Monday June 28, we left Wells, Maine about 10am; Acey’s mileage was 74,109 and Thor had 86,737 miles. We drove thru New Hampshire, stopping at the Wal-Mart parking lot in Keene to make lunch. We arrived at Kampfires Campground in Dummerston, Vermont just after 2pm and go all set up, and added Vermont to our map.
Jim’s cousin Dave and his wife Robin live nearby, and came to meet Acey. We went out for dinner at Whetstone Station and dined on the patio overlooking the Connecticut River, looking into New Hampshire.
After dinner, Dave drove us on a tour to see the nearby campus of SAT/World Learning where both he and Robin worked at one time, and we saw the adjacent Scott Farm where parts of Cider House Rules was filmed. Rudyard Kipling had lived nearby. Then we visited a couple of covered bridges! The West Dummerston Covered Bridge was built in 1872, and at 280 feet, it is the longest covered bridge entirely within the state of Vermont.
This bridge has a center support and does not have the arched supports like the shorter bridges we saw in Pennsylvania.
The Creamery Bridge in Brattleboro was built in 1879 is Brattleboro’s last surviving 19th-century covered bridge.
The bridge is closed to traffic. Interesting that there is a separate covered walkway for pedestrians.
We walked around the quaint town of Brattleboro, but none of the shops were open by then. Tuesday morning, Dave cooked pancakes for breakfast and we ate on their screened porch.
We got a tour of their home where they have lived for many years, and the gardens – didn’t take many pics…
We went for a drive to see Mount Ascutney, the summit is 3,144 feet; there is a windy 3 1/2 mile road in the State Park that brings you a good distance up the mountain.
We took a short hike to the hang gliding platform; where’s the trail?!
What a view!
Robin 
Dave 
Jim
We had lunch at Harpoon Brewery in Windsor, Vermont, visited King Arthur Flour and saw another covered bridge! This was the longest bridge (449 feet 5 inches) in the US. Wikipedia had this to say, “The Cornish-Windsor Covered Bridge is a 155-year-old, two-span, timber Town lattice-truss, interstate, covered bridge that crosses the Connecticut River between Cornish, New Hampshire (on the east), and Windsor, Vermont (on the west). Until 2008, when the Smolen-Gulf Bridge opened in Ohio, it had been the longest covered bridge (still standing) in the United States.” It may well be the longest two-span covered bridge in the world!
The clearance is only 9′ 2″ — and note the signage on the front!
Robin fixed some tasty Vegetable Pasta Primavera for dinner. Afterwards, we walked around their acreage and to the quarry where there is a swimming hole.
Wednesday we met Dave and Robin after breakfast for an early bike ride in Keene, New Hampshire, on the Cheshire Rail Trail. They have a folding tandem that fits in the back of their Chevy Bolt!
Once Dave got the bike put together, we were ready to roll!
There was a lot of shade along the way. The path was a dirt trail which was different for us; most of the rail trails we have found have been paved.
There was a big bridge we rode up to cross Highway 9; a few other streets we had to ride across.
It is still unseasonably hot (84F) and we stopped at Stonewall Farm to get a scoop of handmade organic ice cream!
We only rode 7.7 miles but like I said – it was pretty hot!
After Dave folded up the tandem, we walked over to Ashuelot River Park, just across from where we had parked, and saw this dam.
We had a delicious lunch at Elm City Brewing and sampled some of their craft beer. Nice slogan!
We went back to Acey to chill out for the rest of the day! It rained some, and Jim saw this almost double rainbow!
Thursday morning we prepared for our move to upstate New York, but went out for breakfast to have one last meal with Dave and Robin. We headed out just after 10am
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Wow! Are you also keeping track of states where you find relatives? Thanks for posting. Great shots of the bridges.
Thanks Ted! Relatives or friends – if we are going there, it’s always fun to meet up!
I am really enjoying reading your blog. Such wonderful adventures you are having!! Your photographs are beautiful and I especially like the ones of the bridges in this post. 🌉
Thanks Adele! Good thing the iPhone takes good photos – we seldom remember to bring a “real” camera…
It was so fun spending time with you both!
It was great to see you and Dave – it had been too long! Thanks for your hospitality and showing us around 🙂
Great pictures! Hi Dave and Robin!! Good way for all of us to see you again!