Rain Songs

 The four days spent in the Northeast Kingdom were wonderful. The weather was flawless, until I woke on the final day, and soon watched a light shower turn into a steady rain for the rest of the morning.

It was time to check out.

After driving a little over an hour, it was time to get some coffee and a little lunch. I knew a place in White River Junction (from one of my previous writers conference visits) that served Turkish cuisine and some very strong Turkish coffee. Tuckerbox is a charming place located in the same block that houses the Hotel Coolidge, and it was the perfect spot to unwind and reflect on this latest adventure. 

 Be it Music, Art, or Writing. The Northeast Kingdom has much to offer helping bring out the most in all of the above. 

Border Music

On the second day of exploring more remote parts of the Northeast Kingdom. We drove to the small town of Island Pond (otherwise known as Brighton). About 15 minutes from the Canadian border, this was once a major railroad town, with thirteen sets of tracks passing through back in the late 19th/early 20th century. The only stop between Montreal and Portland, it was a logging town as well as a railroad town. After the great depression, the population shrank dramatically, and the place looks oversized and emptier now.

A very long covered pedestrian footbridge used to cover the thirteen tracks, now just two, and you can see Island Pond itself from the top of the bridge.

The town is now a minor destination for boaters, as well as fisherman, hunters and mountain bikers. It was pretty sleepy around there, and I imagined more tourists coming in from Canada in the summer (more on that soon).

Most of the stores were closed on a Sunday, but we found some restaurants, and had a good lunch at the Essex House, and then took a little drive further North. Entering the town of Norton, we noticed a sign that indicated we had passed the 45th Parallel, which is halfway between the North Pole and the Equator. Shortly after that, we saw a sign directing us to opposite parts of the US coast.

What I didn't see was any sign indicating that an International Border crossing was just up ahead. What otherwise looks like a former gas station is actually the US Customs building, which I drove partially past, before seeing the much larger Canadian checkpoint further up the road. Turns out the old building is on the National Register of Historic Places, and a young gentleman with an official looking uniform was shouting to get my attention. Due to the Coronavirus, the border is still closed, although some restrictions are slowly being lifted. However, casual trips across the border are not part of the reopening plan at this moment, which would explain why we saw no Canadian tourists in Vermont.

I immediately turned my car around, and headed back onto the State Highway, and in my haste headed toward Maine, and not Florida. It didn't take long before I realized this error, because now I was headed towards New Hampshire, with the Canadian border still very close by, and our cottage even further to the south of us.

Down in the North Country

Found a very secluded cottage in the Northeast Kingdom for a few days, and am so delighted with the layout of the place. 

Located less than 15 minutes from East Burke/Burke Mountain. The little downtown was hopping with live music at one place, and a couple of outdoor bars are brimming with people. We found an absolutely charming place called the Burke Publick House  and had the whole upstairs to ourselves for an early dinner.

Back at the cottage, nothing is shaking, which is absolutely fine. A few acres of nicely groomed rolling landscape behind the house, and a small pond revealed itself to us. 

The view from the second story porch is nice as well. On the way back from East Burke, a moose was close to the road, and we slowed down to make sure they didn't cross in front of us. Early this morning a very large black bear was in our backyard near the pond. Tomorrow, we venture to Island Pond and skirt the Canadian border for more nature, adventure and peace of mind.