Coaticook Gorge Parc, Canada; Suspension Bridge and Hike

     The last couple of times that I've gone to Canada I went just because I'd been running the roads and having found myself close to the border decided to pop into the country just because it was there. Well, the last time I did that I was with my then 19 year old son Quintyn and we had the trunk searched and the border guard made sure to look in the back seat and ask many, many questions. That had never happened before and as Quintyn and I drove a few miles in, turned left, then left again to come back to the states we discussed it and realized that not having a purpose other than 'just because" isn't looked upon favorably. We determined that the border folks probably think we're running drugs or something. We vowed from that time on to have a purpose in mind real or not. Thankfully today I had a real purpose in mind and the time at the border, in and out of Canada, was quite uneventful other than - wholly heck, there are some hotties working the border these days...my oh my.

     I have a fascination with bridges these days and on Facebook have been sharing pictures of bridges across the world that pop out at me as looking to be a challenge. There was one in western Canada and I lamented about how it wasn't close enough to drive to for a quick trip. A friend shared a photo of a suspension bridge in Coaticook, Canada and after having Map-quested and found it to be a half hour over the border of Vermont I soon found I couldn't think of much else so I began the plan of having a purpose to be in Canada!

     Saturday morning as I was about to turn onto rue Michaud I saw a suspension bridge blocked off by a fence and I thought to myself how that bridge was very small and it had better not be the bridge I drove almost three hours to see. The famed suspension bridge that had occupied my thoughts for two weeks was in the Guinness Book of Records at the time it was built as being the longest pedestrian suspension bridge. I realized my angle, the fact that I was driving and couldn't really look at it and the placement of the fence may  have skewed what I was seeing, but as I turned down the new road I had lost sight of that bridge.  It turns out that was the bridge and first impressions are most definitely deceiving sometimes and especially so this time.

     I arrived just before 11am, parked in the free parking lot, grabbed my back pack and walking stick and headed across the road to the information center to buy my ticket to the park. When I was researching the place I knew there would be a fee to get in. That seemed like a no-brainer to me but there were comments on Trip Advisor where people complained about there being a fee to walk across a bridge and walk outdoors. Yeah, it's a bridge and a trail but it's a well maintained bridge and trail and a lot of money went into putting the place together for visitors. The $7.50 (Canadian) was well worth the several hours I spent in the park. 

     Note: the building on the right has two shops. The one up the front steps is the information center, museumish space and gift shop. You need to go to the side door on the left and just down the hill to get your ticket for the bridge and hiking - there's also another gift shop. There's a restaurant in another building to the left and a smaller building between those two, to the back that had an artist selling his crafts (this day they were very expensive, not very good crafts. I imagine they rotate artists).

     Ok, ticket bought, map held onto tightly, hand stamped and I was on my way. What the heck with the hand stamping? The place is fenced in...but I found out later there's a bike trail that hits the edge of the park and it's free to bikers but there's  a sign that says if the biker goes off trial they need to go to the office and buy a ticket. Through my entire hike, though, I don't believe any of the people I encountered were park employees so it's probably pretty easy for a biker to ditch the bike and blend in or for someone to just walk in from the bike trail. But why be a jerk? Buy the ticket and respect the folks who put the hard work into making the place a nice place to spend the day.

     For several hundred feet there was an art exhibit of sorts. It was very interesting. I'd never encountered anything like it so I was a little put off with it and hoped the entire trail wouldn't be littered with the art. It seemed like too much for me to want to take in. The pieces were very creative. Maybe if I'd been prepared for their presence I may have enjoyed it better because I do like creative things.

 (some kind of whirly thing around the tree. the ball in the upper right hand corner was something too)

(this was actually pretty cool - a hot air balloon attached to lines above. it moved when the wind caught the line)

     I had a paper copy of the map but there were a lot of maps on sign boards throughout the park. There were also quite a few signs telling about the history of the park. The town harnesses the energy from the river and there was lots of signage with that history. Those signs, unfortunately, were all in French, where the other ones were in both French and English.

     The trail is very well maintained and though I would have liked to have walked it barefoot there's a rule against that. I am the queen of bending rules but I didn't figure that was one I'd avoid getting caught at. Barefoot really wouldn't be a problem here, though.

     As I rounded part of the trail and caught my first sight of the suspension bridge my doubts as to its length were quickly brushed aside. The three hour trip was most assuredly worth this bridge.

