Checking out the Dead

Saturday morning was a walk in the park...a park of collected history of those who have graced the earth before us.  This beautiful large cemetery situated along the Lake Champlain lake shore was filled with big old pines, oaks, and hydrangea trees with blossoms the color of rosy cheeks. The memorial stones varied in size and shape and wear.  Once passed the honor guard of cedars, the rolling hills of history of those before us played out like a movie script of inscriptions and dates. 

Some writing was just a ghostly outline with lichen accents or tilted to the side as if someone underneath was turning over (must have been something I said).  Embellishments, flourishes and patterns are everywhere to inspire creativity. And yeah, here the fox and the badger finally get along...

This cemetery had the best memorial I have ever seen; an adorable life size ski chalet complete with granite skis out front for Jann and Chuck Perkins.  The inscription on the east side bronze plaque tells the story of this couple who had met and married sometime around the 40's and around the 60's opened a ski shop in Burlington, VT.  They enjoyed many successful years of business along with ski trips all over the world. Their two children said their wish was to have a tiny chalet for a resting place:

The plaque on the west of the chalet displayed quotes that inspired them:

It's amazing to think of the number of people that have paved the way before us, each a hero in his or her own way for surviving the vicissitudes of life. Some of them have stories being passed down through their next generation, some lives are lost like pebbles in the bottom of the river, part of the essence of earth but not occupying space in a living person's memory.  But could it be that every memory is just a bit of energy that pulses through the atmosphere still clinging to the trees and ground and air?

Tears, idle tears, I know not what they mean, 

Tears from the depths of some devine despair

Rise in the heart, and gather to the eyes,

In looking on the happy autumn fields,

And thinking of the days that are no more.”

― Alfred Tennyson

With little time to waste since we needed to pack up and head out of town later today, we headed back to the Colchester causeway to ride out to the bike ferry which would take us to Grand Isle on Lake Champlain.  Though the day was gray it had that lovely wet dirt smell of autumn.  We waited patiently for the ferry to bump into the dock and were greeted by a furry ferry greeter, Molly, who sat at my feet for the ride.  

Molly, the foot warmer...

The boat's captain told us they bring 300 people a day over on the ferry at the height of the summer months. The cost is $8/person for an all day pass, back and forth as many times as you want.  The ferry is equipped to hold about 20 people and bikes at a time. Our bikes are parked and ready for departure... 

The trip only takes about 5 minutes and once on the other side the trail is just crushed gravel out to country roads but it hugs the outer shores of Lake Champlain.

About three miles around the West side of the island we came to our first rest stop, Snowflake Winery.  And gee, after that loooooong and rigorous ride on the country road, FINALLY (sarcastic font inserted)... 

How nice of the Grand Isle to strategically place a winery!

We had packed a picnic lunch so chowed our sandwiches at the winery (with wine of course) and then headed back since there wasn't much else to see (the island is mostly farms with a small downtown). The captain was telling us on the way back that he was building his own camper on a flat bed trailer.  Another adventure in the making, at least he has a foot warming dog for cold nights.  

We sadly said goodbye to Burlington and headed south on HWY 7 toward Bennington.  On the way we passed through several cute New England towns, Shelbourne, Middleberry, Rutland, and admired the solar panel fields along the way, some complete with grazing animals. 

We made it to the Bennington Walmart and had the whole parking side lot almost to ourselves...only one other RV. Now let's see if we can capture and good images for the www.peopleofwalmart.com site...kidding, had enough exciting activity for the day!