Late summer brings fast, but mighty storms to New England. Sometimes, these storms result in spectacular light, especially during the magic hours around sunset. A recent summer storm cast vibrant colors across our family farm and the Vermont countryside. Here are some of my favorite shots of this stormy Saturday afternoon: The next day turned out to be a perfect day, weather wise: A small reminder that winter is coming:
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Despite what many may think, Vermont can get really HOT in the summer. What better way to cool off than a swim? While Vermont has its share of refreshing lakes, many locals chill out in nearby quarry pools. One of said pools is located in Dorset, VT and after many years of passing by this swimming hole on our way to the family farm, we finally stopped to check it out. Why we have never stopped here before is beyond me! We love a unique adventure and as you may recall from our recent Costa Rica trip, Chris enjoys a good cliff jump. The Dorset quarry is located on Route 30 close to the town of Manchester, VT - a good spot for shopping and dining. The quarry is easy to see from the road because there are swimmers mulling about and cars in the parking lot nearby. This quarry was created in 1785 making it the oldest marble quarry in the United States. In fact, the marble from this quarry was used to build the New York Public Library. Now an underground spring fills the quarry with clear water making it a popular destination for scuba divers and swimmers. The smooth marble slabs that surround the pool offer several jumping points ranging from 2 feet to 25 feet high. The water is cold, but refreshing, especially on a hot, sunny day. Kids love the quarry and since they tend to be completely immune to cold water, they can probably spend the entire day jumping into the water. I overheard one little boy say to his mother - "Mom this is way better than the lake!". Keep in mind that the water is deep and there are no lifeguards here so kids should be monitored at all times and those that are not strong swimmers should wear life vests. These brave gents attempted one of the higher jumps: The most courageous visitors jump from the highest point - about 25 feet above the water: After cooling off in the water, we quickly warmed up by sitting on the dry marble in the sun. Visitors usually pack full picnics comprised of goodies from the local VT farmers markets. We snacked on baby cucumbers and juicy peaches from a nearby farm stand. Swimming Holes GuideWe did a little research after our swimming adventure in Dorset and turns out there are a lot of swimming holes in Vermont! The website Swimmingholes.org is a great resource to finding these hidden gems. Needless to say, we have a lot more exploring to do in Vermont! Serendipity Strikes Again!If you have been reading this blog a while, you might remember when I serendipitously ran into two people I knew in Barcelona. Well it happened again! This time during our visit to the Dorset quarry. When I was a tot back in the early 80's, I lived in a small apartment complex on a road called Blachley. My parents were close with all the neighbors and we became a tight-knit community where the kids spent endless days at the playground while the parents BBQ'ed to the tunes of the latest Bill Joel soundtrack. We were so tight that we branded ourselves the "Blachlely Buddies"with yellow t-shirts (which were also tight because it was early 80s). [Pictured Above] The Blachely Buddies. Ahhhh the 80s! [Pictured Below] Me in my yellow T. Two of said Buddies, were teenaged sisters named Regina & Eileen, who often looked after us younger kids. As time passed we all moved and lost touch, until a few years ago where we reconnected via Facebook. The Friday before our trip up to VT, Regina posted an old picture of us on Facebook. Fast forward a day to my arrival at Dorset quarry. I heard someone call my name and thought "who in the world knows me HERE?" Sure enough it was Regina and her sister Eileen who were vacationing in Southern VT that week. They had heard about this swimming hole and decided to check it out with their family for the day . What are the odds that, after 30 years, we see each other again in Dorset, of all places? Anyway, we captured our reunion with this photo. All that was missing was our yellow t-shirts!
This will be my last post from our trip to the Outer Banks. In fact, it will be my last post for the next week because I'm heading to Costa Rica for the rest of the week:) I hope you enjoyed seeing our beach adventures in North Carolina. All the OBX content can be found here or via the Destinations page.
