Vermont & New Hampshire – Day 2

June 2022

We got up crazy early on day 2 to go see the first balloon launch at 6am. After standing on the hill for a few hours, they did at least briefly inflate one balloon for us. However, it wasn't nearly safe enough to launch. So, we spent the day visiting a few more covered bridges and Quechee Gorge. While looking for a place for lunch, we discovered that King Arthur Baking was nearby so we went and enjoyed some delicious sandwiches on fresh baked bread and some of the best sticky buns I've had anyplace. We also spent time browsing their incredible store. We even brought home some low-carb flour blends. Then it was back to the festival grounds for another balloon launch attempt in the evening. Mother Nature had other ideas and no balloons were unpacked from their trucks again.

2-001 Unpacking Remax Balloon
The Remax balloon team unpacks their basket. Those things must be heavier than they look.
2-002 Remax Balloon Burner
Testing out the burner on the Remax balloon
2-003 Unpacking Remax Balloon
Unfolding the balloon envelope
2-004 Remax Balloon
Starting to inflate!
2-006 Remax Balloon
Getting bigger and bigger!
2-008 Remax Balloon
And it's up, sort of.
2-009 Remax Balloon
The Remax balloon is fully inflated for our entertainment.
2-010 Remax Balloon
The wind has other plans as the balloon blows over.
2-011 Folding Remax Balloon
No launch. Folding the balloon back up again.
2-014 Quechee Covered Bridge Sign
Checking out some covered bridges since the balloons didn't launch. First is the Quechee Covered Bridge.
2-015 Quechee Covered Bridge
The Quechee Covered Bridge
2-016 Quechee Covered Bridge
The Quechee Covered Bridge
2-017 Ottauquechee River
Watching the Ottauquechee River flow under the Quechee Covered Bridge
2-018 Ottauquechee River Waterfall
There's a small waterfall next to the Quechee Covered Bridge
2-019 Ottauquechee River Waterfall
There's a small waterfall next to the Quechee Covered Bridge
2-020 Taftsville Power Station Sign
The Taftsville Power Station dam is right next to the Taftsville Covered Bridge
2-021 Ottauquechee River
The Ottauquechee River flows to the Taftsville Power Station dam
2-022 Taftsville Power Station & Covered Bridge
The Taftsville Power Station dam is right next to the Taftsville Covered Bridge
2-023 Taftsville Covered Bridge
The Taftsville Covered Bridge
2-024 Taftsville Covered Bridge
The Taftsville Covered Bridge
2-025 2-022 Taftsville Power Station
The Taftsville Power Station dam is right next to the Taftsville Covered Bridge
2-027 Middle Covered Bridge
Next is the Middle Covered Bridge
2-028 Middle Covered Bridge
Next is the Middle Covered Bridge
2-029 Middle Covered Bridge Walkway
Walking across the Middle Covered Bridge
2-030 Ottauquechee River
The Ottauquechee River also flows under the Middle Covred Bridge
2-031 Middle Covered Bridge
The other end of the Middle Covered Bridge. It was a nice walk across.
2-033 House in Woodstock
Downtown Woodstock is picturesque.
2-034 Lincoln Covered Bridge
Our fourth brdge of the day is the Lincoln Covered Bridge
2-035 Ottauquechee River
The Lincoln Covered Bridge crosses the Ottauquechee river too.
2-036 Lincoln Covered Bridge
Our fourth brdge of the day is the Lincoln Covered Bridge
2-037 Lincoln Covered Bridge Interior
The Lincoln Covered Bridge is unique because it has skylights.
2-038 Quechee Gorge Sign
We also took a walk across the Quechee Gorge.
2-040 Quechee Gorge
We also took a walk across the Quechee Gorge.
2-041 Quechee Gorge
We also took a walk across the Quechee Gorge.
2-043 King Arthur Bread
The bread at King Arthur Baking looks (and tastes) delicious!
2-045 King Arthur Sign
We had a great lunch and did some shopping at King Arthur Baking.
2-046 King Arthur Flour Display
You don't expect to bring flour home as a souvenir, but then you realize King Arthur Baking is nearby!
2-047 King Arthur Bakers
The bakers at King Arthur Baking do their magic.
2-049 Mom & Bear
My mother makes friends everyplace she goes.
2-050 Mom & Moose
This was the safest way for my mother to get her picture taken with a moose.
2-051 Public House Diner
New Jersey might be the diner capital, but New England has some really cool ones too.
2-052 Balloon Festival Pilots Meeting
Back at the Quechee Balloon Festival, the pilots met to decide if it was safe to try to launch. They decided it was not.