Vermont, Web Farm, Chocolate, and bad roads

First our trip from Maine to Vermont (rt 89 through NH) was fabulous. Leaves had barely started to turn on the coast but they were fantastic in NH and VT.

Our main purpose in going to Vermont was to get chocolate but there was a flier...... Not far from the campground on the way to better things was one of our strangest stops ever. We drove up to the very small parking area and saw spider crossing signs. After parking at the Spider Web Farm we also saw spiders at work signs. We entered the small shop and there were very nice plaques with spider webs. The designs are really nice. There were also a number of nice wooden items. The owner's grandfather had worked on the Erie Canal and he talked with Bob a bit while I looked around. There was another customer in the shop and she had control of the conversation, by volume level. She was from Sweden (her children were all born here) and she told us what was wrong with America. It was an 'interesting' experience.

Next on my long list was chocolate. I have purchased (online) my chocolate from Green River Chocolates for years. I knew they were on Route 2 in Middlesex. It seemed to make sense to try and find the place and save the shipping fees. Bob found the phone number on his Blackberry! So we found the place- actually three places in one- A fiber products store, a bakery, and a chocolate/granola store. (No where did it say Green River Chocolates so I never would have found it). The woman working explained that Alan, who owned Green River, had gotten sick -cancer, now better; had made the chocolate for her granola. He sold Green River Chocolates to her. So we were able to get the chocolate and she remembered sending it to me in the past. Now she keeps up two websites Nutty Steph's and Green River. Her shop is called Nutty Steph's ; the name fits her. (This may become an annual trip).

I wanted to go to some of the factory stores. We did make it to the Cabot Cheese Store. What a zoo- it was packed! We got what we wanted and left, and no dents. When we got to Ben and Jerry's and there was a policeman directing traffic we passed on stopping.

Next was a brewpub. Found it. Parked. It was 2:00 and they opened at 3:00!

So everything else on my list was free (except for gas, etc).(The entire route of my list made a big circle back to the campground) . The map (and list of area attractions from the campground) showed some covered bridges and a floating bridge. We found the covered bridges- and we could drive over them. The countryside was very nice. We followed the map looking for the floating bridge. I thought a state route meant it would be a decent road (boy was I wrong). We finally found it and it was closed but it was a sight to see. Scroll down on this link to see pictures; http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/1375. It looked about the same but there were large cement barriers at either end. The sign said this is the 7th bridge.
The GPS took us on a twisty, turny route back to the campground in less than 10 minutes.
It was quite a day- I forgot - we drove through parts of Montpelier and saw the capital and some of the bicycle sculptures.
It was a very busy day.