Stowe to Lake Champlain

A sad farewell to Stowe. Making it sadder was the death of Maria Von Trapp from sound of music fame, who died this week in Stowe. We visited the lodge where she lived, and then skied Stowe one final time, this time not hungover. Having met a bunch of lunatics from Boston who wanted to buy us drinks all night, and then lend us their private jet to fly to San Fran, at a discounted rate of 20 k US,  because I had a funny accent, and told the guy he was a wanker, which he loved.

                                                           The Von Trapp family lodge

                                           Walking out from the boat ramp lake Champlain

The harbour entrance lucky it's frozen

No ferry today.

The bridge at Stowe.

Too cold to exit the car, so drove to the ATM.

Stowe Vermont

Stowe is a small town in the mountains in Vermont. What an amazing mountain. It's been raining and snowing for the last few days, so we saw some sights. The sun came out today and we went skiing. Not sure how we can ever go back to skiing at home after today. The only problem with this place, is it takes too long to get to the bottom.

                                                              Stowe mountaintop.

                                                     The best snowboarder in Stowe

                                                               The cliff top run.

Stowe mountain.

Woodstock America's prettiest town.

We arrived in Woodstock cold and hungry, what a beautiful town. Found a B and B and bunked down to watch the snow fall. People here reckon it's America's prettiest town: big call, it's nice, amazing houses, and architecture, and like every small town in the states the people are so friendly, except for the guy I nearly ran over on the pedestrian crossing, he wasn't very friendly. Check it out.

                                                One of the many nice houses and barns here

                                                                   Some more houses

                                                                     Maple wood farm

The river in town

Apparently Al Gore lives here

Harvard to Vermont

We went to Harvard to see if they offer post graduate courses to 40 year olds.....they didn't.
Amazing campus....was it Newcastle....no, but still impressive.
We move north west through Vermont, some challenging driving conditions today, for an Aussie. If you've driven in mud, no worries, similar but snowy. Front wheel drive girly car with no chains, very very challenging. Tomorrow we arrive in Americas prettiest town.....where could it be?

                                                        Harvard......so much history.

                                                   SMH covers what's happening at Harvard.

                                                        Route 93 north, piece of cake.

Route 93, not Alaska .

Touch down Vermont.

Boston

Caught the train from New York to Boston through Conneticut which was beautiful. Couldn't see much due to the winter storm Quintus. Every storm has a name here...love it. Boston is an amazing city. Trapped in our room yesterday due to the blizzard, we are out today exploring the city, it's different, smaller, a university town, lots of uni students hogging all the  bars and wifi, but otherwise beautiful. Currently sampling a chocolate flavoured beer, bel drinking a latte.......

                                            If I look shitty, it's cause it's snowing, and I'm lost.

                                       The morning after, crossing through Boston common

                                             The kids toboggan in the city this morning.

The Massachusetts state house.

Boston common.

Ice skating Boston Common.

Farewell New York.

Tomorrow winter storm Quintus  strikes. Twelve inches of snow forecast for the region. We head north to Boston, pronounced Bowston, looking forward to seeing the city, home of the departed. We are training it north, and hoping our lines stay open before the storm. Did the touristy thing here while it wasn't snowing. God bless you New York.

The Brooklyn bridge 

The statue

Sunset on the skyline

Skyline New York

Last nights storm, tonight's will be worse.

                             

Snowmagadden.

Winter storm pax has been smashing North America. The conditions here are interesting, freezing blizzard is the best way to describe it.
It's forecast six inches of snow here, up to eleven in other areas, and a state of emergency in Jersey. Not sure why, it's just fluffy snow. More than a foot has fallen this morning.It's just belting down at the moment, and below freezing, it's a massive effort just walking around.......

                                                Good morning New York.

                                                  The scene outside our hotel.

                                                   The streets of manhattan.

So much snow a backhoe clears an intersection

Couldn't call home all phones are frozen

A lull in the snow.....

More New York.

New York continued. Exploring this great city, had dinner at Hell's Kitchen, loved it. So many options. Bellinda went to the summit of the Empire State Building, I'd seen it in 2005 so went shopping. Stumbled upon Rudy's Guitars, an institution here....if  you play. Santana, The Edge, Eddie van Halen, Kirk Hammett and now Turner. Was I intimidated, no. But then I saw the Gretch on the wall with a price tag of $12k, told the tech I was good for the cash then left, quickly.
Also found New York Golf, a secret weapon coming home with me will give me the edge at The Mount. Clarke and Turner Snr should be worried. ............these streets will make you feel brand new.

                                                                 Top of the world ma.

                                        The New York public library....I sort of wanted  to study.

First it was dogs now squirrels 

Keeping it real NY.

Finally a bloody lawyer - free bar! Yes!

Turner in Rudy's ....rock on!

Woke up in the city that never sleeps

Having drank all the rum in Colombia, we had to leave in search of more. Found a dirt cheap flight to North America and landed in the home of the brave, New York City.  It's cold here, so cold in fact that even the penguins are wearing ski jackets. Spent the morning in macys buying clothes so we could cope with the cold. New York was buried in a snow storm the night before we arrived, and we flew in at a brisk minus seven degrees, Colombia was 35. Tomorrow night off to a Knicks game, today wandered the winter wonderland of Central Park....... Unbelievably cold, but what a city.......

                                                   Hey man, who buried my caddy!

                                                                Central Park.

                                                          Yes it's chilly here

Snow bunny

Touristy time square.

Manhattan from the park.