Vermont!!! Back in the USA again!

We had the music playing and I was singing and dancing with Norman!

 Well we are back in the states again.  Its only a few hours from Quebec but there is something about being home in your own country!  The border crossing was a breeze and we settled in at our campground called Lone Pine.  We set up camp and headed into downtown Burlington to walk down Church street the local hangout for dinner and local music.  We were not disappointed when we got their either.  There were several street musicians playing anything from the guitar to an accordion and even a didgeridoo, which I found to be quite interesting.  The guy playing the didgeridoo was a one man band sitting on a box that was actually an acoustical bass box which he tapped with his hand and a tambourine on his shoe. I sat and listened for several songs and you could really see how this area is a local favorite.  We brought our form of entertainment with Norman!  Many people stopped us to ask what type of dog Norman is and so on.

The next morning, we went to the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory and took a short tour for the kids.  Bryson ended up buying a teddy bear with a little coaching from Kaylee of course.  The rest of the day was spent running errands.  The next day, we also spent running errands, and doing normal everyday stuff.  Sometimes you just want to do that normal everyday stuff.  We did decide to stop at Friendly's for lunch, because Karen has been telling me about it everytime we pass one.  She used to go there as a kid with her friends.   Kaylee and Bryson loved it.  Friendly's has all there favorites, from mozzerlla sticks to Mac and Cheese and a kids meal includes an ice cream dessert.  Lunch was experience on its own. 

The following day we spent mulling around the campground until afternoon  and I decided to go to a local swimming hole to just get out and do something.  It was an amazing place to go swimming with waterfalls and deep swimming holes all carved out of the granite mountain side. The water was cool, clear and quite refreshing ,after all it was 95 degrees out. We planned on staying there for a while except for one thing! Norman!  Norman was so worked up about all the jumping and splashing he couldn't stop howling and we had to cut the trip short. Poor Karen spent the whole time trying to get Norman to be quiet and never had a chance to swim.  The next day we drove to New Hampshire to visit the Franconian Notch and the Flume, two well known attractions in the heart of ski country.

While driving to New Hampshire I stopped at a small gas station to fill up with diesel and use the restroom.  While walking through the gas station I found several pints of raspberries picked by a local elderly lady. I scooped up a pint which Karen and the kids gobbled up in no time.  Upon arrival we found out Norman was not allowed in either place, so Karen and Kaylee waited for Bryson and I to go to the top of the Mountain via a gondola, at Franconian Notch.  From there we drove to the Flume and I took the kids once again while Karen waited outside.  The Flume is a river that runs through very large granite walls on either side and has a nice 1-1/2 mile trail and stair case that runs right up the side of the river/waterfall.  On the top of the waterfall the kids and I took our shoes off and sat there with our feet in the water! 

The next morning, we drove into Stowe to see the Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Factory and take the tour. While at Ben and Jerry's I spotted my next barbecue grill!  It was a portable brick oven that they were cooking pizzas in!  I think one would make a nice addition to the back porch of our house when we get home!  I'm sure I can search google for some plans to build one. After leaving Ben and Jerry's  we headed deeper into Stowe looking for some of the maple sugar houses and a local Alpine slide.  This time I let Karen and Bryson go down the Alpine slide because Kaylee really didn't want to go on it and Karen sat out all the activities the day before.  After the slide we found a local sugar house that makes maple syrup and we took a small tour to learn how they make maple sugar. Real maple sugar is definitely an acquired taste!  I think our family is going to stick to the imitation Log Cabin syrup.  Last stop, another trip to the swimming hole, without Norman!  The weather was hot and water was cool and we had a great time!  All in all we really enjoyed Vermont and now its time to head to Lake George in upstate New York!

Quebec!

Karen doesn't look like shes having fun order food in french!

"Bonjour" is how we are greeted when in Quebec!  To this I reply with "hello" to let the locals know I have no idea how to speak French.  On our tow into Quebec a car pulled up next to us and they started asking us something in French and I just said "No French" and they switched to English.  I'm completely amazed how they can switch from one language to another and quite frankly a little ashamed we only speak one language!  People from all around the world speak English as a second or third language an we can only speak one.  On to Quebec!  After finding our campground and setting up we ran into some nice people who gave us some pointers on a ferry ride into the city and a beautiful waterfall nearby. 

The next morning we were up and at it heading into Quebec via the ferry.  From the ferry ride you could spot the wall around what looked like a fortress and some beautiful castle like structures.  Once the ferry landed Karen found a map and got her bearings, so off we went exploring the city.  The weather was beautiful, so we brought Norman along and as usual he was a star with the crowds.  We had some lunch at a nice little place where we could sit out in the streets with Norman.  After lunch we wandered the streets and got a good overview of the city and luck would have it there was a Metallica concert that evening, so the streets were packed with some very loud and intoxicated people!  Norman got a little spooked by one who wanted to serenade us a Metallica song in French.  No harm, no foul, though and we moved on.  We spent most of the day just roaming the streets.  We felt as if we were walking down the streets of Paris! 

The next morning, we woke up and headed to a waterfall called, Parc de la Chute-Montmorency.  We traveled about 45 minutes from the campground.  It was a great setup where you can walk over the top of the waterfall, via a suspension bridge and then down the side of the mountain, via a  man made staircase.  Once on the bottom of the falls you can walk pretty close to the base and feel the spray coming off the rocks.  The power of the falls is amazing and the sound of all the rushing water is deafening.  From the bottom we walked over to a cable drawn tram that brings you back up the mountain.  We had a great time at this place and I even had a chance to kick the shoes (flip flops) off and just relax in the beautiful weather. 

