All of the traffic and the stop made us have to rush past Sabin/Reed Hall IMG_0247 to McConnell IMG_0248 where we were able to see Jane from the back IMG_0249 as we all watched IMG_0250 and then her presentation was set up IMG_0251 and delivered IMG_0252 They would have won the game if only I hadn't given the wrong answer. After a few pictures of Jane's friends without IMG_0253 IMG_0254 and with IMG_0255 IMG_0256 Kaylen, it was time to find dinner. Angelina's pizza had a good menu IMG_0257 and this fellow IMG_0258 assured us that he wasn't int he witness protection program as he gave us our drinks IMG_0259 and let us admire their fresh pizzas IMG_0260 along with this magnet IMG_0261 should we ever get back to Northampton. After taking this picture for the collection IMG_0262 it was time to eat though Kaylen IMG_0263 seemed worn out and Benjamin IMG_0264 seemed to be in outer space even as Suzanne IMG_0265 was amused by my self portrait IMG_0266 After a few pictures of their neon IMG_0267 IMG_0268 as Ben IMG_0269 and Kaylen IMG_0270 enjoyed their sandwiches and Suzanne and I split this calzone IMG_0271 and so we were ready to search for the hotel but first we needed gas IMG_0272 for the trip which also required that Suzanne get directions IMG_0273 before we found the hotel IMG_0274 and Suzanne explained the living space IMG_0275 as Benjamin explored the kitchen IMG_0276 while we celebrated our joy at being guest of the day.

The next morning, Benjamin IMG_0277 was up even as Kaylen IMG_0278 slept and I tried to get a good picture of the cookies with flash IMG_0279 or without IMG_0280 but unfortunately, they photographed about as good as they tasted.

Breakfast was a more impressive story with lots of breads and muffins IMG_0281 cereals and fruits IMG_0282 and warm oatmeal IMG_0283 but I started with this healthy plate IMG_0284 as Kaylen IMG_0285 Ben IMG_0286 and Suzanne IMG_0287 enjoyed watching the staff IMG_0288 IMG_0289 IMG_0290 who managed the hotel take care of breakfast. This inspired me to try their waffles IMG_0291 which weighed me down for the day so that I could understand how someone who stayed there for a year IMG_0292 might want to name their suite. After saying goodbye to the desk clerk IMG_0293 we headed back to Smith to get Jane. After a picture with 2 good friends IMG_0294 we did the packing ritual IMG_0295 and then after saying good bye to the girl from Phoenix and her friend IMG_0296 we packed the car IMG_0297 celebrated this fact IMG_0298 and then took a picture of Jane with her friend IMG_0299 and then captured the people from Hanover IMG_0300 whose daughter's sister's friend's friend's sister father is me. These pictures IMG_0301 IMG_0302 IMG_0303 IMG_0304 do a good job of recording the attempts to come up with a plan in the cafeteria amid more good byes IMG_0305 IMG_0306 IMG_0307 before Suzanne and Mary IMG_0308 decided that we should all IMG_0309 head off but first the keys had to be returned IMG_0310 and then we stopped at the book store IMG_0311 to get a Sweatshirt as Tom IMG_0312 was amused at how slow progress was as followed the Sear's IMG_0313 to a parking place where we fed the meter IMG_0314 and got together IMG_0315 for the trip across the street to Fitzwilly's IMG_0316 where the girls IMG_0317 studied the menu as Ben and Suzanne IMG_0318 chatted with Mary IMG_0319 and Jane snapped these pictures of the fathers IMG_0320 IMG_0321 before my portabella sandwich IMG_0322 and the other sandwiches IMG_0323 IMG_0324 and Ben's mac and chack IMG_0325 and the girl's wraps IMG_0326 came along with our waters IMG_0327 to make for a charming meal even without the bathroom directive. We recorded the history of the restaurant building IMG_0328 and headed back for some final good byes IMG_0329 as the mothers watched IMG_0330 even one more round of good byes IMG_0331 IMG_0332 IMG_0333 before we parked the car IMG_0334 at Herell's IMG_0335 and headed in IMG_0336 to check out the menu IMG_0337 record the signs IMG_0338 and get our desserts IMG_0339 IMG_0340 IMG_0341 IMG_0342 before recording the history of the place IMG_0343 as the first home of ice cream of its genre.

