2019 Big Truck Trip to Maine, Day 2

Day 2 started with possibly the most efficient campground exit we have ever executed. By 7:30am we were packed and rolling. 20 minutes later, feeling good about our accomplishments, we were greeted by a somewhat clanging metal sound coming from what we thought was the outside of the motorhome. As we slowed to a stop at the upcoming intersection, a sweet old lady pulled up next to us and let us know that we had lost a hubcap off the passenger side. This is what it used to look like.

This is what it looks like now.

Not exactly an upgrade, especially when you consider the tire shop had repaired a blowout we had last summer on the way back from Indy. Apparently they used this method when replacing the hubcap.

Losing the hubcap was a bit of a buzzkill, as was the labyrinth we had to follow to get back onto the toll road. But, after merely 180 miles of highway cruising, we were met with a $37.80 toll for our trouble. Now, in our history the Ohio Turnpike has been the worst, mostly because it's in Ohio.

This comes close, to the tune of charging us $0.21 a mile just to be in New York. For that kind of money there should be tankers pulling up next to us for full speed refueling, or at the very least enough competent drivers to allow me to leave the cruise set at 61mph without having to touch it for 5-6 hours. Sadly, neither was the case. Once we got off I-90, however, things changed pretty quickly.

We've been to Burlington once before, but we came across from the east on our way back home. This time we had a chance to explore the west side of Lake Champlain, specifically Adirondack Park. The drive was difficult to describe. Every bend, hill, etc reveals another lake providing a beautiful contrast to the green backdrop of infinite trees growing out of rocky outcroppings. I am well known within the confines of the Big Truck for becoming 'nature frantic', an affliction I cannot help but one that just needs to be given time and space when it attacks. Let's just say that there were many eye rolls exchanged among the female contingent after the 500th "Look! Check this out!" moment. I am quite certain this was going through Kimberly's mind at the time. Anywho, it was amazing, as these blurry shots through a bugsplattered windshield prove.

Earlier we had debated whether or not to take this rig on the ferry, which is the only way you can reach Burlington from the west unless you plan to drive all the way to the Canadian border to take US-2 across. Jordan was nervous about it because she remembers a point in time in her life where she became seasick, even though we have been on the water with her roughly a billion times since then (including on ferries similar to this one). After a few efforts at changing the subject and just blatant distraction tactics, we finally reached the ferry dock.

The last ferry we took was in Seattle, and that was with just the Jeep. I was a little apprehensive about taking the full tow rig setup on the ferry, until I saw that the rates for vehicles went up to the 70' length range.  We were just fine.  Once aboard, we met a Harley biking couple while trying to take a picture near the front of the boat. We did the tourist thing of watching them awkwardly try to take a selfie before offering to take their picture, which they then reciprocated and we ended up with this.

While the guy was talking about how far they had driven the past two days (all the way from Buffalo!), I didn't have the heart to tell him we were over 825 miles away yesterday morning. What I did do, however, was realize that he was the spitting image of this dude, the infamous Mickey Jones (RIP).  That prompted what it usually does, me tumbling down a rabbit hole of learning more about this guy while grabbing his pic for this comparison. 

This guy was a drummer for Bob Dylan, Kenny Rogers, put up with Tim Allen's coke habit, was in Justified, but the thing I somehow had never realized is that he was also the mechanic in Vacation. Yes, that mechanic.

This digression was fully worth it for me, as that scene was one my dad used to belly laugh at when we watched the movie together, especially the "And I'm askin you how much you got" line. Anyway, back to the ferry ride and the model-worthy conditions creating these natural windblown looks for the photogenic side of the family.

Not sure how that last one got in there, and that seems like a very natural pose. Just know that in 2 weeks that will be transformed into a glorious mullet, so that should make it better. Also, did anyone else (Sheline, talking to you) get a little bit of this out of this picture?

With the short ferry ride successfully behind us (see how little the Big Truck looks all tucked in there behind the FedEx truck?),

we found the campground about 20 minutes away, right on Malletts Bay about 15 minutes from downtown Burlington. We set up camp, then immediately headed for the campground pool as it was about 85 degrees and direct sunlight is the nemesis of 2/3 of our family. 

Once we returned, we planned to head into town for dinner and to wander a bit.  Appropriate given the new sticker that adorns the Big Truck this year.

It was at this point that we were introduced to our camping neighbors. I will try to be careful with my description as to not offend. Their voices arrived at least 30 seconds before they did, they had clearly been drinking (does not bother me) and clearly could not handle whatever they had been drinking, causing max volume F bombs at 4pm. If there is one skill I have honed, developed, and am convinced I could go pro with given the appropriate venue to display my talents, it is letting people know through non-verbal cues that I am not interested in their company. Kimberly and I together in this capacity would be an Olympic gold medal winning couple. I deployed these skills appropriately with our neighbors and we have come to a bit of an understanding. Also, I am not certain what hobbies they share outside of creating a public spectacle, but after our brief encounter I can rule out any activities that create any sustained heart rate that would be associated with physical activity.

We then cleared out the Jeep and headed into town to visit a favorite from our previous visit, Zero Gravity brewing. When we reached the location, we were excited to see that they had opened a new tap room, but a bit disappointed that it wasn't the alley location with amazing pizza that we had remembered.

Of course, it was only after we had ordered that Kim discovered that this new location hadn't replaced the old one, it merely was the only one that popped up when you search Zero Gravity on Apple or Google maps. Thanks SEO interns. I will say that their belgian special ale, Cote de Champlain, was quite tasty and fit rather nicely into my growler.

At that point we were pretty wiped out, so we headed back but not without a quick detour along the waterfront.

At some point we need to come to Burlington for an extended period of time - the downtown area seems really cool, it has obviously grown and changed for the better since our last visit 5 years ago, we just haven't spent enough time downtown.  Once we got back to the campground, Jordan needed her playground fix resulting in this photo that seems like an album cover for some sort of crappy nu-metal band. I'm looking at you, Finger Eleven.

Tomorrow - museums, zoos, aquariums, whatever we can find in the greater Burlington area.