Day Two: Fall Foliage Photo Workshop

We began the day by leaving WRJ at 6:15am. It was mild and very, very foggy. We headed to the head of Quechee Gorge and took photos of the misty reflections on the pond. It was just ok.

We then headed over to the Farmer's Diner in Quechee. This popular draw was worth seeing...the food was fine.


We then headed up to Rock of the Ages in Graniteville. We got a jolly introduction to the world of granite, paid our $4.00 fee and got on the first bus to head up to the observation platform. It was a Friday, so the place was a-buzz with workers. About 40 workers toil away in the quarry which measures 10 miles wide, 1 mile deep and two miles across. The tour guide says if they continue to quarry stone at today's rate, they'll use it all up in 4,500 years. Now, technology will have to change; as of today, they're unable to lift blocks out of the quarry from more than 600 feet.

Rock of the Ages is a giant, publicly-traded company with other quarries in PA, NC and Ukraine. They are the grandaddy of headstone production.

After the quick tour, we walked to the nearby abandoned quarry which was filled with water. It's kind of spooky to look over the side straight down and see algae-covered, submerged trees.

We left Graniteville for Morse Farm, a sugar house, in Montpelier. This is a major tourist bus stop, so be prepared to see a small barn full of chachka. It also has a charming video featuring Burr Morse.

We then drove back down to Barre and found our way to Pierre Couture's Millstone Lodge in Websterville, VT. Pierre provides detailed trail maps for the 1,500 acres of hiking and biking trails that criss-cross a slew of abandoned quarries, most of which are filled with water. This is a spectacular place. Loved it.

We headed for home in the dark and went back to the Seven Barrel Brewery. It was packed - food is pretty good.