On this clear cool night, the temperature is dropping quickly. It is currently 28 degrees in Westerlo but will certainly drop to 25 degrees or lower by morning. Simply said, it’s getting cold with the clear skies.

While it was a nice weekend it seemed very abbreviated heading out to the Green Mountain State for only one night up at Old Job / White Rocks National Recreation. The campsite on the short little spur along Forest Road 279A is quite nice, but it sure was cold last night with the wind whipping around. The rain at 9 PM didn’t help. But today was nice except for the cold.

After hiking up White Rocks Mountain to the overlook, I hiked back to my truck, then hiked up to the Ice Bed Overlook. I was surprised that the 3/10th of a mile hike to Ice Bed Overlook is pretty steep and involves multiple switchbacks and some climbing over rocks. But almost the view of White Rocks Mountain from Ice Bed Overlook is superior to the view from the top of White Rocks Mountain.

My ankle held up pretty well today, but I still need to do more hiking to continue to build it up. I was glad, but i sure was tired. White Rocks Overlook may only be an ascent of 1,250 over 1 1/2 miles, but I was sure tired by the time I reached the top. I really got to work more on getting myself into shape.

Regardless, Vermont was beautiful but it was no West Virginia. The roads are relatively flat, straight, and easy driving in Vermont. Some great scenery along US Route 7, especially the Super 2 Bypass just south of Manchester. But the land is not nearly as rugged, beautiful, or special as West Virginia. Just going up to Vermont made my heart yearn more from West Virginia. Well, it will be November 2016 before you know it.

At this point one year from now the polls will have been closed for an hour in New York State and the election night results will be rolling in. I will be sitting, very alone in the room, carefully studying the news and figuring out what is next. A lot of effort goes into these elections, but then they are all over, and everybody takes a brief, deep breath. And West Virginia will be nice.

Route 7 was a cluster coming back but for the most part traffic was moving. Unlike on the way out, there was no crashes or significant delays on this road. But NY 7 these days is constantly over capacity, and is much too narrow and twisty to be the main arterial from Albany to Bennington and all points north. Route 279 helps bypass Bennington, which helps on the Vermont end, but it still a pain driving with so much traffic on this little road.

By the time I got back home and unpacked I was running late for Sunday dinner at the folks house. But I sent them a text message and they held the chicken and fixings they were making in the over a little longer, so I made it time. I probably should have gotten an earlier start this morning and skipped the hike up to Ice Bed Overlook, but the view was worth it. I don’t know the next time I will get a chance to get back up to Vermont.

Good afternoon from White Rocks Cliff. Cold morning here in Vermont. Currently 48 degrees, which is the high for the day. Sunny. Brisk with a stiff breeze. Earlier this morning it was 26 degrees. It sure was nice being able to get up this morning, flip a switch and have 18,000 btu from my Big Buddy blowing in my face. Had to turn it down after a few minutes. I like my new toy.

One year from now will be Election Day and people will be voting for President and all the down ballot races. Will voters want that new car smell? Or stay away from the new for their old rusty trusty? Then I will probably be on the way to West Virginia to explore the wild lands I only got to briefly explore in October.

Those my nights sure are long these days. I ended up retiring to my truck bed around 9 PM because the nights are so long and it started to rain. At first some sprinkles than heavier rain. Rain showers were predicted but I didn’t pack a rain coat. The Big Buddy on low below my seat kept it toasty for several hours before I went to bed. The camp fire keeps your front warm but not so much on the back. It was around 41 degrees but with the breeze felt much colder. The stars were nice for a while and I saw a shooting star.

This afternoon I’m at White Rocks Cliffs and the Ice Fields. Some nice views but not what I was expecting from the pictures I saw. A nice day but chilly with the winds whipping around. I’m a bit out of shape for hiking, I averaged one mile per hour on the steep part of the climb. My ankle doesn’t hurt but it’s a little weak as is my knees. I keep walking as much as possible around town but it’s still building up from the injury.

I really like working with propane. It’s not as messy or smelly as gasoline or liquid fuel. No need to pump it and as a gas doesn’t gum up things. I think with the 20 lb rank that is refillable, it is much cheaper. A gallon of Coleman fuel is like $12. In contrast, 20 lb of propane is $16. Propane doesn’t spill. It is a lot heavier and bulky, so not appropriate for backpacking or canoeing. But I can keep the liquid fuel appliances for those purposes. I may think of getting a propane lantern and stove eventually.