Time for lunch and Karen wanted some fast (cheap) food as everything in Quebec is expensive.  Karen thought it would be fun to try going through the drive through and order some burgers.  I on the other hand didn't think that was a "fun" thing to do as I was the one who was going to be doing the ordering.  I promptly stopped the truck in the drive-through and switched spots. Karen started her order in French then they replied with a whole lot of french and she looked at me for help and I said "This is fun isn't it?" The lady figured out quickly we didn't speak enough French, so she instructed us to drive to the second window.  I give Karen credit for trying though and she was a trooper even at the window trying to get the order straight.  All in all we had a great time in Quebec and would definitely go back!

Fort Louisbourg & Halifax Nova Scotia!

The trip to Fortress Louisbourg was our last visit in the Cape Breton area and it started out 55 degrees and gloomy! All the while, I'm reading about my fellow Atlantan's and Floridians melting in the heat.  We bundled up for the weather and headed to the fortress!  On the way, we decided to stop and grab a bite to eat at Tim Hortons - to see what they are all about.  It turns out they are a cross between a Dunkin Donuts and a Burger King.  We picked up breakfast and headed to the bench where Bryson promptly did an "Endo," a term used when ones feet go over their head and they fall face first!  Bryson is...a little bit accident prone.  We still have no idea what caused him to go flying head first over the bench and under the table. 

After picking him up off the bench, we ate breakfast and headed to Louisbourg. The entrance of Fortress Louibourg had the smell of christmas trees because it was lined with Spruce and Fir trees.  The Spruce and Fir trees grow everywhere up here and it took weeks for me to stop pointing them out and saying "look at all the christmas trees."  The Fortress was beautiful and we saw them shoot the muskets and learned about how good the fishing was and even sampled some of the bread they would of made back in the day!  It was like a brick but surprisingly had good flavor!  We had a great day just strolling through the Fortress and taking in the sights.

The next day we made a trip into Baddeck to see the Alexander Graham Bell Museum.  It was small but interesting.  Yes he did invent the telephone, but the museum seemed to go into greater detail about his other inventions especially his kites for use in flying machines.  They spend a lot of time talking about how the kites were not successful...thought they should have focused on the telephone instead.  Next, we headed to the kids area to watch a science experiment presentation. Kaylee raised her hand high to be picked to volunteer for the experiment.   She was not chosen for the first experiment.  The museum staff was doing the drop a boiled egg in a milk bottle experiment. After 3 failed attempts at trying to get a boiled egg to fall into a milk bottle, the museum employee accidently dropped the fire lit napkin on the table and then flapped her hands around trying to get the fire out.  After nearly setting the museum on fire, the women finally succeeded with the experiment and the egg fell in.  They then asked for volunteers for the next experiment.  Kaylee's hand was firmly stuck to her side, there was no way she was going up there after the fire incident.

 

SOMETHING HAPPENED on the way to Halifax!  Halifax was about 4 hours from Cape Breton,  so the next day we woke up early, broke camp and hightailed it down to Halifax! When traveling with kids you have to be flexible and creative for all situations!  Well, we are rolling down the highway and we hear "Daddy, I have to go to the bathroom", so because it came from Bryson the problem is usually solved quickly with an empty water bottle.  Just plug him in and no need to stop the truck!  Well, as I'm driving, Karen plugs him in to go pee and after 20 seconds or so I hear Kaylee scream and then Karen starts screaming!!!!  Guess what happened?  You got it, the bottle fell off and Bryson didn't stop peeing!  I looked over to see Karen wiping pee off her chin and spitting in a napkin!  Bryson peed in Karen's face, mouth, the roof of the truck and centerconsole!  Karen was actually laughing, so hard she was crying so was Bryson and I!  Kaylee on the other hand didn't think it was so funny.  I looked at Karen and said "You know that's going into the blog"! 

We went to Halifax, because Norman was scheduled to ride his scooter.  Norman's show was planned for 4:45pm in Halifax, so we got up 1st thing in the morning and headed to a place called Peggy's cove.  It was a picturesque little fishing village built on top of a granite shelf left behind by retreating glaciers millions of years ago!  We spent the day walking through this little village and then out on the granite coastline by the lighthouse.  There was a lady playing the bag pipes and we stopped to take in a few songs and then she stopped to ask if she could pet Norman.  Norman got recognized by a local who saw the  news show's tease from the day before.  We told the man that Norman would be live tonight and he went around telling anyone who was walking by about Norman.  He was recognized about 3 other times that day.  Time was ticking so we had to make our way back to Halifax and get Norman to work!  We arrived 30 minutes early and the kids and I stayed in the truck while Norm and Karen went in to perform.  She said Norman did great and that the staff was really friendly and accomodating to them.

One note as we leave Halifax.  This city was very frustrating for me to drive in!  The roads were very tough to navigate even with Karen manning the maps!  They have pedistrian lights everywhere for which anyone wanting to cross the street pushes the button and the light flashes yellow! I could be cruising down a street and out of the blue someone starts walking across the road right in front of you.  These signs are not necessarily in the middle of intersections and can be very random, so you really have to be on your toes!  The people also act like hey I'm in the cross walk and I don't even have to look to see if your slowing down!  

Lets just say I was glad to get out of Halifax from a driving perspective!