Once we finished at the Dog Chapel, it was time to find something to eat. Since St. Johnsbury was basically closed for the fourth of July, we thought we'd try to find something in Barnet or West Barnet, the nearest town (I use that term loosely) to where we were staying the night. About three miles down the road towards Barnet, and no service on ye olde iPhone, we decided to turn back to the last place with service to use google maps to find someplace to eat. Turns out that was in Wells River, one exit south from where we were at.
still raining and ominous
Fifteen minutes later, we found ourselves in the lovely town of Wells River. We at the Happy Hour Restaurant which did indeed have some good beers on tap and good food to be had. We asked the waitress where we might get a few groceries for the overnight, and she directed us to a market: "Make a left into New Hampshire and it's just down the road."
the bridge to New Hampshire
On the way over to New Hampshire, we kept seeing signs for the 4th of July celebrations. We toyed with the idea of staying for the IMMENSE FIRE WORKS DISPLAY but ultimately we decided against it. Both of us were sorely disappointed that we missed Buddy the Clown and the Gully Boys.
IMMENSE FIREWORKS and GIGANTIC PARADE
We ultimately decided to overnight at a campground. We were going to actually camp, but this particular campground had a bunch of cabins. Considering the rainy weather and considering the fact that we were both entirely unprepared to properly camp, we requested a cabin if one was available. And wouldn't you know it - one double occupancy cabin was open for the one night we needed it. It was kismet and we took it.
The campground is Harvey's Lake Cabins and Campground and we both really liked it. Our cabin was a small A frame facing the lake with full bathroom with hot water and a full kitchen with a few dishes to be used. When I walked into the cabin, I was struck by the oddness of the decor. There was a little basket of eggs laying on the floor in one corner and an apache wedding prayer in the bathroom. I particularly noted the wedding prayer as it is mention in Rebecca Mead's book The Selling of the American Wedding as having originated in an old western film and NOT with the apache tribe. Later that evening, B confessed to me that the owner of Harvey's Lake told him that this was the Honeymoon Cottage, and suddenly it all made sense. I told him not to get any ideas.
the pictures on the right are people in old wedding dresses
you can see the egg basket in the bottom left
kitchen, and the walls mark off the bathroom
the view
After we got settled in, we took a quick walk around the grounds. B had grand plans to go swimming in the lake, but it's been so cold and rainy that idea was nixed.
B looking longingly at the water - please note that he is wearing his coat
Having given up on the swimming dream, B went out to the fire pit to try his hand at being Lord of the Flame by coaxing fire from water soaked logs. Eventually he did get a small, smoking, flickering fire going. This was fortuitous as apparently fireworks are legal in the state of Vermont. All of the neighbors all around the lake set off fireworks one after another over the lake in honor of the fourth of July. We had front row seats around our small smoky pit.
damp fire pit
neighbors across the lake
After the fireworks, it was bed time.
to be continued
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