Four girls on a trip

As I promised, I am learning to take time off.
Really.
So today, my oldest daughter, my mother, and my grandaughter Ava, and I set off for Middlebury, Vt.
As long as I can remember, Middlebury was a favorite day trip from Ticonderoga, where I grew up, and from Putnam, where I lived for many years.
So we decided to take the ferry. I love the ferry. I couldn't count the times I have been on it. And every time I ride it, I remember the time that my father and I came home from an auction on a Saturday night. We got to the ferry on the Vermont side, just as it was docking for the last time, on the New York side. It was almost dark, but not quite. My father got out, and hollered across the lake. Then he started honking the horn. I was quite mortified. He insisted that he was not driving all the way around the lake. He honked. I slunk down into the seat of the truck. After what seemed like forever, we heard the motor start up, and the lights came on. And my father said, "See? I told you they wouldn't leave us here."

But today, they left us here........as we pulled up, they were just this far out. We watched in disbelief......
But yup, they were leaving us. For real.
So we decided to get out and walk around. Ava was all for that.
Do you remember when you could wear a little dress like that and look that good????
Or can you still???

My mother, in the pink shirt, does not know these people. Never met them.
But that does not stop her. Any time that I leave her for more than a minute, I can be sure that she will strike up a conversation with whoever is closest to her.
Lake Champlain is on the east side of Ticonderoga, and Lake George is on the west side, they meet in the middle with the LaChute river.
After a while, there were alot of cars lined up behind us, waiting for the ferry.


And finally, they came back across. Lucky for us the lake is not very wide here.
The lake was calm today, making for a nice ride.
On the other side, the Carillon was getting ready to take people on a tour of the lake.

Have you ever seen anthing like these????

On the way to Middlebury, which is 18 miles from the ferry, we saw these at Middlebury College. Aren't they wild???? I have no idea what they are, but I like them anyway.
I love riding back roads. Always have. Probably a throw back to all the back roads I traveled with my father, when I was a kid.
Today, it was a multi generational trip.....from 4 to 84.
My daughter's purse was sitting between the seats, and tipped over into the back seat, upside down on the floor.
She said, "That's OK, my whole car is my purse."
I said, "I like that idea."
She replied, "You LIVE that idea."
Now what the hey is that supposed to mean?????
KIDS.

More tomorrow........it was a fun day, but a long one.
But isn't Vermont beautiful.