A Surprise Holiday

Friday, May 1, 2009

There’s no wireless Internet in the rooms at the Ascutney Mountain Resort and I’m not going to lug my laptop down to the lobby of the main building every time I want access, sooo… I won’t be able to follow the Blue Jays all week and my blog entries will just have to wait until I get home, which I must be now, since they are posted!

This trip was a last minute decision, partly to show that I could just up and away at a moment’s notice. Of course, there has to be a period of time without too many commitments, which there was.

Friday was a great day for traveling, overcast and warm but not hot and not much traffic – I left about 8am and arrived about 4:45pm. I stopped long

enough to take some pictures of the wind turbines in New York State, mainly because of the prospect of our getting a turbine farm just east of Cobourg. The Google map directed me via Highway 2 through the Lake Champlain Islands. A very pleasant drive at this time of year though it might be really slow in the summer holiday season. And the fabled green of Vermont is bursting out all over.

One of the bonuses for me of driving in the U.S. is being able to get NPR (National Public Radio) wherever you are. It always provides a sane and insightful view of the U.S political scene as well as fascinating documentaries. For most of the trip I was able to get the CBC as well.

When I decided I wanted to get away I didn’t really mean no Internet AND no sports channels! But that’s the way it is. Yet, not all is lost. On the way into the town of Windsor to do grocery shopping I passed the recreation area and there were two ball teams practicing. Evidently they are a couple of weeks ahead of Ontario and games start next week. I’ll be there, no doubt. Another good thing on that little trip – the checkout clerk at Price Chopper gave me the “have you got a card?” discount even though I hadn’t, and saved me $6.70. The whole week’s groceries cost less than $45US.

And now I’m back at the resort, TV on - just running, and then on comes “The Rookie”, a famous Walt Disney baseball movie that I have never seen!

Saturday

Had a wonderful sleep-in this morning. What started out as another dull day has turned out beautifully. In the late morning I went back to Windsor and spent some time on the Internet at the library. Among other things I began researching the possibility of a trip into Boston. That might well happen, but they’re forecasting showers all week, and if I go I’m planning on seeing a Red Sox game!

Across a brook from the resort is the little village of Brownsville – the very little village of Brownsville (the library’s hours: 2-5pm on Fridays). However, the town hall is really quite handsome and the primary school modern with an impressive playground which was being used by two toddlers when I strolled by. It was suggested to me that there might have been more children if they hadn’t been out that morning keeping Vermont green (i.e. picking up garbage). Before I leave I must see if anyone knows why it’s called Brownsville. By the time the library opens I’ll be well on my way home.

Sunday, May 03, 2009

I arrived at church just in time, as usual. The congregation numbered about 20 with no young people and no choir. We were spread pretty thin. If I lived here I’d find another place to worship, mainly because of the pews! It’s an historic church high-backed, doored pews that have no place for your heels to go if you try to kneel. Money is being raised for restoration but as the building is “designated” none of the money raised will go to changing the pews. I can’t imagine young families ever being drawn to St. Paul’s, Windsor.

Part of the fundraising is a monthly after-church brunch. (Perhaps another ten parishioners were downstairs preparing during service.) It draws patrons from miles around and I got into conversation with a number of “regulars”. Though unexpected by me, the food was great except for some rock-hard cinnamon buns. When I mentioned them to the rector he quickly decided on a plan of non-involvement!

Not far from Windsor is the Rockefeller-financed Billings Farm and Museum. Today happened to be the annual plowing championship and, since the World’s Plowing Championship was once held in Cobourg, I felt a moral obligation to attend. It was great. I’m really happy with my pictures and the museum provided a couple of ideas for our Heritage Centre as well.

Then it was off to the Hood Museum of Art at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, just about a half-hour drive away. It’s quite small but has an impressive collection. Current exhibitions included Tapis (ceremonial sarongs) from South Sumatra, Wabanaki Ash Splint Baskets from Main, and Portraits Painted During Conversations with 51 Local Personalities – quite a variety! Oh, and there is never an entrance fee and on Sundays no charge for parking. What a deal!

I didn’t take the time to look around Hanover but it looks like another typically pleasant New England college town with a green in the middle. Is that damning with faint praise? It’s not meant to be.

It looks like the trip to Boston is falling into place, but they are still forecasting rain.