Part of the Group in Stowe
Rain in the forecast didn’t put a damper on this wonderful trip! It was warm Monday afternoon for the Lake Champlain cruise on the Spirit of Ethan Allen. Members moved around two decks, enjoying the pleasant breezes, or sat inside at tables near the bar for panoramic views of Lake Champlain accompanied by commentary about the history, geography, and culture of the area.
After the boat ride, Gang members walked to Zachary’s for a delicious Italian buffet of salad, ziti, chicken, and pizza before returning to the hotel lobby for hot chocolate, lattes, and warm, chocolate chip cookies.
The weather held Tuesday morning for the 22-mile ride on the Island Line Rail Trail along the shores of Lake Champlain near downtown Burlington, then across peninsulas with glimpses of various bays of Lake Champlain, and finally partway along the Colchester Causeway which extends from the mainland to one of the islands.
After checking out of the hotel Wednesday morning, most Gang members met up in Stowe to ride the Stowe Recreation Path—a charming, 10-6-mile- roundtrip trail with ten bridge crossings over picturesque creeks and many options to access restaurants or comfortable benches along the way. Finally, the Gang stopped at Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream on the road from Stowe back to the highway. The rain held off until everyone was back on Highway 89. It made us realize how lucky we were to have had such a wonderful trip!
Alan U. Text by Anne W.
