Two options today…. The 7.2 mile short route or 13.2 mile long route. I didn’t come here for no short route! Unfortunately none of my fellow hikers felt the same way so I was on the long road alone.

At the 9 mile mark I reached the famous Vermont Country Store. I could have spent an hour there looking through the many interesting things they sell. I wasn’t the only one. When I got there, who did I find shopping? Shirley and Mary! We ended up sharing a lunch of cheese, crackers and fudge. Then I headed back out to walk, and they explored the sites in Weston.

The Benedictine Priory

For logistical reasons, rather than start walking right from the B&B, we were driven to the Benedictine Priory a few miles away and started walking there. The Priory is set in a peaceful area which lends itself to contemplative activities. Shirley and Mary also drove up to the Priory as part of their day as well.

The Vermont Country Store

Weston is the home to the Vermont Country Store whose catalog many of you may get. It’s a really fun store with tons of unique products that you won’t see anywhere else. When I arrived, I found Mary and Shirley had already been shopping for a while. I hope they didn’t tire themselves out too much while I walked.

The Colonial Inn

Our hosts tonight just purchased this B&B earlier in the year, and hosted their first guests last week. They’re friendly and enthusiastic which should serve them well in this business. They have been great to us, and we’ve enjoyed our time here.

What did Mary and Shirley do today?

As usual, they lounged after breakfast, then explored Ludlow, the town where our B&B was set. After that, they visited the Priory, shopped at Vermont Country Store (and a couple of other places), and visited sites around Weston including a graveyard with Revolutionary War era graves.

I invited them to walk the last few miles (mostly uphill) with me. They laughed in my general direction.