To travel in these days of covid requires planning, and patience and maybe even a bit of counseling…
As summer was winding down and covid seemed to be getting a better understanding we decided to make some plans to travel. Not too far but far enough that we would feel like we had left the neighborhood. Living in New England this means, typically, that we needed to get past New York and to a place to find peace and tranquility.. well maybe a nice forest to hike in. We settled on The Great Smokey Mountains and the Blue Ridge Parkway. As a bonus we have some very good friends that we could impose on at the southern terminus of the trip. So we started to make plans, watching YouTube videos of all the attractions, hiking trails, summits and campgrounds. We poured over maps and measured distances adding daily to a growing list of places to visit. We made phone calls and read every website of the many places to visit. We made reservations. Our plan was for a bit more than three weeks of exploration. Covid spoke up and warned us of our foolishness, but we persevered and were determined. Some of the southern states were beginning to climb in the covid statistics but we still thought that we would be safe.
Then we got a notice of a rally that was going to take place in Vermont, not just any rally but a Leisure Travel Van Rally! We love our Leisure Unity and had such a great time at a Leisure Travel Van rally in Napa last year the we felt that we really needed to attend. The North East group has been dormant for a couple of years and a great couple from New Hampshire has taken over the task of leadership. So we changed our plans and decided to go to the rally in Vermont, to be held in the town of South Hero, which lies on an island in the middle of Lake Champlain.
We routed a course westward to take in New York, heading to Watkins Glen and then wander around the Adirondacks and finger lakes before entering Vermont and attend the rally as we headed homeward. The plan was for a little over two weeks so we had shortened the trip a bit. Then we discovered that Vermont has put into place some very strict covid rules and little Rhode Island, our home base had started to spike in the covid numbers. There was a lot of reading done on the web about travel to the various areas that we wanted to go and it soon became apparent that plans needed to change once again. I had already canceled all the reservations down south and now I started calling campgrounds in New York, and Harvest Hosts and boondockers Welcome and canceling reservations on Reserve America, well you must know the drill if you have ever traveled by RV.
In order to go to Vermont we needed to covid tested just before we left Rhode Island. We made reservations with the testing site that has been set up at the Providence Convention Center parking garage..yes a parking garage. I am guessing that you have likely heard the stories of how a long pole of sorts is jammed up your nose for the test and that it is the most awful thing that can be done to a nose. I am here to say that just ain’t so..the test was simple fast and painless. The testing site at the Convention Center is run by the Rhode Island National Guard, and run well and efficiently. We never got out of our car. The solders that were there all seemed to be very professional in the tasks they were assigned and we felt as though we were being taken care of in a professional manner. We had our paperwork, we drove in line and questions were asked and answered, moved ahead in line and soon had our nose swabbed and we went on our way..very quick and easy. Thank you Rhode Island National Guard for what you are doing during these hard times. A couple of days later we got our results, negative I am happy to say, and were ready to travel. Our plans now were to travel straight to Vermont, one night at a Harvest Host and four nights at the rally at Apple Island RV Resort in South Hero. So on with the story.
Starting a few days before we got underway we both began to prep the Doodle, our Leisure Unity, for the trip. I checked tire pressures and oil levels and made sure we had all the right tools and tables and stuff. I checked the batteries and got the fridge cooling down. I filled the fuel tank with diesel and got the propane tank topped off. Carol took care of food and clothing and stuff and we both took care of our personal things like books, knitting and cameras and paints and things. I started to look like we were going to actually make it out of the driveway. On Wednesday morning We loaded in the last toys for Harper and a full supply of doggie cookies and set off . While we travel we listen to audio books and are currently in the middle of a gripping mystery. The roads are familiar as we travel north through the northern bit of Rhode Island and into Massachusetts. We stop along the way and get a coffee, you just can’t travel too far without coffee. Soon we are rolling through the hills of Massachusetts and into New Hampshire for a few miles and then into Vermont.
Vermont is an absolutely beautiful state it did not disappoint as the color of autumn was descending on the hillsides. The further north we traveled the better the fall colors. Our destination for the day was a cider mill in Waterbury. The Cold Hollow Cider Mill is a Harvest Host member and welcomes Harvest Host RVers to stay for free. Along the was however was the world headquarters of Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream. We you just can’t pass that up so we pulled into the lot and were directed to a place relegated to RVs and hiked up the hill to the factory. Due to covid the factory tour was closed, a small disappointment, however the ice cream windows were open and the only task we had was selecting flavors. Carol and I each picked a flavor and we also purchased a small cup of vanilla for Harper, who seemed to know exactly what was going on. We ate our treats sitting on a bench overlooking the local mountains/hillsides. Harper was up on the ledge eating her small cup of ice cream and was all wiggles as the ice cream seemed to be exactly what she needed. We walked around for a while after, and went to the kiosk selling Ben and Jerry’s stuff but found nothing that we really needed.
