FALL MOTHERTRUCKING FOLIAGE

(this is way old. but interesting!)

My roommate and I went to Vermont to see the leaves change color. Being both from California, we had heard of this mythical thing called "Autumn" was rumored to exist, but hadn't been confirmed. We just figured it was something made up. Probably by the Mormons.

We took off for Vermont. In 4WD.



We stopped by this antiques store run by a gay guy with a penchant for pottery. He was a nice enough guy-- although incredibly conservative in many ways. He had made a small fortune when he bought pieces of Mark Twain's bedframe from an estate sale at a ridiculously low price-- then gouged the city when they wanted to buy them back for inclusion in their Mark Twain Museum. I bought a mirror frame (no mirror) for $6. His store was covered with sleds.



Along the way, we saw many interesting things.







We stayed with Bob Alden and his wife Diane. Thanks to them both for their hospitality. (Photo by Mel C)








Mel C took pictures of things like this:


I took pictures of things like this:


I like my men like I like my mufflers: muffled.



Check out these bees.


They live in this store.


Fall. foliage. mania.




We drove along the Mohawk Trail.


At the advice of my grandfather, we stopped at the World Famous "Hair Pin Turn".



(As I post this blog, I realize: it might have been more interesting to get pictures of us IN FRONT of the hair pin turn, not the restaurant facing it. But, come to think of it, that could have been VERY dangerous. For your reference, here is a picture of the hairpin turn. Not pictured: Summer and Mel C.)



Fall foliage: YES!

Connecticut

We decided to take a weekend driving trip to Connecticut. We rented a white Hyundai Sonata (with an electric sunroof) and took off on a wing and a prayer. With a map. And our phones. And multiple name brand hair styling products.

First we stopped at Gilette Castle State Park in East Haddam, CT. This was a castle built in 1919 by William Gillette, the first man to play Sherlock Holmes on stage. We took a ferry across the river to get back. With our car!!








Here is a picture of Mel C tossing a coin into the wishing well.








At the castle, a guy named Tyke dresses as William Gillette (dressed as Sherlock Holmes) and answers questions. We, of course, demanded photos.






The grounds were beautiful and very foresty.

Speaking of forests-- we heard rumors of a miniature village, created in a forest about 50 miles away. It was abandoned in the woods and we only had a rough idea how to find it. Its origins: unknown.





We found a dead butterfly along the way. We buried it under some nearby leaves.
We think the butterfly would have wanted it that way.
Or maybe the butterfly would have wanted to just not be dead.



Later that night, we stopped by a restaurant and had some fancy cocktails. Why? Because we're f*cking fancy.



At said restaurant there was a video game. In it, realistic deer nibble on realistic leaves in a realistic forest. Your goal is to shoot them.


After a relaxing night at a Super 8 Motel, we took off for the Lamothe Sugar House-- a maple syrup farm. Among other things...








Inside the (awesome) gift shop, we spoke with the proprietor.


Since it was not maple syrup season, he demonstrated the process with a video presentation. It was riveting.


After the farm, we headed to Bridgeport, CT to the PT Barnum Museum.


Barnum was known not only for his circus, but also for his marketing genius. He was the man behind such sideshow acts as little Tom Thumb-- from whom he earned much of his fortune.




Barnum also has an Egyptian mummy in his collection, a gift from his wife during the early portion of the 1900s. Scientists recently verified that Pa-Ib (as the mummy is known) is an authentic Egyptian mummy, and possibly a woman. There may or may not be a falcon buried in her stomach. Only more tests will tell...

This mummy was in the back section of the exhibit, which was being renovated at the time. Therefore, there wasn't much else in the room and I got the chance to be alone. In a room. With a mummy. From Egypt.


After the museum, we headed to a nearby Catholic shrine.

It included things like this:












After all this action, we were definitely hungry.

Turns out the best Mexican food in New York...is actually in Connecticut.