Burlington Pumpkin Regatta - Part 2

Burlington, VT - In addition to the Pumpkin Regatta there was other things happening on shore. Making an appearance was Miss Vermont Teen USA - Shelby Layne Gregorie and Miss Vermont USA - Nydelis Ortiz.


This girl was doing her best Chris Angel impression...no just kidding...she was practicing her dance moves for a show later in the day.


There was vendors selling their wares; here is Vermont Pickle. In addition to pickles made of cucumbers they had pickled carrots. I especially liked the "Hot Carrots".


I honed in on the Maple Doughnuts at the Palmer's Sugar House booth when I first got there...awesome.


They had some games to play there also, pumpkin sweeping anyone?


There were also crafts to do such as paper hat making run by Davis Studio.


There was also a scarecrow contest.


It's Butterfly Dog. People brought their pets for the Best Dressed Pet Contest. I tried to take a photo of a dog dressed like a pumpkin but the owner started to yell at me, she did not want me to take a photo of the dog. Um, it is a dog dressed as a pumpkin in public...that just begs for a photo.


These two "Cow People" were paddlers sponsored by Ben and Jerry's.


It's Helga the two fisted cell phone user.


In addition to the other festivities there were Pie Eating Contests.


It was messy!

Burlington Pumpkin Regatta - Part 1

Burlington, VT - This is the third Burington Pumpkin Regatta which takes place on Lake Champain. Here you can see the "boats", giant pumpkins which are donated by the Vermont Giant Vegetable Growers.


You can see the size in relation to this women. The weights ranged from about 700 to 1100 lbs.


This guy has claimed his craft.


A pumpkin is set up so you can take your photo with it, you head gets eaten.


The heavy artillery is brought out to cut the pumpkin.


This pumpkin is hollowed out so it can be ridden in. The seeds are saved and sold so you can grow one of these behemoths.


The pumpkins are loaded into the water with a tractor with a loader.


Here you can see one of the contestants riding her pony.


Closing in on the competition.


Her pumpkin was a bit out of control, it is not easy padding a pumpkin.


A pirate flying to Jolly Roger.


It was bedlam on the course.


Piloting the dragon ship, this was the eventual winner of the sponsored division of the pumpkin boats.


From planes to boats, he does it all.

Rock Art

Burlington, VT - Along the Burlington Bikeway is this beach with all this rock art. Here are a few examples.


Passion!


Peace and Love


Rock Arches


A whole series of rock art.


Rock Machine


Stacks


Tiled Rock

Trail Speak

Burlington VT - Along the Burlington Bikeway is this box that asks that people answer a question written on the black board above. The answers are posted on Trail Speak website

The Burlington Earth Clock

Burlington, VT - These stones are the Burlington Earth Clock, it is a 43 foot circle of 14 stones located along the Burlington Bikeway. The stones align to where the Sun sets at different times of the year such as Solstices and Equinoxes. In the center of the circle two people are doing their yoga exercises. The Earth Clock is created by Circles for Peace. This is a quote from their website, "Circles for Peace is a Vermont grassroots non-profit organization that is based on the philosophy that by witnessing of the rhythms and cycles of nature we can restore inner peace and inner strength".



This sign explains how to use the clock. The second phase is building a sundial.



Information from: Circles for Peace website

Burlington Vermont Bikeway

Burlington, Vermont - When I went up to Vermont I brought my
bicycle. Now I must preface this by saying that I have not ridden a bicycle in ten years; I guess this is trial by fire. I decided to try riding on a paved bike trail and the Burlington Bikeway fit the bill nicely. It was almost all flat or very minor hills. I did find just a couple of narrow sections and a few road crossings downtown(I still have pedals with straps to hold your feet in) that I was a bit nervous on, but once I got my "bike legs" again they were not a problem.



The views of Lake Champlain from the bikeway were spectacular.



This is a bridge over the Winooski River as it feeds into Lake Champlain.



Another bridge, this one over a swampy area.



South of downtown Burlington is an area that has these marble blocks that are carved; this one is a mermaid. I am wondering if these are finished works or did the artist run into a problem? They seem to be almost finished but not quite.



North of Burlington is a park, sorry did not catch the name, at that park is the start of the trail to the causeway. This trail is not paved, it is made of packed gravel. I was a bit nervous here because the dirt trail went down a hill. Let me remind you again, this is the almost the first time I had been on a bike, on a dirt trail, with 20 year old, 25mm tires. I made it down the hill without a problem but took the paved road back up the hill, just in case.



View on the causeway. At this point I was about six miles from where I started and was hoping that the air would stay in those OLD tubes, especially riding on gravel. By the next day my tires were flat(the bike is now at the shop getting tuned up and getting new tires).



This is Local Motion, "Local Motion is a greater Burlington non-profit promoting bicycling, walking, running, in-line skating and the facilities that make such travel safe, easy, and fun!" Where you can rent a bicyle to take the trail. Here is a link to their website that explains what they do LOCAL MOTION




Another one of those sculptures on the trail. I will be posting more photos of sights along the trail shortly.

Scrabble in the Park

Burlington, VT - An exciting game of scrabble in the Park.

FAIR TRADE AND ORGANIC FOOD PANEL

Burlington, VT - Last time I was up in Vermont we stopped by a panel discussion about Fair Trade and Organic food. We were lured in with the promise of Fair Trade Chocolate and Coffee, and Vermont Ice Cream. The talk was very interesting and I learned a few interesting things. Did you know that milk is basically controlled by two big corporations? Did you know that there is a wide interpretation of what can be called organic? I misplaced the documentation from the discussion but as I remember the panel consisted of a person from Guatamala who works with "Free Trade" coffee growers, a dairy farmer who started an all Vermont milk association, an organic farmer, and a business man who works with women from Tibet who make pressed flower greeting cards. This discussion was sponsored by The Peace and Justice Center and Store from Burlington VT.(Click for Website)


Mmmmmm Fair Trade Ice Cream from the Vermont Milk Company.

WHALE TAILS

Burlington, VT - These whale tails are located off Rte. 89 in Burlington VT. The originally stood just off the Randolph VT exit until they were moved here. They are made of Black Granite and are 13 ft. tall and weigh six tons.

As you may have noticed I have been lax in posting lately, well I've been traveling quite a bit lately and will be gone again next week to the windy city on business. Hopefully, I will be able to do some posting while I am away.