Vermont - Fall 2025
Both my wife and myself work in data science. It’s a demanding field, so this vacation felt like a real escape from a hectic, out of control world. We went to Duxbury Vermont and stayed a few days at an off-grid cabin at the end of a mountainous road. The airbnb host let me know this and confirmed I possessed a vehicle capable of climbing this mountain. Would my Subaru make it?
Waking up in an off grid cabin in Vermont
We arrived a few hours after sunset. We had to take it on faith that the car would make it up the steep, unpaved hills. We took it slow and the Subaru made it. As we drove up, we were followed by a Toyota that turned out to be the hosts. We said hi in the dark, from a distance, to our hosts. The next morning, we woke up to this copse of trees shining in long-wave sunrise light. We came here for autumnal colored leaves, and Vermont already delivered on the first morning. The night before was a matter of adjusting to a low-connectivity life. Phones not working, we played Jenga and listened to Dream of the Blue Turtles by Sting on the turntable.
Dan, unable to use the internet, thinks over a Jenga move
Truffle in the Cabin in the Morning
The closest tourist attraction to our cabin was the Ben and Jerry’s factory in Waterbury. They have a flavor graveyard where all the flavors no longer produced are memorialized. Here is Vermonty Python which was produced from 2006 to 2008.
Vermonty Python memorial in the Flavor Graveyard
Flavor inspired by the Dude’s favorite drink
Ben and Jerry’s factory provided information and, for those more prepared than we were, a factory tour. We got to visit the gift shop and I bought a rainbow scoop t-shirt and an insulated bag. The painted bus provided a fun backdrop for photos.
Dan and Tao and their cow patterned dog
Truffle being a good boy
We got the purple flavor
Next we drove up the road to Stowe. The town was very crowded likely full of leaf peepers such as myself. The town church is iconic in photos of Stowe, so I captured it from across the street with perspective craning upward, shrinking the top of the tower. To me, it looks like New England.
The church in Stowe, VT
View from the recreation trail in Stowe
The last hike of the day was short. We hiked over steep terrain from a parking lot on a dirt road. The land has signs that remind you to respect the rights of the land owner. That is, this lake is on private land, so the owners could ask us to leave if we aren’t respectful. The lake is beautiful especially because of the orange and yellow trees in the midst of change. The cliff has a few levels, so I moved to the lowest, furthest point I could. Truffle was scared and whining when he saw me disappear over the edge. Dogs, especially herding dogs, always wants to be near. It reminds me he is a smart creature who remembers.
Nichols Pond
For lunch we stopped at Alchemist. They have amazing beers on tap. We take a photo of the dog. Lunch is provided by a food truck. We get pork, rice and peas, and tostones. It’s a bit cold, but the food and beer are good. Truffle wraps his leash around our picnic table, unable to sit still.
Alchemist Brewery
Aluminum cups for outdoor use at Alchemist
Mural at Alchemist Brewery
Next day we traveled to Burlington to see the lake. Lake Champlain is big, but not so wide that you cannot see the other side. New York is on the other side. You can drive around the lake or take a ferry. While we chose to drive to our next destination, we spent some time by the lake admiring the deeply blue. Truffle was excited by the smell of the bagel sandwiches we were carrying. The visitor center has an exhibit on Champ, the fictional plesiosaur said to inhabit the lake.
Tao and Truffle by Lake Champlain
Our next destination is Port Henry, NY.