     As you can tell, it was a beautiful day. It was a perfect day to discover this bridge. It may no longer be the longest in the world but it is a great bridge. I wasn't the least bit scared. That was kind of a bummer, but I suppose for most people it's a good thing. It's high up and really long but I never had the sense that I was going to fall or not make it to the other side. The gorge is beautiful and the swaying and jumping of the bridge added to that beauty, if you can imagine.

     Close to the end of the bridge there were some stairs going down. There wasn't a sign and I wondered where they led but didn't let that curiosity take me over. I could tell by the map that I would pass this way again and might possibly have the chance to see where the steps led. Generally I'm a do it as I see it type person, but like I said, I could tell by the map I would be here again. It turns out the steps are for people who want to take the walk but don't want to use the bridge to get there. 

     People can enter the park the way most people would exit it, walk a bit then go up the stairs to the end of the bridge and begin walking the trail. It's really ingenious on behalf of whoever set up the layout of the park. I know it was the bridge that drew me there but there must be lots of people who don't want to deal with the bridge to get to the hike.

(here's a picture of part of the walkway to get to the steps. personally this would scare me more than the bridge. thankfully I took the picture after I'd left that trail)

     Did I mention that this hike isn't a run of mill, boring hike in the woods with mosquitoes and no facilities? Well, it isn't. There are a few areas to break up what some might call a boring hike, nary a mosquito in sight and a centrally located outhouse.

     There's a cave down a long stair section toward the river. It was built by workers from the hydro plant to move water from the river to the plant. It was pretty cool...dripping with water and looking somewhat ominous. It reminded me of  a Mark Twain story and I wondered if Injun Jim was around the corner. 

     Further down the trail you can see the dam. The water seemed low to me, but that could mostly be because it could have been a hundred feet higher from the way the gorge has been cut. The water comes from a couple of lakes in Vermont so it was interesting to me to imagine that Vermont is helping to power parts of Canada when other parts of Canada have that huge Hydro Quebec project to power them.

     There were lots of families with their kids out on the trial. None of the children I saw had a problem with the walk. There were some older people who seemed to be worn out before they were half done, but it really isn't a difficult walk at all. This coming from a chick who does walk often but whose body really isn't accustom to difficult physical tasks. Pretty much anyone can walk this trail.

     There's a tower in the park called Couillard Tower. It has 120 steps to the top and even though going up stairs is usually avoided by me I was determined to experience as much as I could in the park so I put my left foot forward and began the climb and 120 steps later I was very happy that I did. The wind was crazy up there and the view was beautiful. The surrounding area is fantastic to look at and you can see the bridge from there. Really a good decision to have gone up.

     There is a section of trail just before you get to where the trail is going under the bridge that has a large rock formation to the left and begs to be explored. You can tell where other people have walked up that rock so you know you're not the only one itching to get to the top to see the river from another view. I began to go up the rock, but it was a bit slippery with the pine needles and smooth rock. I wasn't sure how safe it would be to descend and I was about to tell myself to just go for it and figure it out later but I heard children's voices coming up behind me and I knew I didn't want to deal with a bunch of parents getting pissed at me when their kids wanted to do it too and weren't going to be allowed so I got back on trial and continued walking. I'm really bummed about it too. Further down I saw where there was a little trail down from the rock. It must be part of that trail from where I had started and if I'd just waited for the kids to pass I could have walked the ridge of the rock...next time, I suppose.

 (it's actually more straight up than it looks. honest)

     The trail continues down to the river. A sane person knows that the river is dammed and swimming in that area would be reckless, but I'm not too sane and my plan was to take the boots off and wade a little bit, but, dammit, kids again! So I sat on a rock and wished. Next time I need to go on a school day so I can misbehave.

     The old hydro plant is still on the property along with the spiral staircase inside. The machinery is amazing to me. 

     At the end of the trail the Mountain Trail begins. I didn't go up this one because frankly I was pooped and I still had a long drive ahead of me. The exit is just over a small foot bridge that takes you back to the ticket building and you exit through another gift shop. I bought a slush puppie and a postcard. You don't have to exit this way. You can turn back around and do the trail all over again - or even just half of it because it crosses itself - and cross the suspension bridge again. I didn't, because, as I said, I was tired.

    It was a great day and I'm sure I'll make the trip again. Next time I'll plan to stay over night and hit that Mountain Trail.

