∞

Vermont Road Trip Log: Day 6, Thursday

Weather: Perfect!

  • Hung out at schoolhouse and made breakfast using eggs from the farm.
  • Walked the farm and checked out Studio Hill.
  • Left for Saratoga Springs.
  • Lunch at Kaleidoscope Cafe and met Bruce the owner.
  • Went to Saratoga Springs race track and watched and bet on three races.
  • Drove to Walloomsac
  • Dinner at Taproom at Browns Brewing
  • Battlefield memorial
  • Movie at Hathaway’s Drive-in.

Jump to day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 of Vermont Road Trip.

∞

We saw the Jungle Cruise at Hathaway’s Drive-in! It has become a bit of a tradition to go to a drive-in movie on trips.

∞

Saratoga Racetrack

We went to the horse track today! 💸

We’ve been to Canterbury Park with the kids and have had fun. Saratoga however is much, much bigger. It took us a while to just figure out where to go and sit. Then it took us a while to figure out how to read everything and understand how it all worked. But, after a bit we mostly got the hang of it. By the end I felt confident to go up to the betting stands and say stuff like “$10 on 5 to place”. Careful reading of the program was a big help.

Our bets for the day. We only had two winners. I made an epic bad on on Race 6 after getting enamored with the idea of an “Across the Board” bet, which is actually three bets in one: one to win, one to place, and one to show. I thought the bet divided amongst them but it actually multiplies, so I ended up betting three times what I thought. Ooops. And that horse was absolutely terrible in that race, coming in last by several lengths.

We had a super fun time and it was cool to be at such a historic race track.

Race 5

Tyler bet on Swinging sticks to place.
Mazie bet on Magnificent Chrome to place.

Race 6

Mazie bet on 9 to show.
Tyler bet on 5 to show. Winner!
Jamie made a terrible bet on 1 “across the board”.

Race 7

Tyler bet on Mystery Bank to show.
Mazie bet on Land Biscuit to show.
Mazie bet on Mister Kringle to show. Winner!
Tammy bet on Life on Top to win.
Jamie bet on Landbiscuit 7 to place.

∞

Beer flight at Brown’s Brewery.

∞

Great sign for a brewery.

∞

Kaleidoscope Cafe

On our drive to Saratoga we spotted Kaleidoscope Cafe and decided the mix of BBQ and homemade Ice Cream was the perfect combination we wanted for lunch. We stopped in and Bruce, the gregarious owner, welcomed us and gave us a rundown of the menu. Everything here is made by him personally, except the hot dogs. He gave me a sample of all four of his BBQ sauces. I wanted to buy a couple of bottles to take home but he’s not selling that, yet. We had brisket and pulled pork and all of it was great. The mac-n-cheese goes perfect with the brisket.

We of course had ice cream as well. The Peanut Butter Infusion was amazing, but equally great was the Sweet Blue-Nilla which we tried in both scoop and shake options. Easily the best blueberry ice cream I have ever had.

We had a great time and heard some of Bruce’s story, and how he opened Kaleidoscope just last year in the middle of the pandemic. He’s powered through and pivoted a bit but is continuing to build out a great place for BBQ and Ice Cream. If you are in the area, you need to make a stop and say Hi! 👋

∞

We took a walk around Studio Hill Farm this morning and checked out the Studio on the Hill. We saw people out working the fields, chickens doing what they do, and these sheep that had just gotten moved to a new pasture and were greatly enjoying all the fresh grass.

∞

Vermont Road Trip Log: Day 5, Wednesday

Weather: Great weather. Cool morning. Clear for our entire drive. Couple drops of rain on the sail. Cool in evening.

Jump to day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 of Vermont Road Trip.

∞

We took an afternoon sail with Hudson Sailing. We had a great, relaxing time sailing up the Hudson River. The wind was really calm but Dan, the owner and captain, was able to grab what was there and have a good time on the water. ⛵️

∞

We visited the Karma Triyana Dharmachakra Buddhist Monastery outside of Woodstock, NY today. Unfortunately the buildings were closed due to COVID-19, but we saw the grounds, outside of the Shrine building, and the Eight Stupas.

∞

Words we used to describe Vermont: Bucolic, Pastoral, Idyllic, and Verdant.

The bar is high. 😊

∞

Sign in a storefront in Woodstock, NY.

∞

I’m eager to read Michael Pollan’s newest book, This Is Your Mind on Plants. We listened to Pollan on Tim Ferriss’ podcast and found it interesting. We got the book at Mirabai in Woodstock, NY.

∞

Blue and yellow sailboats on Rondout Creek connecting to the Hudson River in Kingston, NY.

∞

We had some extra time this morning and saw a trailhead for Overlook Mountain Wild Forest. We stopped and had a nice little hike to start the day.

∞

Great way to spend the afternoon. Sailing on the Hudson River. ⛵️

∞

Vermont Road Trip Log: Day 4, Tuesday

Weather: Perfect.

Jump to day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 of Vermont Road Trip.

∞

Ice cream at Sleeping Giant Ice Cream in Kerhonkson. 🍦

∞

We have had a delightful time staying in the Modern Accord Depot in Accord, NY. Staying in a renovated train station has been a unique and fun experience. A Train Caboose in the yard to play in was incredible. A dance studio to have fun in as well?

∞

Historic Huguenot Street

We took a tour of Historic Huguenot Street in New Paltz, New York today. It was an interesting peek into this pocket of Calvanism in New York and the critical role that the founding 12 houses made in the area. We got a tour of a native Wigwam that was common before the Huguenots arrival. Then a recreation of a church. Finally we toured the Jean Hasbrouck house.