When I learned that wild horses roamed the expansive shores of the Outer Banks, North Carolina I had to see them for myself. When Chris learned that Carolla Jeep Adventures offered tours where you could drive your own Jeep through the sand dunes to find the horses, he was sold on the expedition. So a few of us signed up for the Jeep wild horse tour - a mini safari of sorts - where you follow a guide in your Jeep through the sandy roads and dunes of the northern Outer Banks in search of horses. [Pictured Above] Our Jeep. [Pictured Below] Jen & Mom Barbier ready to go! Crazy JohnBefore I recount the tour, I must take a moment to describe our guide John. He was informative, hilarious and maybe a smidgen off his rocker. But all the great ones are, aren't they? A former Marine and NC native, he is incredibly passionate about the horses, and he is currently working on a documentary to raise awareness on the subject. There seems to be one thing he loves more than those horses - the USA. When fighter jets from the nearby Air Force base flew overhead, he stopped talking, pointed at the sky and asked us, "Y'all know what that sound is?". Then he'd yell on the top of his lungs, "That's the sound of FREEEEEEDOM! HOO-RAH". In fact, he used "HOO-RAH" at the end of most thoughts. He had a fantastic southern accent, which he claimed was "gin-u-wine" (and I would never challenge him on that point). I'll share some of John's stories below so you can see what kind of character was guiding us through the dunes. I suspect all this is why his co-workers back at the tour shop dubbed him "Crazy John". I've been on a lot of tours and tour guides can definitely make or break your experience. In this case, John definitely made it special - he was funny, informative and incredibly unique! [Pictured Above] Who needs doors? Crazy John exits out the truck window! Driving In The SandChris was looking forward to finally driving in the sand. We had been on a sand highway once before on Fraser Island in Australia, but we were squished in the back of a massive 4x4 bus while locals breezed past us in their trucks. Chris had also been "dune bashing" in Dubai, which was fun, but he was only a passenger. Needles to say, he was pumped to have control of the wheel. John was very strict about safety and, although Chris is a typical Boston driver and probably could have given our guide a Yankee dose of crazy on the road, he was not about to break the rules for fear of the potential wrath of Marine John (plus his mom was in the back seat). He followed instructions and we had a lot of fun safely bouncing in the sand. If you are not comfortable with driving, you can opt to ride in the open air, but covered, seated section in the back of John's truck. [Top] Zipping down the sand highway. [Middle] Chris in his element. [Bottom] The most challenging (and fun) part was driving over the dunes. The Moving DunesAfter a quick drive along the sandy highway and over a few dunes we stopped atop a large sandy hill that provided a view of both sides of the barrier island. John told us that this was the second largest LIVING sand dune in the area. It' s living because it's constantly moving. Whenever a big storm hits OBX, the sand moves and the topography changes. For example, the Guggenheim family used to have a hunting house that resided UNDER the hill upon which we were standing! [Above] Jen jumping on the living sand dune and over Guggenheim's hunting lodge. [Below] John, the dune & the ocean in the distance. Horse Overboard: How the Horses Arrived in OBXAfter learning about the dunes, we set out to find the horses with the help of white Ibis birds which follow the horses and eat the remains of their food. While we didn't see a herd of horses gracefully galloping along the shore, we definitely saw our fair share wild horses. Many people refer to these horses as "Bankers" or the "Banker Horse" because they are unique to North Carolina's barrier island. So how did they get here? There are many theories but one of the more common beliefs is that they came from early Spanish settlers, since they have many of the same characteristics as domesticated Spanish horses. As the early Spanish explorers and settlers came to colonize the new world, many of them arrived at the Outer Banks first. Unfortunately for the explorers, there are a lot of sand bars off the coast which cause many a shipwreck. If a ship hit a sandbar and didn't unload weight quickly, it became permanently stuck. When the ships hit shallow water, they unloaded as much weight as possible, and often times that meant the horses. Since horses can swim, many made it safely to shore and learned how to live on their own. Fast forward to the 1980s and people began developing the land in the northern Outer Banks which resulted in many horse deaths. The National Park Service, State of North Carolina and several other private organizations now manage and protect the horses and their habitat. Currently there are fewer than 400 wild horses spread across the islands. Here are a few that we encountered on our tour: Shhh...Don't Offend the MuleAt one point we spotted a mule hiding behind a house in the dunes. John told us that the mule - half donkey and half horse - hasn't learned how to adapt to living on the beach. For example, the horses do a "lazy walk" on the sand to file down their hooves. The mule doesn't know how to do that, so he has really long hooves that prevent him from moving quickly. Apparently, it also scares off the ladies because none of the mares have taken a liking to him. John wouldn't tell us all of this when we were this close to the mule, for fear of offending him: So we had to drive over here before he'd give us the scoop on why Mr. Mule was so sad. Look at him, he totally knows we are talking about him. I'll admit, I felt a little guilty :( After a couple of hours we bid farewell to the horses and drove back down sandy highway 12, which at this point was lined with trucks and people tailgating. We managed one more horse sighting (of sorts) before going back to town: My favorite part was the guy hanging out with his horse head in the background!
