Time to head home!

Days 11-15:  We left Lake Placid and headed to Vermont.  I love Vermont!  It has beautiful hills, farmland, and LOTS of maple trees!  We had a room reserved at a B&B on a farm south of Burlington.  On the way out to find it, we came across a covered bridge.  When we stopped to photograph it, a friendly native stopped and told us where to find a better one!  (Turns out she used to live in Texas, and even knew where Mineral Wells was!)

I loved our B&B!  It was the home of a couple who had an extra bedroom and bath downstairs in their home (their bed/bath were upstairs).  They made us feel right at home.  Chris, the husband, took us on a tour of the farm and told us all about the area.  He was quite the talker!  He sent us to a wonderful seafood place in Burlington for supper, that was on the wharf on Lake Champlain.  After we returned and settled into our room, he and Libby invited us to sit with them in their living room and visit.  We spent the next 2 hours chatting like old friends.  The bed was probably the most comfortable of the whole trip (with the softest sheets I've EVER slept on!), and the bath was decked out with REAL towels...thick and luxurious.  When we asked when breakfast was served, Chris told us he would cook it whenever we wanted.  He served us thick sliced bacon (cooked perfectly) from a pig that they raised, eggs (the way we wanted them) gathered from their own hens the day before, toast and homemade jelly from their own cherry trees, plus real maple syrup.  What a treat!  After getting on the road we stopped at a Syrup Farm.  We watched a video on how maple syrup is harvested and cooked.  Free samples were available for tasting!  We decided to buy a jug to take home, as well as a few souvenirs and some maple candy for snacking.

From Vermont, we drove to the White Mountains of New Hampshire.  That is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been!  The leaves were really getting pretty by now.  The friendly lady at the visitor center on the Vermont/New Hampshire line suggested we drive the Kancamagus Highway, which we did.  It was a full day of driving through the mountains and seeing the gorgeous scenery. 

The next morning we entered Maine and drove through Grafton Notch State Park, which was beautiful.  Then we headed east to Bangor.  We were ready to try some Maine lobster for supper, so the chef of our hotel directed us to a nice restaurant on the wharf.  We were a bit taken aback by the prices, so Dennis settled on a lobster appetizer and I got a lobster roll.  Since we both ate pretty light, we opted for dessert, too!  It was good, but I think we'd both been happier with a good old shrimp dinner!  Live and learn!  The next morning, we headed to the coast.  We decided to go to Bar Harbor and drive through the Acadia National Park.  It was beautiful!  I loved finally getting to see the Atlantic!  We then drove to Belfast, where we had a room at a quaint little inn.  Our room faced the bay and had nice rocking chairs on the veranda, where we could sit and relax and enjoy the view.  Later we drove down to the docks and walked for over an hour.  There was a wonderful walking bridge that was a perfect vantage point for taking pictures.  We stayed and watched the sun set, grabbed a quick supper and retired to our cozy room.

Today was the day that we had to start heading back home.  I would have loved to explore the coast some more and visit a lighthouse or two, but we ran out of time.  We did stop in Freeport to do a little shopping at L.L. Bean!  Dennis has always wanted a pair of their hunting boots and wanted to try some on to see what size he needed.  They didn't have exactly what he wanted in stock, but he now knows what to order when we get home.

Today was a grueling day of driving!  We covered just over 500 miles and drove through some of the most congested freeways in the northeast.  We were on the road for a total of 12 hours.  I have to say, though, that it was still gorgeous!  The leaves are now at their peak.  The interstates, up here, are layed out where you don't really see the cities.  The roads are lined with trees the whole way.  (Traffic is still horrible though.  And we thought Dallas drivers were bad!)  It was with great relief that we reached our room here in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.  Tomorrow should be MUCH better...and shorter!  Then another grueling 12 hours on Saturday, ending up in Searcy, AR.  We are looking forward to meeting with Don and Glenda Buck and their family on Sunday morning!  Then, Lord willing, we'll be back in Texas that night (for a quick visit with the kids in Paris)...and home on Monday.

This has probably been the most exhausting vacation we've ever taken, but it has been a wonderful adventure.  I am so thankful to have been allowed to view so many new places and see such beauty!  Plus I've learned that Yankees can be very friendly and helpful!