Around four in the afternoon we rolled into the Cold Hollow Cider Mill parking lot and found an out of the way place to park in the back of the lot next to a picnic table. We went into the store to let them know we were there and a nice young lady gave us some paperwork to fill out. The Covid 19 questionnaire was straight forward and we checked all the right boxes as we had just had our negative results and headed straight to Vermont from Rhode Island. All was right with the world so we shopped for cider mill stuff. We got apples and souvenirs and I found a pot of raspberry jam that I though would be good at breakfast on toast (I was right). Back at the Doodle we spent the early evening just hanging our, Carol was reading and I did a sketch of an old truck parked nearby. The view from the picnic table was mountains and huge solar panels the always face the sun. I missed a good opportunity here to do a time lapse..drat! Carol fixed a good supper and we relaxed watching some mindless TV before turning in. It is always amazing how there is absolutely nothing worthwhile to watch on the big three channels…
In the morning we had a good breakfast and just got a lazy start to the day. We only had about an hour to drive to the campground so we made some stops along the way. There is almost always a Walmart stop and this trip was no exception and we stopped at the Pet Food Warehouse in Williston which was out first stop when we picked Harper as a pup. Harper originally came from a high kill facility in Texas and was brought to Williston by a lady named Donna who rescues about 20 pups a month from the south where puppy mills are legal. We were fortunate to find Harper as she is so very much a part of our lives today. So at the store Harper got treats, regular food and toys. She also got a new leash and matching collar and a bright orange jacket, for hiking safely during hunting season.
By 1:00 we were wandering onto Grand Isle and the town on South Hero. As you cross the causeway and arrive on the island the entrance to the Apple Island RV Resort is on the left, the first left on the island, right on the water. As we drove into the driveway we spotted another Leisure Travel Van that looked identical to ours parked on the hillside. We would later find out the the couple had no idea that the rally was going on. Of course they were gladly included as this turned out to be a very friendly group. After we got registered and filled out the covid forms, we found our site - MF009. It only takes a few minutes to get set up. As I hooked up water and electric Carol put herself to task of setting out her mums and making the campsite feel a little more like home. Harper explored and sniffed. The site was situated on a hill with a clear view of Lake Champlain to the east.
Carol arranged the chairs and table so that was our morning coffee view. We met a few other rally folks, Tom and Leigh were right across the way and eager to get acquainted and others began rolling in. The rally didn’t officially start until the next day but by evening six coaches had arrived. After a we got everything in place we unhooked and headed to town to see what is there. The town of South Hero is a small, quaint little town, a snapshot of rural Vermont. Being lunch time we found a place called Seb’s which was a combination snack bar, ice cream shop and souvenir shop..a perfect place to grab a sandwich and wander around. We didn’t buy any souvenirs but the sandwiches were good. Back at the campground we chatted with a few more folks and met Paul and Marilyn our new club leaders. We also found a hiking trail and the woods here are just beautiful and Harper loves to explore with here nose, sniffing everything along the trail.
The weather here in Vermont has been really dry as the drought in New England continues. The lake is down by seven feet from normal this time of year and we noticed that the bare ground of the hiking trails were all parched and cracked. Autumn has certainly begin in Vermont and the trees had all begun to turn, color was everywhere. We hiked the trail through the forest and to the high bluff overlooking the lake and stood in awe of the scenery..so very pretty. In the few days that followed we met everyone that was in attendance at the rally. I may be biased, but Leisure owners seem to be the best people along the route. again I may be biased.
Over these next few days we sat around campfires, shared stories, hiked and biked, visited a vineyard (and bought some wine) made plans and exchanged contact information. The one running theme I picked up on is that people love to explore and visit new places but overriding that, was the opportunity to meet new people and share a few minutes getting to know someone new. It is always the people that make the journey so memorable. Paul and Marilyn who organized this event are warm and welcoming folks and made everyone feel as though we had all settled into a new home. The couple in their LTV that we spotted when we drove in turned out to be from New Jersey and have an identical Leisure van to ours, and it was their maiden voyage. They purchased it back in early 2020 from North Carolina (I think) and drove it home on the prior owners plates. They sent the plates back to the original owner and then covid closed down the registry in NJ. The had just got the van registered the week before the rally and this was their first camping trip. It was by serendipity that they happened to be at this campground the weekend of the rally.
As all thing go, it had to come to an end and it ended slowly as several of us stayed an extra day, effectively extending the rally another day. Monday morning we all finally said our good-byes and Carol and Harper and I pulled out around 11:00 and headed across the causeway in search of Eagle Mountain fo one final Vermont hike. It was not an especially long or rigorous hike but it was beautiful. Although there was no scenic view from the summit we hiked down a bit to an overlook that took in Lake Champlain. Below is a short video of the days of the rally.
As we ended the hike, about ten yards from the Doodle, the skied opened and a steady drizzle began. Perfect timing. We wandered out way back down the dirt roads and found the highway and headed toward King Arthur Flour Company in White River Junction. Since one of my hobbies is baking bread, this is the Holy Grail of baking places in the USA, we were obligated to stop. I spent too much, Carol spent too much and Harper had to wait in the van…but all in all a great place to visit. For the next few hours we chatted about our trip and listening to an audio book and moved through the fall scenery. The ride home was uneventful, just the way we like it.
Below is a video of the rally.
And below here is a gallery of photos from the trip.
