On to Vermont

We tried for another early start and did OK I suppose, but it was a pretty late night last night. I forgot to take any pictures of our campsite near Niagara Falls, but there was a big lake about 20 feet behind HQ that had big bouncy things in the water that the kids desperately wanted to play on. Since we wanted to get an early start and you had to pay $15 if you checked out after 11:00, we told them they could swim in the morning. However, along our route to Acadia, there is an awesome swimming hole that Stacey found a few months ago (swimming hole pic), so we let them decide where they would rather swim: here at the lake or at the awesome, amazing swimming hole, which I was voting for. They decided on the swimming hole.

On the way to the swimming hole, Stacey calls and finds out that all New York public swimming areas close after Labor Day, which was yesterday, except for perhaps the following weekend. The kids are bummed and I think they suspect I tricked them. We never would have guessed that since you can pretty much swim in Texas through October.

Anyway, after Stacey's research in the car, we've settled on trying to reach Quechee Gorge, a picturesque gorge in far eastern Vermont. It'll be over 400 miles today and since we left pretty late, it will be a late night of driving. We have not arrived anywhere after dark yet. Should be fun.

Another lesson learned today: double check the truck navigation system which has a nasty habit of directing us through small town roads to cut a corner from one highway to the next. This has sent us directly into signs saying, "Bridge ahead: 10ft max." I had to turn around in a church parking lot and revert to Stacey's phone map to get us back on a bigger road. There aren't as many major highways up here so it's easy to get routed to a smallish road. Seeing 18 wheelers going by is actually reassuring.

We arrived in Vermont and found a picture spot at a small rest area that was closed. It had a lot of landscaping and pretty flowers.

There were some great winding roads through Vermont that just had to be beautiful, but it was dark and we felt like we were missing out. Can't wait to see the countryside in the morning.

I don't remember what time we arrived at Quechee Gorge State Park, but it was dark. Not getting dark, but an hour or two after dark, so backing HQ into our spot was not fun. It probably took us 30 minutes and I think I'm actually pretty good at it. The spot was wide enough, but the approach road was narrow so the truck would swing out into the trees. Anyway, we got it in, but it's too late for pictures. It's an isolated spot and you can hear the animals...I love it.