Sunday September 17th 2023 - Pont Au Rouche State Park - near Plattsburgh NY - 4 miles, minimal elevation gain

The original plan today was to head into Burlington and just spend the day revisiting Brian’s old haunts.  By the time we had breakfast (Panera Bread) and were ready to get on our way, Google Maps was already reporting that there was a delay at the ferry crossing point.  So, similar to last night, we had to choose between hanging out in a potentially long line of cars inching forwards to get on one of the next 2 or 3 ferry’s crossing the lake, or take the long meandering drive north up to Rouse’s point then back south to Burlington. The drive time was nearly 2 hours by the time we asked Google Maps to avoid the interstate as we often do.  Even without that request we were looking at at least an hour forty five minutes there and probably similar coming back to our hotel in Plattsburgh in the evening.  It seemed like a lot of driving to walk along Lake Champlain and have a maple soft serve (called Creemee in Vermont speak) ice cream which were Brian’s 2 main wishes for the day.  So we opted to find things to do in and near Plattsburgh.

A visit to the chamber of commerce office (which wasn’t open) did yield a few maps and brochures and we learned that Pont Au Rouche State Park had an 8 mile long trail network and many of them offered Lake Champlain views. And it was just minutes from the hotel we were staying at.  So we went there instead and had wonderful peaceful walks, lots of close up lake views and some good morning exercise and sun.










After the walk we tried several places that might have had Maple soft serve ice cream in or near Plattsburgh but were unsuccessful on that quest.  We filed the rest of our day doing a little shopping at Kohl’s and Target and having a satisfying Indian food afternoon lunch/dinner combo meal very near our hotel.  Our last outing was to a different ice cream place which we knew didn’t have Maple ice cream but still sounded really nice, IceBurgh.  They have a very nice country location with many picnic tables and, unusually for an ice cream shop, very clean tables and grounds with lots of sanitizing wipes to clean up after little kids ice cream messes.  We really enjoyed sitting outside and having our ice cream.  Then we came back to the hotel, each took relaxing soaking baths and then watched Master Chef and listened to some music before heading to bed before 9 which should give us an early start for the 4 or 5 hour long drive home in the morning.

Though the death of family is an unfortunately reason to have a long weekend, it is a chance to appreciate your family, spend time with them and take a little break from the heavy grind so many of us operate under in the day to day.


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