Chocolate Highs and Chasm Depths: Chestertown, Adirondack Mts, New York 10/5/09

We enjoyed driving over Snuggler’s Notch so much yesterday, that we decided to take the long way into Burlington and drive over the pass again today. We were not disappointed the colors were spectacular. We enjoyed taking the long round about way into Burlington to our final destination of Lake Champlain Chocolates. We showed up for the 1:00 tour and I was not disappointed! We got a LOT of samples (white, milk, 54%, 70% and a truffle). Of course, we had to taste the ice cream too. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing them make different chocolate items such as the cherry cordials, chocolate Santas, & chocolate honey-carmel drops – all done by hand. What I enjoyed even more was Ned correcting (under his breath) our tour guide as she described the chocolate process. (Silly girl didn’t know that putting untempered chocolate in the fridge causes FAT bloom not sugar bloom or her description of the process to make chocolate liquor was actually the description of how cocoa powder is made…) Soon after, we bid farewell to Vermont, and caught a mid-afternoon ferry across Lake Champlain to Upper State New York. Our big surprise of the day was the Ausable Chasm. We had just started on Route 9 and came upon a massive stone bridge that reminded us of the Carriage Roads in Acadia. As we crossed, we were amazed at the HUGE falls and large chasm below. We parked, walked mid span across the bridge and spent some time viewing the monstrous cavern filled with gushing water. It’s a 150 foot drop to the depths of the chasm. I was a little more timid (understatement) than Ned at looking over the edge, but wow what a sight! Today’s pic doesn’t do it justice. It’s shot looking out from the bridge, rather than straight down. We proceeded on Route 9 thru the Adirondack Mts saddened by all the run down and abandoned motor lodges and resorts. Talk about a bygone era. Most of the campgrounds are closed for the season, but we found a small RV park that has all the amenities – electricity, internet, laundry, etc. – thus my many posts on facebook tonight! Tomorrow we head to the Catskill Mountains in search of Jewish comedians.