My Slow Death and Sweet Reward

At the top of Mt Pisgah

Well, as promised I adequately died on the side of a mountain this week in an attempt to increase my stamina and do some sightseeing at the Mount Pisgah Trail. This particular hike was about 4 miles out and back reaching an elevation of about 1600 ft. That being said, I felt like I was rock climbing instead of hiking - and not the fun kind with ropes and harnesses. The rough kind where you don't use your hands even though you kind of want to. Me, being the clumsy, lanky type, almost fell twice which is a personal best seeing as I didn't actually complete the task. Mike and I saw more people than usual on this popular trail, one of which decided to hike with a large barreled shotgun. Upon further investigation this man apparently hikes with a gun for personal bear protection. That being said, bear spray is cheap, light, and 1000% more affective. Regardless, after passing him I couldn't get the image out of my head of attempting to hike with a shotgun in my hand. That would be a recipe for disaster and I am positive my family can attest to that. 

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Lake Willoughby, right below Mt Pisgah

​After having my ass handed to me by a measly 4 mile hike, and Mike for that matter, it was my time to shine. I like to pride myself on picking places to eat, so that is exactly what I was tasked with. Unfortunately many places here in Vermont are still very wary of opening up due to the pandemic, making my job a bit more difficult. I finally found Riley's Fish Shack in St. Johnsbury. This lovely establishment has only been open for about 4 years, but the ever-growing line leading to the order counter would have anyone second guessing that fact. This small shack is open currently for takeout or picnickers, but will most likely open the dining room soon. Mike and I grabbed a couple of sandwiches, some mozzarella sticks, and a beer before setting up camp in the large, grassy space right next to the restaurant. Luckily, the sun shone brightly down on the afternoon and I had a blanket in the back of my car. ​

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Not wanting to go home just yet, Mike and I sought after a brewery to end the day with. We finally found a brewery in St. Johnsbury that wasn't closed called Whirligig. The interesting thing about Whirligig is that the bartender also happens to be the head brewer and owner. So, we learned a few interesting things from him to say the least. To our surprise, Whirligig still is not open for in-house drinking, but we were able to take a couple four-packs to go. We settled on a New England style IPA and a Cider seeing as Ciders are very popular around here. The Cider we bought was tangy, but not tart like many Ciders can be. The blend was very well done and I overall enjoyed the sweetness to it. I definitely will be back to say the least. Since we still weren't ready for home, we ventured next door to a tap room that was officially open for business. Getting a seat outside in the sunny 65 degree weather, Mike and I toasted to a day well spent. 

All in all, I didn't actually die hiking even though halfway though I thought I might. In the meantime, stay in mind, stay in touch, and take one step at a time.