The Green Mountain State

We made it to Vermont! On Friday afternoon we arrived around lunch time to set up camp at Button Bay State Park. This campsite has no hook ups so we are using our solar/LiFePO batteries/inverter to provide all our power for the trailer. Our fresh water tank is 2/3 full and we have plenty of gray/black water capacity for the next three days. Our site is on a large grassy open space near water if we need to fill our tank. Friday was initially overcast with thundershowers but the rain didn't begin until late evening.

Here are some interesting facts about Vermont. The state's name comes from two French words vert (green) and mont (mountain), which explains Vermont's nickname, the "Green Mountain State." Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys defended their homeland from the British during the Revolutionary War. Vermont is the largest producer of maple syrup in the U.S., producing over 500,000 gallons a year.

Button Bay State Park is a 253-acre state park in Ferrisburgh, Vermont on the shores of Lake Champlain. Why is button bay called Button Bay? The calcium which occured naturally in the Champlain Sea cemented the clay into many interesting shapes. The most common concretion looked like an old-fashioned button mold. British soldiers during the Revolution were the first to call this "Button Mould Bay."

We're in the area for three days, primarily to attend Elizabeth and Zach's wedding on Saturday. Friday late afternoon we attended their rehearsal dinner at Lareau Farm, an historic 25 acre farmstead located on the valley floor of the Mad River, known for their flatbread pizzas. We got to visit with Karen's family who are here for the wedding and were introduced to Zach's family and friends. The consensus is that Saturday, despite the rainy weather forecast, is expected to be a joyful day!