Yes, I know. You want to be there, too.
Hubby and I put the top down on the old sports car and drove to Vermont. Winding back roads all the way. The weather was glorious, big puffy clouds and a bright blue sky. We’re fans of real maps that show you more than ‘how to get there’. No GPS for this trip, just finding the least traveled roads on our old fold-out map.
We were kids again, not caring if the wind blew our hair or if we we were lost. We had a map, we were good to go. Time was unimportant- a rare thing these days. I was writing poetry in my head. I was singing, everything from Frank Sinatra to the Beatles. I was thinking of my children at school and what I could bring to the table.
We both love history. As we drove over mountain after mountain (no wonder it’s called the green mountain state), we talked about the pioneers who traveled west. Surely, when they crossed one mountain they thought “this is it”, only to see more mountains to cross.
Cool rock fact: Everything to the west of the Green Mountains is marble. Everything to the east is granite. I learned that at the Vermont Marble Museum some years ago.
Vermont is beautiful. Period. Cities are charming, towns are friendly, and you can find everything from agriculture to art. It was a perfect drive, our summer getaway.
We actually had an ulterior motive, visiting the Bennington Museum in Bennington (Part 2). Grandma Moses was the driving force in the best of ways. Oh, yes! Stay tuned.
Jennie
A Teacher's Reflections 
that’s exactly how i imagined it! thanks for taking us along on your free-wheeling road trip, jennie. i look forward to seeing more –
I’m glad you came along for the ride. Thanks, Beth.
Vermont is a great getaway. I’m glad you had the opportunity.
Thanks, Dan. It was wonderful.
I long to visit those areas. The history is so rich. I’m so happy you two hit the road~what a freedoms felt! Keep having fun!
It is, indeed! And thank you.
You’re welcome!
🙂
Quechee?
No, although we love that part of the state. We went north to Brattleboro to start, then west to Arlington, north as far as Rutland, and back east along route 103 (where I took the video). I thought of you, Liz.
I wasn’t quite sure! Thanks for thinking of me. Vermont is in my blood.
You’re welcome, Liz. 🙂
I would have loved that drive! I used to leave work on a nice Fall Friday afternoon with a full tank of gas, my camera and a need to get lost. I would drive the back road for hours. Yep, I would get lost.
Ah, how wonderful! Thanks, Pam.
Thanks for the virtual trip, Jennie. Hugs on the wing!
Thanks for coming along, Teagan! Hugs. 😍
I can see why they called it ‘New England’. We have a Rutland here too of course.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rutland I think it is the smallest county in England.
Best wishes, Pete.
New England shares many of England’s names. I think that’s a good thing.
What an awesome road trip. The scenery is amazing!
It was awesome, Darlene. Thanks for coming along for the ride. 🙂
Wonderful road trip! Now I know about the marble/granite split… Lovely share all around and a great way to get away!
Thank you, Bette. I’m glad learning about the marble/granite split struck you, too. It was a great getaway!
Thanks for the beautiful drive, what fun, not knowing where we were going.
You are welcome. And yes, what fun! We all need to let go and have fun on occasion.
Looks like a nice trip. I thought you were going off the road at the end of that video!
Haha! It was a wonderful trip. More to come. 😀
How exciting. Sounds like a great trip.
It was exciting. Zooming on back roads in the country (feeling very small by very big mountains) with the top down once a year is about as good as it gets.
😊
We never rely on electronics on drives like that. The one time I forgot the maps we were hopelessly lost in far Western Connecticut on the New York border. In fact I said if we went any further we would be in New York. And then we were! No cell service in lots of places in New England.
It was delightful not to be at the mercy of electronics. Just like the old days.
And my mind still needs the big picture of a map to navigate successfully anyway.
Yes! YES!!
Have fun, Jennie. I miss VT soooo much. I loved living there. Enjoy your drive and the museum. 🙂
It was fabulous, Diana. Thank you! I’m sure living there was a great part of your life. More to come!
