On Saturday, Dad, Cristina, and Carman left, along with Tim, Kate, Janson, Owen, Jeff, Shiela & kids. So the folks left were Ted, Craig, Cori, Jeremy, Nicki, Keagan, Matt, Emily, Jimmy, Paul, Anne, Nancy, and Becky. Some people (Jeff, Tim, Ted, others) played disc golf that morning. Matt, Emily, Paul and I decided to hike from Smugglers' Notch to Sterling Pond. This is a really nice hike. It is steep, but the footing is very good and it is not particularly long (1.2 miles). It is also a very pretty hike.
Along the way we met the McNamara clan hiking. Paul and I enjoyed keeping Jack company for a while, talking about wine.
The pond was lovely and popular (particularly since this was a Saturday).
Past the pond the hiking book said that there is an outlook. This is true. It is actually the top of some ski runs associated with Smugglers' Notch. (The sun was really bright, hence our squints.)
There is a 'hut' there, with an interesting sign outside of it (which Matt proceeded to flout). Inside was a couch suspended on rope. Rather odd.
I never knew that ski lifts were counterbalanced for tension.
A couple pictures from our descent:
Ted wanted to go to a brew pub for supper. For some reason, Nicki and Keagan weren't interested, so they stayed back at the lodge with Corinne, Jeremy, Nancy, and Becky.
The rest of us went to Waterbury and The Alchemist Pub and Brewer. There was a slight wait for a table, so we wandered around Waterbury, stopping on the deck of another place.
Back at the Alchemist, the beer was good (although not as good as the one in Burlington in my very unexpert opinion). The tempeh sandwich I had was spectacular. Emily ordered a Pineapple Gaspacho Soup. She dipped her bread in, took a bite, and declared that she would not be able to eat it. Matt, Ted, and Craig did manage to eat it. However, it was incredibly garlicky, they report. We could smell it.
Matt was sporting a beard for the week.
We left Sunday morning and went to The Dutch Pancake Cafe (which was attached to the Grey Fox Inn, but no longer seems open as of 2020). Thanks to Tim for recommending it. Not inexpesive, but very good and different. Both Paul and I ordered the Blueberry and Banana Dutch Pancake. In case you don't know what a Dutch pancake is, it is a puffed pancake. ISf you want to create one for yourself:
You-Tube how-to video
(And no, I haven't tried it at home myself.)
We hope you enjoyed these photographs.
Updated July 2020