If you are ever in the Outer Banks and are looking for something a little different and I recommend Carolla Jeep Adventure's Horse Tour. Make sure you request John as your guide! Growing up, Chris and his family used to spend one week in North Carolina's Outer Banks every summer. The Outer Banks (OBX) continues to be a family favorite and we spent the week following the 4th of July in a cedar shingled house on the beach in Kitty Hawk. Au Revoir ArthurThe trip began a bit panicked because we were set to arrive on Friday, July 4th and hurricane Arthur was threatening to wreak havoc upon this thin barrier island. Those of you who know us probably aren't that surprised since Chris and I tend to attract hurricanes more than the average traveler. Luckily, Arthur made a quick appearance on Thursday, leaving minimal damage and by the time we arrived on Friday afternoon the sun was shining again. You can see in the picture below that the waves were still massive but the sun was out in full force! Getting There & General TipsIf you live in the mid-atlantic area, the best way to get to OBX is to drive (it's about 5 hours from DC). Most of us were coming from Boston which is a pretty long drive (almost 12 hrs!). Chris and I flew direct to Richmond where we rented a car and drove 3 hours to Kitty Hawk. One can also fly into Norfolk, which is only an hour drive and probably the best option, if you can find affordable tickets and direct flights. Driving from New England is not a bad idea if you can take a little extra time off to stop along the way (Baltimore, Annapolis or DC break up the drive nicely). Here are a few tips for planning a visit: 1) Get a house rental that starts on a Sunday, or better yet, a Friday. The traffic on Saturdays is horrendous because that is when most rentals turn over. 2) Consider staying in an area that is close to shops. One of us drove to the store daily and we were glad the market was around the corner. Plus we could walk to the drugstore and a yoga studio. Some homes are pretty far outside of town centers and it could take a half hour to get to the store, which means less time on the beach. 3) If you can swing it, rent a beach-front room/apartment/house. The view and breeze makes a huge difference. 4) If you plan to fish, get a fishing license for the week to avoid fines. You can pick one up at Walmart for $10. Activities:OBX is a really laid back destination and the main attraction is, as you probably guessed, the beach. You can rent kayaks and SUP boards, go scuba diving and even hang glide over the dunes! One year we rented a kayak and came face to face with a school of dolphins that stopped to hang out with us for a while. So what did we do for a week in OBX this year? We enjoyed the beach: We ate. A lot. We fished: We boiled (in a good way). We marveled at the spectacular sunset: We went on a wild horse safari (more on this later). We celebrated being together.
We spent five days over the 4th of July weekend in the Outer Banks with the Barbier family. Luckily, we arrived just hours after hurricane Arthur departed and Sir Arthur left stunning days and spectacular sunsets in his wake. Check out the beach in Kitty Hawk at sunset in the pictures below. Mother Nature sure does paint the best pictures! Stay tuned for more posts about the Outer Banks this week, including an adventure involving wild horses, a beach highway and a guy named Crazy John!
Vermont is one of those states that can be enjoyed any time of year and while many people consider peak season fall/winter for leaf peeping and skiing, I think it's most beautiful in the spring/early summer. I spent the last weekend in June with Chris and my parents hiking in western Vermont. We met at Merck Forest in Rupert where we started our day with a picnic lunch and then spent a few hours hiking through the property, which is home to many animals, stunning vistas of the Green Mountains, and webs of maple syrup tubes. Even if you aren't familiar with Merck Forest, you have likely heard of its benefactor - George Merck of Merck Pharmaceuticals. In the 1950s, George Merck donated 2,600 acres of land to be used for public use. Now Merck Forest & Farmland Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching innovative, sustainable management of forest and farmland. They offer a variety of activities such as hiking, camping, hunting, workshops and school programs. Southwest Vermont makes for a relaxing summer weekend destination. Merck Forest has a variety of trails for all levels and there are several other activities nearby: Manchester for shopping & dining, Dorset for golf & quarry jumping, and Lake Saint Catherine for swimming, boating, and fishing. Here are some pictures from our hike at Merck: After our hike, we stopped at the Battenkill Valley Creamery for some well-deserved ice cream (we were hiking for almost 3 hours!). It was a little out of the way but they have the most delicious black raspberry ice cream, so it was worth it. We brought a few pints back to our family's farm where we met my aunt who was also at the house for the weekend. It was nice to be back at the farm and to see the garden in full bloom. That night we saw a spectacular show from Mother Nature. The fireflies (or lightning bugs as I like to call them) were out in all their glory. At the farm, the nights sometimes get really dark - almost pitch black. We found a dark area where hundreds of blinking fireflies surrounded us, looking like glitter, falling in the air. It was a perfect ending to a wonderful summer day.
Happy Friday! I hope everyone has an adventure or two planned this weekend whether near or far from home. My last post from my spring Austin trip is simply of a handful of my favorite pictures I took while roaming around town. Big thanks to Leah and Ryan for being incredible hosts. Can't wait to come back!