By now, the afternoon was wearing on and it was time to head to Brattleboro IMG_0344 where the sign pointed the way to Manchester IMG_0345 even as the mural welcomed us to town. IMG_0346 We knew we were in Manchester when we saw good friend Ralph IMG_0347 and soon we were admiring Mary's picture IMG_0348 of the 6 emotions as we explored the house IMG_0349 IMG_0350 and then the out buildings IMG_0351 IMG_0352 IMG_0353 IMG_0354 IMG_0355 before pausing to get a picture of a very glorious house IMG_0356 where we were when the girls returned from shopping IMG_0357 and Boot fetched my one of Vermont's finest beers IMG_0358 even as food began to appear IMG_0359 IMG_0360 including Carol Mason's olive tray IMG_0361 and we played dueling cameras IMG_0362 before observing Kaylen and Mary IMG_0363 Lauren IMG_0364 Boot IMG_0365 Suzanne IMG_0366 and Nancy (times 3) IMG_0367 IMG_0368 IMG_0369 preparing for all to gather IMG_0370 IMG_0371 for a most remarkable feast. But the biggest treat, was the campfire IMG_0372 where people gathered IMG_0373 and roasted IMG_0374 and slowly moved into view IMG_0375 for bigger IMG_0376 IMG_0377 and even bigger IMG_0378 groups before the smoke IMG_0379 drove all but the hearty IMG_0380 away.

Sunday morning, we began by eating yet another good meal IMG_0381 after which Michael and Judy arrived IMG_0382 and greeted Boot IMG_0383 before making their way IMG_0384 IMG_0385 into the dining room for more muffins IMG_0386 as the teen age girls emerged IMG_0387 and ever so slowly IMG_0388 IMG_0389 made their way to the table IMG_0390 to eat further IMG_0391 before the dueling cameras IMG_0392 came back to record the eating process IMG_0393 IMG_0394 IMG_0395 before Nancy posed for a family photo IMG_0396 and then left because she didn't want to join the other girls IMG_0397 rolled up on the couch watching a stupid movie IMG_0398 as Benjamin, Lauren and Suzanne IMG_0399 IMG_0400 IMG_0401 did the hoops thing before the women returned IMG_0402 and the tour ended IMG_0403 and my Lego tower IMG_0404 would only stand with support.

All of this seemed to suggest that it was time for another meal, so the salads were prepared IMG_0405 though not dressed and the pizzas were brought out IMG_0406 as Jack posed IMG_0407 before the table was set IMG_0408 IMG_0409 IMG_0410 IMG_0411 IMG_0412 as I was given an opportunity IMG_0413 for a professional shot including the chandelier IMG_0414 as the girls IMG_0415 settled in for lunch.

Next thing we knew, it was time to depart, so there were the gathering IMG_0416 IMG_0417 before the group pictures IMG_0418 IMG_0419 IMG_0420 and the dueling camera photos IMG_0421 could be taken as Lauren and Suzanne IMG_0422 came together IMG_0423 for a final picture as Benjamin IMG_0424 was bored with the whole thing and another round of pictures IMG_0425 IMG_0426 led to the novelty of a ``cooperating cameras'' IMG_0427 picture which didn't exactly work. As we passed through Bennington, the girls went in here IMG_0428 as I got gas IMG_0429 and Suzanne went here IMG_0430 where she could buy this pottery IMG_0431 from this woman IMG_0432 and we could continue into town where we found our road sign IMG_0433 and began the ride home. We need to stop and see the farm stand IMG_0434 and the rest rooms IMG_0435 in New Baltimore but we waited dinner until we got to the Appleby's, always a mistake where the group photo IMG_0436 was good, the menu reading IMG_0437 was less good, the food IMG_0438 was even less good, though we finished it all IMG_0439 (well almost) IMG_0440 before taking this picture IMG_0441 which describes our philosophy of life at that point of the trip.

In all, it was a delightful weekend.