Day 48, Essex Junction, VT

First day of the rally and for the first time ever at a rally we were up early enough to get the free coffee and donuts.  Then we discovered that the donuts were scheduled from 9 to 11 due to people arriving and registering, not the usual 7 to 9.  The rest of the rally, donuts 7 to 9, rats!  Not too much scheduled at the rally so we head off.  Back to the Chocolate factory to redeem our free cookie coupons (we each had 2).  Then drove by the Shelburne Museum (did not stop this time) to the Vermont Wild Flower Farm.  Too many bugs and Rosemary had to take an antihistamine.  Quickly headed south to the Dakin Farm.  We were disappointed that contrary to their ad, there was no tour of the farm and the cheese making process.  There were however, many free samples of goodies from cheeses and jellies to salsa and sausages.  No need for lunch again today.  Next stop the Charlotte Village Winery.  About a dozen wines to sample and all free.  Bought more wine.  

Day 47, Essex Junction, VT

Check into our FMCA Rally a day early and plug in.  Then off to play.  First stop, Lake Champlain Chocolate Factory Tour.  An interesting tour watching the chocolate making and included free tastings of 3 different chocolates and a free dark chocolate chip cookie.   Then back to the Shelburne Museum to see what we missed the day before.  Fortunately, the tickets were 2 day passes.  I guess they know it takes more than a day to see everything.  Then off to the Magic Hat Brewery & Artifactory for a tour and tasting.  Free samples of all eight beers it brews.  I was the first to answer correctly the beer trivia contest and I won a Magic Hat bumper sticker.  Then off to the Cheese Traders and Wine Sellers for more free foods.  Bought more cheeses and other goodies.  Then off to downtown Burlington and Church Street which is a pedestrian mall with lots of restaurants and shops.  Dinner at Ken’s Pizza & Pub.  The lasagna was delicious and Rosemary went back to her chicken, parmigiana at least.

Day 46, Williston, VT (Burlington)

Putz around with the coach results in a late morning departure from Stowe for the half hour drive to our next stop at Walmart near Burlington, VT.  After lunch head to the Shelburne Museum and arrive just after 1:00.  The museum is a AAA “Gem” and mentions impressionist artists (Rosemary’s favorite) such as Monet, Manet and Degas.  We figured a couple hours and head to a winery or two.  Well this museum consists of 45 acres and has numerous buildings with massive collections of some pretty cool stuff.  It has an original Round Barn which houses many carriages including a surrey with a fringe on top.  It has a circus building which is a “U” shape and houses hand carved wooden circus figures including performers, animals, cages, wagons, etc.  It is a 525 foot long procession from one end of the building to the other and is on a scale that represents a two mile circus parade which was the length of the parade when the circus came to towns.  It is the work of one man and took him 25 years to complete.  The museum had an operating antique carousel on which we could not refuse a ride.  The museum also has the Ticonderoga, a steam powered side-wheel paddleboat.  The museum contains many other buildings and collections and we could not see it all by the 5pm closing time.  After 5:00 we finally head to the Shelburne Vineyard for a tasting.  Bought more wine.  Dinner at Chef Leu’s Chinese and back to the coach.