Today I'm going to share a little adventure I had in Austin involving footwear. Cowboy boots to be specific. I recently watched the TV series Friday Night Lights and became an immediate fan of the fictional small town of Dillon, Texas and all the beautiful people that lived there. The characters often wore cowboy boots, so I decided to try them on since they looked so good on Lyla Garrity and Tammy Taylor (and let's not forget Tim Riggins)! My friend, Leah, took me the mecca of cowboy boots in Austin - Allen's Boots. This place is crammed with endless aisles of boots and if I couldn't find a pair I liked here, I doubt I could find a pair anywhere else. I learned a few things about cowboy boots: 1) They are difficult to get on. But once they are on, they are pretty comfortable. 2) If you are like me and have large feet in relation to your height, cowboy boots will not help your cause. I felt more like a kangaroo than a cowgirl and, I swear, I could have skied in these bad boys: 3) They come in all sorts of wild colors and designs. Bedazzled boots, y'all? 4) They are wicked expensive. The picture below is a little blurry but these boots costs $1,899.99. I chuckled at how they rounded down the price by a penny, like one cent helps the consumer rationalize the price. For this price I could buy at least FOUR roundtrip tickets to Austin! It turns out that cowboy boots are not for me. I must have tried on 20 pairs and I just couldn't rationalize the high price for boots I'd wear occasionally in Boston. Plus, a size 10 cowboy boot is HUGE and would eat up way too much space in my carry-on!
During my visit to Austin, my friend Leah recommended we check out the LBJ Presidential Library & Museum. While presidential libraries are typically not on the top of my trip list, I figured this one should be interesting because LBJ was president during one of the more pivotal eras in US history. LBJ passed a ton of legislation including the monumental Civil Rights Act. Leah was right, the museum did not disappoint! The first floor featured a fantastic exhibit about the 1960s - including music, bios of influential people, advertisements, scientific breakthroughs and pop culture references. It was impressive to see how much progress our country made during this decade. There was also the added bonus of classic rock and Motown tunes piping through the entire exhibit. I think Baby Boomers in particular, would enjoy this nice little stroll down memory lane. (Above) One hall of the 1960's exhibit featuring Hugh Hefner's pajamas. (Below) First issues of Rolling Stone magazine: Side note for Game of Thrones fans: Doesn't Theon Greyjoy look EXACTLY like a young Mick Jagger? Several exhibits were dedicated to the legislation LBJ passed (Civil Rights, Medicare, PBS to name a few). Of course, there was an entire section dedicated to the Vietnam war. The exhibit that most impressed Leah and me was an interactive situation room that put you in LBJ's shoes and asked you to make decisions about the Vietnam war based on actual reports from various advisors at the time. For example, you'd read three memos and listen to an actual phone call from a general and then the interactive desk would ask you if you should send more troops to Vietnam. In the picture below, Leah is contemplating her next move. The phone rang and the general's report was not good...more casualties. The top floor focused on his personal life, which was something I knew little about. For one, he was a bonafide close-talker. I suspect he didn't carry Tic-Tacs because the fine print said that he used close-talking as a method of intimidation. Perhaps this is the key to getting so many bills passed? I also read that he loved to give gifts and his favorite gift to bestow upon friends was an electric toothbrush. He once said "I give these toothbrushes to friends, for then I know that from now until the end of their days they will think of me the first thing in the morning and the last at night." My guess is that a staff writer wrote that line to cover up the real reason why he gifted electric toothbrushes - he wanted to ensure his friends had minty fresh breath to make his close-talking conversations more bearable. There were a few recordings of conversations between LBJ and his wife Lady Bird. I'm still a bit shocked that we had a FLOTUS named Lady Bird. Her real name was Claudia, but when she was young her nurse said she was as pretty as a lady bird and the nickname stuck. Her family called her "Lady" and her husband called her "Bird". She must have been quite the lady because LBJ proposed to her two days after they first met! She was an acute business person having invested her inheritance in local radio and TV stations in the 40s and 50s that eventually made the Johnsons millionaires. In fact, she was the first president's wife to become a millionaire in her own right. Here is Leah listening to Lady Bird giving LBJ a pep talk. Also worth mentioning for the design aficionados - Lady Bird kept a stylish office with pops of orange and gold: The top floor also featured footage from LBJ's daughter's wedding at the White House, which was fun to watch.
There is so much to see that one could spend several hours in the museum. After a couple hours, our stomachs began growling so we bid farewell to LBJ, Lady Bird and the 60's, pulled up directions to the nearest taco joint on our smartphones, and Googled our remaining questions, thankful for the modern conveniences that have been developed over the last 50 years. |
AuthorEva has been traveling for 15+ years, including an 8 month journey around the world. Archives
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