 (a little mountain run off)

Movie review: "To Rome With Love"

I watched "To Rome With Love" at The Roxy last night. Loved the a/c at the theatre. Didn't really like the movie. There are four stories happening here, but they seem to be thrown together without much thought. I walked away thinking that perhaps Mr. Woody Allen had been trying to come up with ideas for the movie, tossed them aside then in a huff of deadline impatience grabbed up the first four balled up papers in the wastebasket and said, "this will have to do". Three of the 4 stories were just too fantastical to sit through. I was squirming with embarrassment for the writer. The 4th story would have made a great full length movie had more time, thought and effort been put into it, but it fell flat for those reasons and there was no chemistry between the two characters. They're better suited for outrageous comedy vs. romance. As for the whole Rome aspect: though the scenery was shot beautifully and the characters constantly ramble on about where they are and how much they love Rome I just wasn't feeling it. I love to travel and my travel switch did not even twitch so I wonder, really, how much does Mr. Allen love Rome when he can dedicate such a mess to it.

Shelburne Museum - Shelburne, VT

Please note: lots of words first then some good pictures...read then look or page down and look...whatever makes you happy...would make me happy if you read at some point, though... :-)


     Last Tuesday I had a mini breakdown in my head and knew that it was going to be a major breakdown if I didn't take some time away from the office so I checked with to Supervisors I work with then asked my boss for this week off. Thankfully he said yes and I didn't have to go beg and tell him that I was about to break. I've been working there for over 17 years so I'm pretty sure the boss man has figured out that if I'm asking on a Tuesday for the entire next week off that there is a really good reason and considering there wasn't anything too date oriented happening at my desk he figured he'd give me the break I was asking for. Thank you, thank you, Mr. Boss Man.
     
     I've spent this week away from the office doing various things at home, but the one thing I did away from home that counts as touristing is that I visited Shelburne Museum on Sunday and Monday. I've been there a dozen or so times and never tire of the place, but I can't go more than twice, maybe thrice a season or I do become a little bored. It's nice that they have different exhibits that keep people coming back again and again. This season there are eight showcased exhibit. Seven of the eight appealed to me and I was able to see five of those seven.


     I took my 15 month old friend Keagan with me both days and though he was a great companion I did have his stroller and it seemed each time we got to a spot where I'd have to take him from the stroller to carry him up or down some stairs he was fast asleep and I was not about to deal with Mr. Cranky McCranky while trying to enjoy an exhibit. Therefore, I WILL be going back to the museum before the end of the season to see those other two exhibits.


     First a little bit of information about Shelburne Museum. You can find them at www.shelburnemuseum.org for updated information, but this is what's inside the brochure I picked up: Open May 13 - October 28 (daily including holidays)
Museum Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-5pm; Sun 12pm-5pm (open until 7:30pm Thurs between June 21-Aug 9).


     One very cool thing about the admission is that VT residents get in for $10 (non-res $20....see website for the breakdown of kids, babies, etc) and that you can go back the next day for free with your receipt from the first day. On Sunday I went with Keagan and his mom, then Monday I was with Keagan and my son Quintyn. They don't take your names when you buy the ticket the first day but I was prepared to 'fib' should someone remember me and the fact that I was with a female Sunday and a male on Monday. 


     I remember years back we went to the museum with my mother who lives in New Hampshire and when I showed my VT id we all were given the discount, but on Sunday Caeliegh hadn't brought her id with her so we were charged for a non-resident. I love the museum and I understand they need to make money, but come on...but, as I said, you can use the ticket two consecutive days and honestly, I'd pay $20 a pop to get in every time anyway. It's a fantastic place.

This is the inside of the brochure. 

A map of the grounds. This place is HUGE! If you can break it up over the two days I recommend it. If you're like me and soak it all in you really will appreciate taking your time to see it all. If you need to skip some parts then skip the permanent stuff and focus on the changing exhibits.

I love elephants so when I saw these I was in awe...can't wait for a trip to Thailand or Africa to see the elephants up close and personal.

From the brochure: Circus Elephants: Kat Clear

Burlington, Vermont-based sculptor Kat Clear creates the Museum's first exhibition of outdoor sculpture. A parade of elephants - nearly life-size - extends from the Round Barn to Circus Building and is made entirely of recycled metal forms such as heating fuel tanks, wheelbarrows, and trivets.

Elephants in the Circus Building.

