Out-Doors: End of Summer Bucket List
by Elizabeth Bassett,
September 22, 2011, page 11.....
Late summer activities on water, bicycle and foot, fruit picking and Irene recovery volunteer opportunities.

End of Summer Bucket List
Don’t give up on your summer wish list. September and early October can deliver warm days and cool nights, a great opportunity to check the summer bucket list and see what you missed.

Water
Want to row a boat but don’t own one? It’s not too late to join Community Rowing at the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum. Twice each week at 5:30 p.m., Thursdays at the museum in Basin Harbor and Mondays at Perkins Pier in Burlington, rowers explore the lake in historic wooden longboats. Four to six rowers each pull one long oar as a coxswain steers the craft. The first outing is free and subsequent membership is $10 per evening or $70 for the season that runs from May to October. For more information contact Karen Gallott at the museum, 475-2022.
Recent rains have swelled rivers and lakes so there’s plenty of water for exploring in canoes and kayaks. Nearby favorites include Lewis Creek and Little Otter Creek from the Long Point Access, Converse Bay from the State fishing access, or consider a foliage tour of Green River Reservoir in Morrisville.
If you act quickly, you can have an opportunity this season to try sculling at Hosmer Community Rowing Club at Craftsbury Center. Sculling is rowing a sleek lightweight shell using two oars. The boat has a sliding seat so the rower’s power comes from legs as well as arms. The Rowing Club meets Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. and Fridays at 2 p.m. The first visit is free.
Craftsbury Center (craftsbury.com) is a nonprofit dedicated to participation in lifelong sports with a focus on rowing, Nordic skiing and running. The center’s mission includes the use and teaching of sustainable practices and the protection and management of surrounding land, lake, and trails. Call before you make the long, beautiful drive: 802-586-7767.
It may not be too late for a swim in Lake Champlain. In the spring smaller lakes warm more quickly. In the fall the big lake retains its warmth further into the season. Enjoy some last strokes before frost is on the pumpkin.

Wheels/Pedal Power
Saturday, September 24, pedal your bicycle to demand solutions to the climate crisis. Planet Movers Ride, hosted by 350.org, departs Nor’ester, Waterfront Park, Burlington, at 10:45 a.m. for a 40-mile ride to Montpelier. There will be a return bus. Find information at LocalMotion.org.
Cleaning the garage before winter sets in? Found an old bike or parts? Local Motion’s Bike Recycle Vermont refurbishes old bikes for low-income Vermonters. High-end and vintage bicycles are sold on Craigslist to support the work of this community bike shop, located in the basement of Good News Garage at 664 Riverside Avenue in Burlington’s Old North End. To donate, call 264-9687 or stop by Tuesday-Friday, 1-5 p.m. All donations are tax-deductible.
A favorite bike adventure begins with a ferry ride to Essex, continues with a 12-mile ride (Lakeshore, Whallons Bay, Walker, Route 10) to Wadhams, and includes lunch at Dogwood Bakery (2576 County Route 10. 518- 962-2280). Dogwood Bakery makes wood-fired artisan breads, scones and mini-quiches, roasts its own coffee, and has indoor and outdoor seating. The return ride trends gently down with beautiful vistas across the lake to the Green Mountains. This jaunt is a feast for the eyes and palate.
Summer season at the Depot Theatre in Westport, New York, is drawing to a close. If you missed the Depot Theatre season, make a note on your calendar for next year. It’s possible to float and pedal to weekend matinees, taking the ferry to Essex, biking to Westport, and returning to Charlotte before dark. The Depot Theatre, a 501(c) 3 nonprofit, keeps prices affordable for its professional live theater. The season runs from late-June through mid-September.

On Foot
For biking, walking and hiking, Local Motion’s Trailfinder, trailfinder.info, is a resource for our region and beyond. The Green Mountain National Forest is closed until further notice making both Camel’s Hump and Mt. Abe inaccessible. Access roads to Camel’s Hump from both the Duxbury and Huntington sides were destroyed and are being repaired. Emergency vehicles cannot reach the trails so please honor the closures.
The Green Mountain Club, greenmountainclub.org, posts current conditions. Other Vermont hikes with great views include Sunset Ridge on Mt. Mansfield from Underhill State Park, and in the Worcester Range, Stowe Pinnacle, Hunger and Worcester. If you have the time to ferry to New York, fall favorites include Noonmark, Hopkins, Cascade, Hurricane and East Trail to Blueberry Cobbles on the flank of Giant. Back in Vermont, Snake Mountain in Addison delivers the best view for the effort. It’s also a great vantage point for viewing hawk migrations (September) and flocks of Canada and Snow Geese heading south (early and mid-October, respectively).

Great Pickins’
Picking season at Shelburne Orchards, on the border of Charlotte, is in full swing. More than just apples, the orchard boasts cherries, peaches, table grapes, cider donuts and a kaleidoscope of festivals. It’s apple season now and you can pick from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Shelburne Orchards also sells honey, Cider Jack and local books.

Irene Recovery – Indoors/Outdoors:
Of the severely damaged towns, Waterbury is the closest to Charlotte. On our first visit (see picture) we found piles of debris slumped on the curbs, dumpsters yawning with furniture, cabinets, sheetrock, and fans pushing damp air out of nearly every window. Walking on the mucky sidewalk was a balancing act. One week later some life has resumed – stores open, fewer dumpsters and debris piles – but many buildings are still uninhabitable. Consider spending an afternoon or weekend day helping out. The need is still great.
Check out vtresponse.wordpress.com for a listing of towns and contact information. Bring work gloves, rubber gloves, small tools and a dust mask if possible.