Rouses Point is where northeastern New York meets Quebec. Customs meets trains here for clearance in and out of both countries.
I peaked in the windows of the station, then decided to move on since it is only open when trains are expected. Surprised by a pick-up truck rolling into the parking lot I was concerned that I might be in trouble. Much to the contrary, it was a museum docent who lives across the street who jumped out and asked it we wanted a tour.
Here’s the old crew board and telephone system.
A local man donated a trainman uniform from the glory days of passenger service.
Had to photograph this drawing of my favorite Delaware and Hudson deisels in their blue and yellow version of war bonnets.
Why were we in Rouses Point? Well, the Sprinter does need service and the nearest facility is in northern Vermont. Rouses Point is the closest bridge over Lake Champlain enabling us to cross over to Vermont.
Having an early morning appointment tomorrow, we found a nearby Harvest Hosts site where we could spend the night.
Sam Mazza’s Farm had fresh vegetables, baked goods, cider, and a quiet spot in which to camp.
Fresh flowers can be picked to make your own bouquet.
A large level field between the corn maze and the apple trees was a great spot to spend the night.
A few miniature farm animals live near the farm stand.
Sunset had us tucked in and thankful for the kindness of the farm stand owners.
In the morning we bought coffee and fresh cinnamon sugar donuts. Speaking with one of the owners, he commiserated on vehicle repairs and invited us to come back again tonight if “Charley Boys” didn’t have the parts in stock.
Charlebois Freightliner works on BIG vehicles. Unlike at Mercedes-Benz dealers, we were one of the smallest vehicles in the parking lot. They got us in as promised and diagnosed the problem as a failed left front wheel RPM sensor. This is the third RPM sensor failure we’ve experienced on a trip. Charlesbois had a new sensor in stock! They had us repaired under warranty and on our way again by lunch. If you need Sprinter repair work done and can get to Milton, Vermont, this is the place to go.
Friends from high school band days, live nearby on Lake Champlain. It was a great excuse to enjoy a short visit. Walking along the shore road, we could see the apples getting ready to change from green to red.
Must be a really good friend to allow us a front row seat in the yard!
Thanks for taking the time to visit, especially the day you were leaving for Ireland.
It isn’t just vans that need repairs, Beth has been experiencing tooth pain, so we scheduled a visit to a local dentist today. The diagnosis was a cavity that needed more work than could be done here. After consulting with her home dentist, we were armed with some medication and obtained the go ahead to continue exploring with a goal of being home in two weeks for a new dentist appointment.
With a few more hours of daylight available, Beth found us another Harvest Hosts site for the night. Carman Brook Maple & Dairy Farm is about as far north as you can get in Vermont.
Sampling different kinds of maple syrup is a sweet undertaking. Tried four varieties before purchasing a jug of “Very Dark” syrup.
Parking is adjacent to the barn. Be aware that this is a working farm and the cows get fed and prepared for milking at 0600.
Chickens live in this creative “tiny coop” that can be moved around to where fertilizer is needed.
We looked out on two cows taking care of a calf born just yesterday.
Wood stacked for winter reminded us that summer is coming to a close.
Sunflowers and red barns brightened the overcast and drizzly day.
Thank you to the hosts who made us feel at home on their farm. They were happy to tell us all about the different kinds of syrup and talk about their farming experiences.
Carman Brook Farm is a perfect spot if you want to get underway early for an adventure in Quebec.