Peace, Love, and Ice Cream

We slept in, since my phone was on vibrate from the theater last night, so we got an even later start than we had planned. After going to the North Beach Campground to dump our tanks, we drove Venture through downtown Burlington, since there didn't seem to be an alternate route to get to Montpelier.

Our first stop was in Waterbury, VT, where the Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream plant offers factory tours and indoctrination. We signed up for the 1:45 tour. Much to our surprise, it seemed that the entire cast and crew of Menopause were on the tour with us. They livened up what would already have been an offbeat experience with their wisecracks and clowning around.

Peace, Love, and Ice Cream

Menopause cast member clowns with our tour guide

Even though "the Boys" sold the company to Unilever in 2001, it still operates with a mission that includes environmental awareness. Milk is bought from small family dairies in Vermont that agree not to use growth hormones, which make cows more vulnerable to infections. Even the restrooms at the facility are part of the effort to be earth friendly. Signs asking "How blue is your loo?" go on to say that the blue water indicates that processed waste water is used to flush the toilets.

After the tour, free sample of Orange and Cream (orange sorbet swirled in vanilla ice cream--reminded us of creamsickles from our childhood), and a brownie special sundae made with Cherry Garcia ice cream, we headed up the hill to the Flavor Graveyard, where retired flavors are "mourned."

What, no blueberry???

Deathless poetry?

Then on to Montpelier Elks Lodge. We dropped the trailer and headed into town to visit the capitol building--called the State House. The guards were about to lock the front doors, but they kindly let us in and directed us upstairs to see the Senate Chamber and the House of Representatives. We also saw the Governor's ceremonial office and a large reception room named in honor of a Civil War battle in which Vermont troops fought.

Golden dome of the Vermont State House

Charlie-O's, boasts "Good Drinks and Bad Company, Since the War Between the States"

Intimate Senate Chamber

House of Representatives is a bit larger....

The Elks Lodge has a large parking lot that is bordered by a golf course and a woods, so we have a quiet place to spend the night. There are no hookups and no fee (freewill donations to their charity are accepted).