Mt. Snow, VT - August 20 - 21, 2012

 It just so happened this year that my long-time friend and neighbor, Barbara Galda, was travelling to Maine during the time I was in Vermont.  It also happened that she was accompanied by her brother, Robert.  Robert lives in Gadsden, Alabama, and works at one of the golf courses on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.  Jim has visited him in Alabama when I've been off travelling, and Jim and Robert get together for rounds of golf periodically when Bob is up here in New Jersey visiting his sister.  So this was an opportune time to have them visit us in West Dover!

I had always wanted to drive to the Somerset Resevoir, which I see all the time when I'm at the top of Mt. Snow.  One day, while the guys went golfing, Barbara was willing to join me as we went miles down a narrow dirt road (good thing I had the Jeep!).  But the rugged scenery was beautiful--and it was a magnificent day with blue sky, fluffy white clouds, and lots of sunshine.

Stopping along Somerset Road, Gayle had to test
the water of a branch of the Deerfield River--and it
was not too cold!

Barbara along Somerset Road--reflections in the
river were pretty

Sections of the river were filled with rocks--not much
water because of lack of winter snow and not much rain

Barbara posing at one of our many stops along the river

Lots of wildflowers....

...particularly Golden Rod

Finally, we arrive at our destination....

...the Somerset Reservoir--and the end of the road!

Although we had several dinners in the condo, Robert and Barbara wanted to treat us one evening--so off we went to the Hermitage....

Robert, Barbara, and Jim at the entrance to the Hermitage

Jim, Gayle, Barbara and Bob about to enjoy dinner

And on another day.....

Front entrance to the Equinox

                                                                                           
This was Barbara's fifth trip up to the condo so she has seen many of the sights in Southern Vermont.  But she hadn't been to the Equinox Hotel in Manchester.  This is a stately hotel dating from the 18th Century that has hosted many notables, including the Lincolns.  As it happened, Robert and Jim were playing golf at Okemo Golf Club with Steve Simmerman, another of Jim's golfing buddies.  Steve and his wife, Janet, (long time friends from Pitman) have a vacation home in Weston, VT, which is near Manchester.  Since Janet would be alone all afternoon, I invited her to join us for lunch; and Barbara and I picked her up and the three ladies headed for Manchester.

Having lunch on the front porch of the Equinox--Gayle, Barbara, and Janet

Barbara and Janet in front of the Equinox
with a church and the war memorial in
the background

After lunch, we proceeded to tour the hotel and the
grounds--here are Janet and Gayle in the back gardens

Janet and Barbara in the back gardens

On our return to the car, we walked past the Equinox
Golf Club--a quite exclusive one here in VT

After dropping Janet off at home, Barbara and I stopped
at the Vermont Country Store in Weston--here's Gayle
all ready to go in and spend some money!

Meanwhile, Jim, Robert and Steve were at Okemo--the No. 1 public golf course in Vermont!

Since Jim never takes pictures, I was happy that Bob supplied me with these pictures!!

 Jim and Steve on the tees of two different holes....

Robert, Steve and Jim at Okemo