Giraffes lining the aisle inside the Circus Building.

I love the Beach Lodge. It's a hunting lodge and has lots of trophies from game hunting. Kids will love it. Vegans will cry. But you must remember this was a way of life way back when.

If you have read my earlier blogs you know I have a 'thing' for fireplaces. In this building I imagine myself as being the wife of a hunter on a nice wintery evening laying on a rug (not an animal rug, because....gross), cuddling, having a drink and doing the sexy in front of the roaring fire.

This is the Railroad Station. It's next to the Rail Car called "Grand Isle". When my kids were younger we'd go to the station to look around and I'd pretend we needed to buy tickets to get on the train to look around. Of course the station is only a replica and no one is selling tickets but the kids would believe me and we'd walk around the station looking for the ticket master then after a while I would tell the kids that we ought to go on the train anyway and if we get caught we will just pay for tickets then. My kids would freak the heck out and not want to be bad or break the law but I'd assure them that we would explain we had waited for someone. We'd tour the train then move on. I swear I did this three or four visits before one of the kids wised up and said that I was probably an idiot for thinking I had to buy tickets when I had bought a ticket to the whole place before we walked in. That's what I get, I guess.

Trunks at the Rail Station. I love trunks and baggage. So glad I have my big ole backpack now. Hauling trunks would be so cumbersome and I'd really hate travelling with those things.

A seat on the train. Gosh, I love this kind of stuff.

A bathtub on the train. A little small but it could be fun.

The steamboat Ticonderoga. A land locked boat....it was transported from Lake Champlain to Shelburne Museum via roads and Route 7. This is a fantastic piece of history. (That's Caeliegh under the RRX sign taking a picture).

I would love to have been a Purser on a boat...would probably go for a job like that now if not for the awesome one I have now...security vs. writing material and travel...ugh.

My buddy Keagan on the handicap ramp on the boat. He was a champ and a great companion to the museum. I'm excited to bring him again when he's a few years older.

The Horseshoe Barn Annex has wagons,  stagecoaches, etc, but my favorite piece in here has always been this hearse from 1849. It reminds me of the movie Harold and Maude and I end up thinking of Bud Cort and  then I think about the movie M*A*S*H and then I think about Donald Sutherland and then I think about when he was in Animal House and showed his butt and then I realize I'm at the other end of the annex and I tell myself that next time I go in that building I need to go in the other side because seeing the hearse at the other door distracts me. He had a nice butt, admit it...

A long view of the Annex.

This is the Webb weather vane on top of the Horseshoe Barn. The Webb's are the folks who founded the museum. 

This and the following five photos are from the exhibit as described in the brochure as: 

Time Machines: Robots, Rockets and Steampunk

Fanciful exploration of dreams of the future from Flash Gordon to Robbie the Robot. Toys and textiles, decorative, graphic and fine art representing the Golden Age of sci-fi - the 1930's-1950's - as well as work by contemporary artists and designers. Webb Gallery.

We had these when we were kids and I remember my mother telling us to use the robots to end our fight as opposed to us fighting each other.....yeah, we demolished those little robots.

Time Machine.

Robot Octopus Sculpture.

Darth Vader and friend...what/who is that guy?

If not for my son Ben I'd have no idea that this is no ordinary call box.....Dr Who apparently has a swinging shagalicious home inside this thing...I think that's what I was told...or maybe I was thinking about Donald Sutherland again...

From the brochure:

Man-Made Quilts: Civil War to the Present.

A unique selection of quilts made by men, from a civil War soldier's quilt to the innovative digital quilts and sculptures of quilts. Hat and Fragrance.

That's Quintyn in the tie-dyed shirt.

I love the permanent quilt display but man, some of these exhibit quilts showed how boring some of the other ones are. Loved all the colors and brightness.

Time for a rest. We sat and enjoyed the scenery.

Bird on a rock.

From the brochure:

Snow Mobiles: Sleighs to Sleds

The transformation of travel over snow from horse drawn sleighs of the 19th century to motorized snowmobiles. Featuring vintage snowmobiles from the experimental early days to the heyday of the 1970's through the present. McClure Round Barn.

     This blog has concentrated on the exhibits but please keep in mind the permanent displays are fantastic as well. I didn't hit up most of them this trip because after 20+ years of going to the museum I've learned to check out the new stuff first then review the permanent stuff the next trip. I really hope you get a chance to see all there is to see at the museum.