The Shelburne Museum (5/22-23/2023 Mon-Tue)

Anne and I woke up, and began steeped two bags of RoadMap CoffeeWorks. Then sat behind our prior nights rain fly now tipped to become a wind break. After coffee we walked to The Windmill diner for breakfast. Then mounted up for the short ride up to the museum.

The museum was way larger and diverse than I had expected. Anne remember a long circus train from her visit 40 plus years ago, but little else. We did't arrive until maybe 1130, and they are open 1000-1700. We hadn't finished by 1700, so we used the free 2nd day option to come back on Tuesday. Honestly we didn't miss a lot, so being slightly quicker and onsite the entire time they are open would have been sufficient.

I guess if you have enough money you can collect nearly anything. Certainly there are limits you think, but after seeing this museum I can't imagine what those limits might be. They have a 220 steamboat, full steam engine and luxury car. Collections of: art, glassware, decoys, horse drawn sleighs & cariages, bridges, house, sawmills, lighthouse, barns, blacksmith & wheelwright. Not enough whimsy for you, then add in a carousel, circus parade, and wonderful gardens. They even build a stunning new building to incorperate rooms moved from one floor of their penthouse, the full penthouse took three floors in New York City. This all sounds a bit over the top and wasteful, but it's done in an amazingly well layed out manner and captures a time that would have otherwise been lost. There is something for all tastes here, and nobody will like every exhibit. I wasn't interested in the Band Boxes, but the area that contained mounted animals and primitive living, and tree samples was very interesting to me. I'm sure some would be appalled at those same areas and love the silverware and glassware on display. Or the general store and Apothecary. Or the gun collection.

Upon leaving the museum we talked with our ticket provider on her way out. She suggested a great place for a low key dinner at Archie's Grill, a local burger joint. That was paired with Scoops, an ice-cream parlor. Both hit the spot. We then picked up some refreshments for around the fire and returned to sit by the fire and nearly fall asleep. The only painful bit was the roadwork being done infront of our campground, which is on a separated road. Making U-turns necessary for every trip. And the night paving held up traffic and changed the patterns frequently. Eventually we learned to take the parallel roads and avoid as much as possible. The road into the campground couldn't be avoided and was under construction for a new medical building. The campground road was a packed 2in stone, except for where they worked on drainage with a small excavator (while we went to the museum). Good thing we ride adventure bikes and Anne is not as big a whimp as she might claim to be.

In the morning we packed up and repeated most of the prior day. The Mill for breakfast, museum, then back for "7 Layer bar" ice-cream before heading home. Once home by 2030, the day wasn't over until we hung the wet tent and brought up the dirty clothes and dishes for washing. Finally I was home, one month after leaving for Florida. Already having spent time with Anne, there was one very happy dog and a very comfortable bed waiting at home.