Catch up -- Part 3 - Burlington to Saratoga in pictures

Let's finish up this catch up with some pictures. Breakfast at MacDonalds. This was the food, but I thought the shapes were more interesting.

It was cold. We checked out the lakeside (Lake Champlain) and got a good history lesson. Back in the day, the Lake was the main transportation link. These were happening places. Fought over in various wars. I think it was all downhill after the railroads and highways came through.

Coffee to warm up at Uncommon Ground. The local independent coffee shop directly across the Church Street pedestrian mall from Starbucks. Warm and welcoming, but we had to be quick to snag a seat.

The best meal of the day was in Vergennes, VT, which as Susan discovered is the smallest city in the state. Lunch at 3 Squares was a pleasant surprise. Unfortunately, I have no pictures for you. (Actually, I took some, but I'm not willing to share). The highlight of Vergennes was the shoe store. High end shoes from small manufacturers that I'd never heard of. The prices on the bottoms were all over $200. The salesman was dressed in a three-piece suit with black shirt, and was very proud of his shoes.

Middlebury. Home of Middlebury College. But also home to perhaps the greatest loaf of bread I'd ever tasted -- Otter Creek Bakery.

Did you know that John Deere got his start in Middlebury, Vermont?



Brandon Motor Lodge. A roadside motel run by a young couple with two little children including a newborn.  Simple, welcoming.  More than you'd expect from the basic look from the street.

Common Ground Bakery and Cafe in Cambridge, NY. Susan and I discovered this place about four years ago, before it even opened. The Twelve Tribes, a Christian communal living group had a festival in the park by the railroad tracks as we were driving through Cambridge. Terrific food. A spectacular tour bus with handcrafted woodwork inside. Some people call them a cult. The women all wear simple cotton dresses and the men all have short bobbed pony tails. The food is wholesome and tasty. The people are always gentle and calm. It's nice to have a place in Cambridge, NY that you can look forward to eating at. Beware though -- their closed on Saturday for sabbath. And Sunday too.





More Common Ground Pics here.

The final bit of drive to Saratoga Springs was treacherous. 2-4" of snow may not seem like much, but I think the state and the towns were preserving their budget. It was slippery, especially in Susan's little Prius.