Birthday Move - (Johnson, VT)

Yes, today is my 53rd birthday.  Thanks everyone for the very kind birthday wishes.  :)

After my last 3-mile run on the Thetford Academy/Thetford State Park cross-country trail, I headed back to the rig, finished my workout, and started getting the outside of the rig ready to go while Linda finished her morning coffee.

Today, we were doing a 105-mile drive north to Maplewoods Campground just outside the town of Johnson.  We're going to spend a few days exploring the northern Green Mountains before moving into New Hampshire.

We left around noon and went south on I-91 and then north on I-89.  Again, the Vermont interstates are great - not too much traffic and wonderful scenery.

We exited on VT Hwy 100.  Unfortunately, the northern part of Hwy 100 is a much worse road than the southern section we were on yesterday.  We continued on 100 through the tourist town of Stowe and then Morrisville eventually coming to Hwy 100C toward Johnson.  A few minutes later, we found the RV park sitting up on a hill to our right.

There are mountains all around Maplewoods.

 

 

 

We were assigned to Site 52, a site out in the open with a large "yard".

 

 

  

We have a view of some of the mountains in the background past a few RVs.

 

 

We have full hook-ups with 50-amp electric, and satellite is no problem.  After getting set up, I walked around and took a few more photos.

 

 

 

This RV park is only about five years old and they are still adding sites.  

As the afternoon went on, I told Linda I wanted to go to a little local restaurant for dinner - an unusual request for me, and the choice was even more unusual ... for me.  About five miles from the campground, on a country road just outside Johnson is the Fledermaus Teahouse.

The teahouse is in a hand-crafted carriage barn that was built by the owner over a decade or so.  During construction of the barn, a Little Brown Bat lived there and Fledermaus is the German word for "bat".  Fledermaus Teahouse gets great reviews and, although it's not really the type of fare I would seek out, it just looked like an interesting place.

We arrived early in the evening and had the place to ourselves.  I took several photos before going inside and meeting Glenn.

 

 

 

 

After getting a look at the cakes they were serving, we sat at a table for two beside an open window.  We ordered a Farmer's Plate with Vermont cheeses and the evening's special quiche.  While Glenn & Renate put together our meal, I took some interior photos of this lovely barn.

 

 

 

 

 

The healthy meals arrived.

 

 

 

We polished those off, and then it was time for a chocolate walnut cake with fresh berries in the icing .....

 

 

and a no-bake chocolate cake with delicious cookies layered in.

 

 

So, it was an extraordinary dinner in an extraordinary building.  Afterward, we talked with Glenn & Renate and their guest, Denise, for an hour or so out on the lawn.  The conversation flowed and we really enjoyed our time with these fine people.  They provided some wonderful information about the area and were just fun to talk to.

After finally dragging ourselves away, we drove through the beautiful campus of Johnson State College and were blessed to see this Red Fox.

 

 

 

We watched for several minutes before it slipped into the brush.

Next we drove into town and poked around.  You know how I like to get my bearings in new locations.  We found where the Long Trail passed through about a mile and a half west (for hiking), we saw the Lamoille River for (paddling), and we found the recently completed section of the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail that runs along the river (for biking).

And we're half an hour away from the great hiking on Mt. Mansfield (Vermont's highest peak) and the very popular hiking destination of Smuggler's Notch.

Our choice of Johnson for the next several days has turned out even better than we thought.  I have a feeling we'll be here a bit longer than originally planned.  :)

---

 

 

Comments

[Mike Volentine]

Long time reader and first time post. Did you stop at Ben and Jerry's on your way to Johnson?

[John]

Happy Birthday Howard! I marked this on my list of locations to visit.

[Carol. Monson]

David and I are up at Burlington. It is beautiful here. Happy Birthday!!

[Julie]

What a wonderful café. I base much of my travels around restaurants. I just love the variety all over the country. I took my Mom on a two week tour of Vermont a few years ago. We would find interesting things on postcards and then go find them. For a small state, there is much to enjoy.

[Howard]

Hi Mike,
No we didn't stop at Ben & Jerry's. That was one thing that felt a little too touristy for my tastes although my tastebuds probably disagree. :)

[Faye Malouf]

I've been a long time lurker but felt compelled to comment today. So glad you found Maplewoods and enjoyed it, I spent the last 3 summers there workamping and living in site 20. It has certainly grown in those years and has more room to grow. Lots of places to hike and get on the water in the area.