We are now in the Cape Cod area. We did not have internet service at our last location in Holderness NH so thats why I have not updated sooner. We took several days driving around Vermont and New Hampshire. The colors really are beautiful. It's not like we have not seen the colors in our area, but here it is everywhere in great profusion. (Along the highways, in parking lots, every yard and all kinds of normal places.) We also visited a farm that had maple syrup tasting. Learned there are 4 grades of syrup that depends upon when it was collected during the season that is from Feb to April. They drill the trees 2 1/2 inches deep and at least 6 inches from last years spot. The syrup is now mostly collected in plastic tubing (instead of the pails) and is gravity fed to the cooking room. This farm has 2400 trees.


I will list some impressions we have of New Hampshire and Vermont.
1. Hundreds of small farms with grass fields and rolling hills that are beautiful - just like you always saw in pictures.
2. Charming small towns with town squares (parks) in the middle of town and wonderful municipal buildings and statues.
3. Fabulous churches - small and grand.
4. MANY graveyards - every church, some in private yards and many others.
5. Lots of "Dunkin Doughnuts" - every small town has at least 1 - it is sort of the New England "Starbucks" - and there are not many Starbucks.
6. Great old houses - grand and modest - most in good repair. (Hardly any "Bellevue French", northwest contemporary or craftsman.)
7. Snow blowers, etc. are available everywhere. Most businesses have "storm" entries. Locals are preparing for winter in many ways. It gets cold here (30 below we are told) but they say they have not had a real blizzard in several years. Bad weather can come in any time now and we have been lucky to have good weather so far.
8. There are Christmas stores in most every town.

We also drove into Maine along the coast in the Portland area. Great lighthouses and old coastal tourist areas.