Vermont

When Paul worked for Object Design, many years ago, he got to know Lauren who now lives in Vermont, not far from the Canadian border, and only 3 hours from Montreal.

So we boarded the bus and headed south, across the US border to Burlington Airport where Lauren picked us up and drove us home to the, wonderfully named, Mad River valley where she lives with her husband Geoff.  It's a very alternative place so I'm not sure if mad refers to the river or the inhabitants!  The Vermont countryside lives up to its name (Vermont is French for green mountain).

Vermont with Lauren and Geoff

And it turns out that Portland has a rival in the beer making stakes.  I carelessly mentioned that we'd had some great beers in Portland and realized immediately that these were fighting words.  Vermont also prides itself on its many microbreweries.  The Saturday night Lauren and Geoff proved it by taking us to see their friends who throw an annual party in their barn - as you do.  They also play in a band.  Several local beers were on tap.

Barn Night