Ahhhh. Felt the wind in my hair and the sunshine on my skin. Nice.
I’m glad you did, Laura! Thanks so much. 🙂
That sounds like a magical day, Jennie. Mapping was one of my favorite units to teach. I love GPS, but there is always a tradeoff with technology. Let’s hope that we don’t dumb society down into pushing buttons and asking Siri questions.
It was magical, Pete. I love using my big map book in school. It is Geography 101 for preschoolers. We get sidetracked on everything from oceans to direction to weather. I do hope that it helps to create a broader understanding and not just a push button culture.
Thanks for the beautiful drive, Jennie! What a wonderful day you had.
Thanks for coming along on the drive, Becky. 🙂
Love a good fold out map. We have these amazing maps – OS, short for ordnance survey – and they give you so much information. Learning to read them has been as useful as learning to read. The stories are short but always compelling and endlessly fascinating… ah, I’m with you already Jennie
Yes! People who don’t have the ‘real’ maps have no idea what they’re missing. They only see the here and now on their GPS. I must look up the OS maps. Best to you, Geoff.
They started I think around the napoleonic wars. They are true works of art… https://shop.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/
Thank you, Geoff! These millennials have no idea what real car travel is.
This sounds like a fun trip, Jennie. It is great to relax and really let your hair down.
Indeed it was! 😀
Have to take your word for it but the photos have a lot to say. Never made it to Vermont but would still love to one day. Hope you had fun. Looks like a can’t miss place.
If you like ‘nothingness’, just mountains and big sky, it is heavenly. The older I get the more I love wide open spaces with beautiful ‘nothingness’. Thank you, Marlene. It was so much fun!
I am SO jealous!!! Thank you for sharing your trip … I LOVE it!!!
I’m so glad you came along for the ride, Jill!!!
It was great fun!!!
😀
Wow! This is the way i would make a journey through the USA.
It should be one of your “must drives” on a USA journey. 🙂
Think so too, Jennie! 😉 A car without a rooftop seems to be essential. For sure also great music. 😉 Thank you Jennie! Enjoy your day! Michael
Sorry, WP is always unfollowing me.
Definitely essential, Michael! Many thanks.
:-))
Thanks for taking us along Jennie.. lovely state and have shared the link on Wednesday.. look forward to part two..hugsx
That’s so nice, Sally. Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it. 🙂 Part 2 is posted for tomorrow morning.
Wonderful Jennie will look forward to it..hugs
I hope you like Grandma Moses. And remember Milly? Hugs to you, Sally! 😍
Of course I remember Milly…♥
I’m so glad you do, Sally. She was the best. Boy, did we have quilting adventures. You would have loved her.
Vermont is beautiful. ‘Back when…’ (highschool) my father, brothers and I would spent November weekends at my aunts camp in Tunbridge, deer hunting. Absolutely loved it.
Yes, indeed! I’m glad you have those memories. And, those back roads show off the beauty, especially with the top down in the car.
(I got interrupted) Have a wonderful trip, Jennie. I’ll look forward to more. Also, hope you’re having a relaxing summer.
Thanks, Steve! 😀
Jennie, this is lovely! Have a wonderful trip!
Thank you, Charles!
And you take us for a lovely ride along a twisting country road… Thank you!
Thanks for coming on the ride, Sarah! It is a beautiful state.
how wonderful!!
Thank you, Michele. It was!
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Thank you, Sally!
So very beautiful, Jennie! Glad you and your husband enjoyed this road trip together. Mind if I join you singing Sinatra and the Beatles?
And thanks for the cool rock fact. 😉
Thank you, Sarah. It was wonderful. Definitely a cool rock fact, too. Yes, please join the singing!! 😀
Beautiful state. We visited in the fall about 20 years ago, after attending a wedding in New Hampshire.
It really is, Sharon. I bet much of what you saw hasn’t changed.
So pretty! 🙂🙂
Thank you!
So besutiful!
It is a beautiful state.