Greetings from Burlington, VT!

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Docked.

If you ever find yourself winding through the gorgeous tiny twisting turns of the autumn-time Adirondacks, you simply must make a pit stop at Walt’s Diner.

How can you drive by this?

Grab a stool at the counter between Tiny and Russ or Bob and the pregnant lady with her 80’s hair.  You’ll be able to eavesdrop (without trying) as the older guys–just a bit rough around the edges- flirt with the local waitresses- who are even rougher around the edges.  They all seem to be inflicted with a wet, loose phlegmn/smoker cough, but don’t worry, because they cough into the crooks of their arms and they will NEVER let your coffee cup empty below the halfway mark.  They sure will take care of you.  Each guy who walks through the front door nods or grunts a ‘hi’ to all the other guys at the counter and to the ladies in the greasy kitchen through the service window.  It’s the Adirondack’s ‘Cheers’  in diner form.  LOVE it.

Anticipating corned beef hash.

The dry erase board boasts after dinner delights from apple crisp to rice pudding–all of which are probably the best you’ll ever have.  Collections of cast iron skillets–ranging from doll house sized to larger than most stove-top sized–adorn the walls along with the locals’ wedding, prom and family photographs, newspaper clippings and little league shots.

Doughnutty

When you go, you’ll definitely want to order corned beef hash and watch the lady line cook season it up on the griddle while she flips a giant mickey mouse-eared pancake the size of Andre the Giant’s head with her other spatula.  Greg’s attention was so focused on the ingredients of the hash….  he is still talking about how good it was!  Get a side of real oatmeal doused with brown sugar, cream and raisins and a breakfast sandwich on a homemade roll to go.  You will not regret it.

It was just the slice of America I had been craving.  Makes me want to be a local somewhere.

If you then decide to head toward Burlington, Vermont like we did, you will pass through a billion lakes… so many they are named numerically.  Seventh Lake was my favorite–flanking either side of the road that lead us through itty bitty town after town.  Oh, and each town has it’s own boat shop, souvenir lodge, hardware store and coffee joint should you need anything.  Some have bait and tackle shops with clever names like ‘catch ya later’.

The roads are ours

The trees will get shorter as you ascend the mountains– and looking ahead, you’ll see snow-dusted hill tops!  We didn’t think it was possible, but our journey got even more gorgeous as we continued toward Vermont!  Greg and I could not stop marveling at the pristine stacks of firewood piled neatly in each home’s shed or carport.  We imagined their homes to smell of camp firey lodges year round.  There are tons of references to Moose and Lakes in each cabin’s name and although it may seem deserted, you won’t find one single house without a cozy swirl of smoke rising up from the chimney.  There must be a lot of knitters here.

100% Milkfat.

It's her downfall.

One last thing.  As you arrive in Burlington, you may want a new knit hat, because it’s super chilly and you’ll get an overwhelming urge to eat ice cream!