Return to Sender!

Aggghhh! Got my passport back yesterday, Thank you US Postal Service! Apparently I forgot a stamp?!
I would have been pretty upset had I missed out on the mother load of prizes just because I forgot a stamp...
I think I had a touch of PTSD from our route 17 trip. So I took the opportunity to show you all what our passport
looks like and made sure to mail it out today with a Mother Teresa stamp for extra security.

The (bittersweet) End

That's us, mailing in our passports! Now we await the mother load of prizes....

Drink Vermont Beer, it's the best!!!!

Thanks Tracy for a journey I will remember forever!

Last but not least, Otter Creek Brewery, Middlebury

November 27, 2010

We made it to our last stop on our passport tour, Otter Creek, and guess what? We were carded, yes, the first and only time along the way, but we were asked to show our IDs!


Free popcorn for the boys and free samplers for the moms. Can't beat that!

Copper
IPA
Ultra Gracia Coffee Porta

Bobcat Cafe and Brewery, Bristol

After the life threatening drive through the mountain pass, we really needed a beer. Thank God for the cute, young, chef who let us in, stamped our passports, and gave us beer (even though they were closed)! We tried a Kolsch - yummo, gets a 10 and a Raspberry Wheat which was also quite nice earning a 9.

If you look across the street from Bobcat Cafe and Brewery, you will see the neatest, funkiest, Vermont store. It's a must visit next time you're in Bristol! Loved it and loved Bobcat. Will definitely visit again, just not in the snowy weather and not through the Mad River pass.................

The store across the street is called: Emerald Rose. Everything from Jackie Chan Post cards to Buddha's and prayer flags. Even a
Praying Dash Board Jesus!

The Shed, Stowe

It was snowing in Stowe.... The Shed had food, so we ate lunch. The boys ordered french fries. They earned a rating of 9 without ketchup and a 10 with. The moms each ordered a West Branch Golden, which kinda reminded us of Grandma's attic or a basement that flooded and then dried out. Not our favorite beer, sorry Shed.

Rock Art Brewery, Morrisville, VT

Rock Art was really cool! We loved the vibe, the stuff they sold inside, the delicious beer, and the nicest curly haired brewery friend we've met - Valerie! Valerie hooked us up with some great samplers. The first was the most unique beer I've had yet, Sunny and 75 degrees. It was spicy and fruity but really good. We tried The Riddler, The Ridge Runner, and Summer IPA. I have to say my personal favorite would be the Ridge Runner with the Riddler coming in a close second, both earn a 10 from me! We got tons of information from Valerie on the different types of beer and even got some tips on making our own micro-brews. Tracy

This was certainly the highlight of our morning because after this the story goes down hill (no pun intended). We encountered lots of snow and lots of mountains. Please read our OMG from Stowe to Bristol post to hear what happens next!

Thanks Valerie for making our day! Love your hair and love you! xoxoxo Tracy & Abby

This brewery stop was what I love about Vermont, it was out back behind a building that stored plows and equipment. Inside was small, and warm (pellet stove), the bar was a beautiful assortment of woods that someone connected to the bar lovingly made. Valerie who was working that day even told us that one of their brewers is a woman! Tracy and I liked that. The beer was fantastic!!! I'd go here again for sure.

OMG trip from Stowe to Bristol! 11/27/10

Seriously, we could have died! We started out early Saturday morning headed for a North and West tour to capture our last four passport stamps. We planned a great big loop of a tour and we were so excited to finish this final leg of an amazing experience! First stop: Rock Art, Morrisville, VT from there we would travel south to The Shed in Stowe, and then onto Bristol to find Bobcat and finally end at Otter Creek in Middlebury. On paper it was a long but great plan. We had our trusty GPS, a full tank of gas, four wheel drive, and away we go! (You can read about each of these breweries on their individual posts. The beer was exceptional and we met some wonderful people). The story I want to write here is about a harrowing car ride over the Mad River Glenn pass, and down about 3000 feet in elevation. Yes, we encountered snow from Danville onward (most of the trip). We drove in four wheel drive and listened as our GPS friend sent us into imminent danger! OMG, we climbed a mountain like none of us had ever seen before (in VT anyway). And when we got to the top, all you could see was sky and no road. It was so steep that you couldn't even see down! Horrific fear set in. We were skidding down the mountain sideways,remarkably we all remained calm. Abby did this incredible co-pilot soothing voice thing and Tracy managed to drive without freaking out, taking us in and out of skids. The boys tried not to look or talk but you could hear quiet whimpers coming from the back seat. After 19 miles of pure fear, we made it to sunny skies and bare tar (no snow). Bobcat was closed but the friendly chef gave us some samplers anyway. We really needed them!
Earlier we came upon an accident half way down a different mountain. Perhaps this should have been a warning...
The good news is we are safe and importantly we lived to find the last three breweries. There is however, a moral to go with this story: NEVER take Route 17 in the late fall, winter or early spring!

Abby here and I just wanted to add that Tracy really took control of that SUV on route 17! I am a VT girl, lived on a farm for 18 years and visited many VT towns and I have never been so impressed with how one girl mastered a vehicle! Tracy, this farm girl was impressed!