouse rummaging in what I thought were my van walls. The next morning I saw mouse poop and realized he'd been in my kitchen drawers and the garbage. The loud noise I'd heard the night before was Rigby, the mouse, chewing through a styrofoam sandwich box. Sounded like the little guy was tearing out the wires in my van. The Rig's mouse, Rigby, is now smelling "Mouse Balls," powerful peppermint plastic balls set in each drawer. Hopefully, that'll persuade him to move homes. If not, I'll be committing murder... Snap.

We could have hiked the little mountain right there at The Hub. Next time--views below.

Just above The Hub. We really should have hiked.

Road Tripping: Willard Mountain

Willard Mountain, Greenwich NY

Click on Photos to Enlarge

We headed south toward Albany, New York, stopping in Saratoga Springs for lunch, a walk, a pee, and a look at the map. I spied a little ski area nestled in the mountains not so far away, and decided to check it out. Willard Mountain in Greenwich, NY is called New York's Coolest Little Ski Area. I immediately saw why. The little mountain with big features is owned by husband and wife team, Kris and Chic Wilson. When I stopped by, Chic was out clearing trees and Kris worked in the office on this Wednesday afternoon.

I so admired how the mountain used every little nook and cranny to provide varied ski terrain. Willard has twin, side-by-side double chairs. Once off, skiers have five choices of trails down. The community ski area reminded me a bit of Lost Valley in Auburn, but Willard has more elevation. We hiked up Meadow to Bunny Hop and its little pond. We headed down Joe's Special to the race hut on Ivan's Alley. From Upper Colonel we trekked through Short Swing and back down Joe's Special.

After our hike, I dropped off a copy of my book, Words for a Mountain, with a note of how I used this little book a fundraiser. I spoke to Kris for a while and hope I did a good job of sharing my enthusiasm for their mountain.

Bailey checking out the racing start hut.

I thought this was a snowmaking pond, but I saw a second
pond at the bottom, so I'm not sure.

"Of course I have to get wet."

Road Tripping

View from summit of the Middlebury Snowbowl in Ripton, Vermont

August 3, 2021 – Up at 6:30am after reading email and social media for a while. I needed to finish up packing, go to the post office to stop mail, clean so Gina would be appalled, and pack some more.

Already I can tell I’ve taken too much. That’s a habit beyond The Rig, I suppose. Over the past few days I’ve felt both elation and fear about this first trip. Everyone I spoke to heard the same line: I may be gone 3 days or 3 weeks. I’ve also had dreams of head on collisions and getting t-boned. I made it onto US Route 2 and immediately got behind a log truck that went slow and slower. I didn’t mind. But then the driver sped up and slowed down and sped up again. Never did the driver go as fast as the speed limit until we came to an uphill where two lanes appeared. He floored it as I was attempting to pass on the outside lane. The lanes merged and I was just barely by him. What a way to end this trip at the beginning, trying to pass a driver who was messing with those of us following him. Must have been having a bad Tuesday. Once I got by, I flashed my flashers just to let him know … click-click... FU, FU, FU. And that’s how I felt.

Bailey wandered from the front seat to the floor. He seemed pooped from his day at Sharon’s. He also seemed nervous last night and this morning while I packed: “Am I going to be left behind?”

Lunch and a pee break in Lancaster NH and then onto to Vermont.

We made it to the trailhead of the Long Trail on Route 125. My plan was to hike to the summit of the Middlebury Snowbowl or farther on Long depending on when we arrived. Well, we got there at 3:30pm and just did the Snowbowl summit. About ½ mile into the hike, we happened up a family of day hikers not equipped for the muddy trail. I called up “Is everyone OK with dogs.” Hands went up but I wasn’t sure what that meant, and before I could say another word, Bailey sprinted up to greet the crew. Two 10 years old screamed as Bailey approached. I felt like an idiot. “I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…” I said as I crept by. Bailey thought he’d missed out on treats.

On the way back down, I ran into the same family who had walked to a small pond on the mountain. I called out, “Here we are again! Humble, leashed, and so very sorry.” They laughed it off but when we first passed them, one woman gave me the stink eye. I apologized again. I did screw up. Not everyone likes an unleashed dog, even goofy Bailey.

I made my first ever meal using the stove this evening. I heated up chicken and diced potatoes. But, I used the propane. Naturally, the smoke alarm went off. I flipped on the exhaust fan and turned on the generator to charge the batteries.

I’ve just made Bailey’s bed, turning the kitchen table into a bed. He seems to like it.

We’re off the grid tonight parking in National Forrest Service land. We stayed here two years ago, and I think we’ll be ok tonight. Middlebury College’s mountain campus, the Bread Loaf School of English, where I went to graduate school, is just a mile or so up the road. We may pull in tomorrow if we’re up and out early enough. Tomorrow, I’m eyeing Waterford, NY or the southern Adirondacks. (We ended up going south toward Albany and climbing a small ski area in the southern Adirondacks).