Sabbath Drive

Behind the house where I'm been assigned to live, there is a brook. It froze over this winter, and I could walk across it. Now it's the beginning of mud season, and only remnants of the winter's snow lingers still. What replaces it is water that mixes with the dirt and some roads do not allow access to certain parts of town.


This is the road that leads up to Hubbard Park, the local park that overlooks the state capital. It has trails to run or walk or mountain bike or in the winter time, snow shoe, or take your dog. This road comes up the front way to the park, but is closed off for mud season because of its high dirt content in combination with its steep grade. But fortunately the steep grade means a view over downtown Montpelier.


If you look closely, you might be able to catch some citizens with less winter clothing, and now going about their business as if it wasn't 17°F outside. No more snow shoes, only warm running gear or some warm hat gives evidence that the warmer weather hasn't arrived yet.


Which is evidenced by the ice still on Berlin Pond, a local reservoir just outside of town. Here you can see the leafless trees lining the pond edge, but hints of spring just edging into the foliage.

Sabbath afternoon found me wandering around the prettier parts of town, because I was on-call and church is about an hour away, a little too far for my limited on-call driving radius (I'm required to be within 20 minutes of the hospital.) Thank God for MP3 players and audio books!

Don't forget, you can click on each photo to see the picture full size; more impressive shots of the brook, downtown, or Berlin Pond.

The Quarry

The town where I have my current assignment boasts, not its close proximity to the state capital, but within its town borders, it houses likely the most famous granite quarry in the union, supplying various memorials of the magnitude of, say, the Arlington Cemetery. If it has quality granite, it most likely came from Barre, Vermont.

Because this high quality resource is so readily available, it is not uncommon for even every-day mundane citizens of this quaint little town to have solid granite mailbox posts, town benches, and even mantle pieces that in other parts of the country would be limited to higher socio-economic class members that could afford such luxury.

The hike itself was a mere several hundred yards, but the massive collection of this stone whose characteristics make it great for statues or art work intended to withstand not only elements but the bearing down of unrelenting Time, is quite impressive. It is almost alien. But to look on it, makes one really think about the age of the earth since its creation, and what solid foundations must have been the skeleton of the grand vaults that was the natural cathedrals of our first parents, Adam and Even. How rudimentary must these lifeless gathering of rocks be in comparison with their living and breathing establishments.


But being even this close to these grand and mammoth rocks gives one deeper appreciation for the title given to our Savior, when think of the strength and relentless way in which He ministers for us now. Unswerving, unerring. Solid. As a rock. The Rock of the Ages.

Elmore Mountain & State Park

About 1 hour north of the capital of Vermont is a gorgeous lake that happened to be the place I did my first practice triathlon. Overlooking the lake is a platform that displays this grand view of Lake Elmore, and if you look closely (yes, click on it, go ahead) you can just pick out Highway 12 that connects Montpelier with Morrisville, where I attend church every Sabbath. The platform on the 3 mile trail is on it's way to the 2608 ft peak at the firetower that allows one to see all the way to New Hampshire's Mount Washington on the east, and Vermont's Green Mountain (Mount Mansfield) on the west.

The opinion seems split on what the expectations for the weather will be like here in Vermont in the next 6 weeks. Some think winter is over, and we're going to have an early spring. Others are just waiting for the annual late dump of snow later on this month.


The view from the lake's access point shows the lingering effects of winter as the lake remains slightly frozen enough for those daring few that continue to ice fish. I was not courageous (or crazy enough) to drive onto the lake like in Maine back in February. It's a bit warmer now, with luxuriant temperatures of mid 40's to high 50's. Wonderful! No more thermals! If you click on this photo, and look at the peak, you can barely make out the fire tower, where you can get this view...


Facing southward into Middlesex (and the winter sun), you can see the Worcester (pronounced WOOSTER) Mountain range curving across the landscape like the back of a very large sleeping reptile. Since this is the south side, the snow is almost gone here, and there are hints of spring coming along. What you can't blog is the sound of the birds that help your really believe there may not be another snow fall coming. We'll just have to see.


Deceitfully warm at the beginning of the trail, it got windy and cooler up on the tower. Here's some guy taking a break about half way up the trail. Yes, the trekking poles make a difference, and the microspikes ended up being a necessity.

New Hampshire's White Mountain

On Hwy 302 on the way to and from Maine about a week ago, we saw this parked in the middle of the valley beside New Hampshire's Mount Washington.



This sign is posted on a turn-out off Hwy 302 for those who simply want a good picture and are curious about the hotel. A grand hotel with lush accommodations, the backside opens to a wide open view of Mount Washington. A little too posh for my taste. A five minute shuttle ride takes you to the base of the ski lift. The lady behind the concierge desk told me that the nights range from $219 to $419, for just baseline hotel accommodations without food. I'm not sure that's not too bad a deal, but then again I didn't get to see inside any of them. She assured me that even the most basic rooms have a great view.


And even if you don't want to snowboard or ski, there are shops in the surrounding town of North Conway, and even a 9 hole green and an heated outdoor swimming pool. Nice place to visit and maybe look around. I'm not sure I'd spend much time here. Well, maybe for a medical conference, but it's just not my cup of tea.