This past Saturday morning, I spontaneously jettisoned my otherwise boring weekend plans, packed a bag and headed up to Vermont. It was a fast but full 24 hours of reminiscing, leaf peeping and all around escapism. Rather than navigate the usual boring road to the valleys of green, I opted for the far less traveled Route 302 through New Hampshire's White Mountains. After a week of unseasonably strange weather (balmy and wet), the weekend turned out to be perfect for traveling (cool and crisp).
My ultimate destination was Montpelier, by way of my alma mater. My journey to the past offered some great sights along the way. The camera really does no justice. The White Mountains are stunning. Driving through them is kind of magnificent. I found myself taking frequent stops to grab a good look. My eyes seemed to wander while driving. There's a lot to see. The beauty is distracting.
Of course, it was a little busy on the way through. The foliage is about peak in most of northern New England right now. Lots of tourists like me out and about.
The passage into Vermont was easy. Weather permitting, I'll be taking this route again.
Getting into familiar territory.
Here's a building that doesn't get photographed much.
Goddard's campus has hardly changed. They removed chunks of earth where some hills used to be. It seems more manicured too. But it's the same. Since the on-campus program ended, it feels a little sad to me. Like an empty vessel. There were people around though. I happened to visit on the second day of an off-campus program residency. The combination of the cool fall air and students mingling about put me in a nostalgic mood.
I managed to somehow not take any pictures of the people though. It looks vacant here.
There's that place where I did stuff.
Hence the blog.
There was clearly some recent activity here.
Curiouser.
Back up into dorm territory. The dorms were colorful my first semester, had been for years. When I came back for my second semester they painted them all beige. I was devastated for weeks. So years later, after I've been long gone, they're colorful again. Bastards.
I lived in the red and oranges ones. The orange one twice, actually.
I can't believe the Design Center is still standing. I figured some crazy student would have burned it down by now.
Hard to believe how much time has passed.
Back to old Mont-P. This town hasn't changed at all. Charming as ever.
You only see this kind of architecture in Vermont. Riverside apartments, slowly sinking into the water. Always in a long strip like this, too. I never lived in one but visited many who did.
Oh, Langdon Street.
Essential Capitol Building shot.
I stopped by a favorite old haunt for supper. I sure did miss that Pollo al Marsala.
You know it well (you who know).
Sunday morning trip to the 1782 Settlement Farm in Middlesex for a pumpkin and some apples.
I unexpectedly made a new friend while there.
He was a little more than a month old. I really, really wanted to take him home.
Finished the trip off with a hike up to Hubbard Park in Montpelier.
In search of a tower.
There tis. It's actually quite huge. Kind of unsettling to see after hiking up through the woods.
The way up.
The view from the top. Early morning fog burning off in the distance.
Self conscious self portrait. Heading back downhill.
And home again. Darn, that was quick.
My ultimate destination was Montpelier, by way of my alma mater. My journey to the past offered some great sights along the way. The camera really does no justice. The White Mountains are stunning. Driving through them is kind of magnificent. I found myself taking frequent stops to grab a good look. My eyes seemed to wander while driving. There's a lot to see. The beauty is distracting.
Of course, it was a little busy on the way through. The foliage is about peak in most of northern New England right now. Lots of tourists like me out and about.
The passage into Vermont was easy. Weather permitting, I'll be taking this route again.
Getting into familiar territory.
Here's a building that doesn't get photographed much.
Goddard's campus has hardly changed. They removed chunks of earth where some hills used to be. It seems more manicured too. But it's the same. Since the on-campus program ended, it feels a little sad to me. Like an empty vessel. There were people around though. I happened to visit on the second day of an off-campus program residency. The combination of the cool fall air and students mingling about put me in a nostalgic mood.
I managed to somehow not take any pictures of the people though. It looks vacant here.
There's that place where I did stuff.
Hence the blog.
There was clearly some recent activity here.
Curiouser.
Back up into dorm territory. The dorms were colorful my first semester, had been for years. When I came back for my second semester they painted them all beige. I was devastated for weeks. So years later, after I've been long gone, they're colorful again. Bastards.
I lived in the red and oranges ones. The orange one twice, actually.
I can't believe the Design Center is still standing. I figured some crazy student would have burned it down by now.
Hard to believe how much time has passed.
Back to old Mont-P. This town hasn't changed at all. Charming as ever.
You only see this kind of architecture in Vermont. Riverside apartments, slowly sinking into the water. Always in a long strip like this, too. I never lived in one but visited many who did.
Oh, Langdon Street.
Essential Capitol Building shot.
I stopped by a favorite old haunt for supper. I sure did miss that Pollo al Marsala.
You know it well (you who know).
Sunday morning trip to the 1782 Settlement Farm in Middlesex for a pumpkin and some apples.
I unexpectedly made a new friend while there.
He was a little more than a month old. I really, really wanted to take him home.
Finished the trip off with a hike up to Hubbard Park in Montpelier.
In search of a tower.
There tis. It's actually quite huge. Kind of unsettling to see after hiking up through the woods.
The way up.
The view from the top. Early morning fog burning off in the distance.
Self conscious self portrait. Heading back downhill.
And home again. Darn, that was quick.
