Winhall Brook Corps of Engineer Park, Vermont

Binoculars Along Bike/Hike Trail

Well, here's something new...two pair of binoculars complete with removable lens caps, set out along the trail.  They were actually pretty nice.  We didn't see any wild things with them, darn.

Wait, maybe there is something wild there...

We are camped at the Winhall Brook COE Park in Vermont.  There is a really nice and level bike/hike trail (old railroad bed) and we were happy to take advantage of it.  The West River runs alongside the path. 

West River

Mushrooms

Look for the tiny eft (lizard) in the picture, there were tons of them here

Pretty strange mushrooms.  Maybe some old hippies know about them??

The park had elec/water hook-ups, and the  campground was nice.  A central dump station was provided.  Cost was $20 a night after a 50% discount with the Senior Pass.  We stayed 3 nights.  

Out and about the area we found this just across the parking lot from where we had lunch:

AAron Taft Homestead, Great Grandson William Howard Taft who was the 27th Pres.

Our First Try at a Selfie

 I have no idea why my caps' St Louis is backwards or how that could happen.  I held the cell, she had to push the button.  Okay, no more selfies!

We got hungry.  We came across a sort of Co-Op restaurant/post office/community meeting place near Townshend.  

Reuben on Multi Grain, that is only half
of it because we shared 1 order. 

The lunch place

Three tables inside, more outside

Mail Room

 

Clarina Howard Nichols

This plaque tells of Mrs Nichols, born 1810, who became an early advocate of women's property rights, temperance and suffrage.  First woman to address the Vermont Legislature, and lectured throughout New England and Midwest.  During the Civil War, she directed a home for orphaned black children in Wash D.C.  She died in 1885.

On down the road, we visited the Ball Mountain dam.  

Looking Up-River

Pretty day, pretty girl

In The Distance, Ski-Runs

Reputedly a Geocache somewhere near this old bridge.  No luck.
According to the write up there are some 27 of these in the county
they are built of rock and probably very old. 

Another unusual geocache.
We did find this one though.  On end of stick, hung over a branch.

Finally, we come to the reason we will never, ever return to this park.  There was a narrow bridge that sits at a 90 degree angle to the road.  We had to cross it with our 40 foot long motorhome.  Of course we had to take the Jeep off, you can't back up with the toad behind.  

These are some stills taken from our dash camera that don't tell the story very well.  I literally had about 2" on each side of my mirrors.  I had to 'jack' around twice to get straight enough to go across.  Gut wrenching for both driver and the guide. 

Bridge on Right, rock wall on left

Scary

Wt Limit 16 Tons.  We're near 15

Easy now...

Nope, back up again, straighter!

Once across, go up around dump station to get going left

 

At Our Camp Site, finally!

 
 If you want to, click link below to see Eloise guide me across the bridge Youtube video across bridge 16 mins.

Heading for L.G. Hanscom AFB, MA (Near Boston)