Our new solar home

We had 24 Sunpower solar panels installed on our house. The outlay for installation by Solar Energy World was $34,000 - however - 1/3 will be returned as a federal tax credit and a $2700 grant from the state of Maryland. Additionally there will be a tradable Solar Renewable Energy Crdeit generated that can be sold for approx $1000 per year over the next 10 to 15 years. The panels should provide about 40% of our energy needs. During the day it is very exciting to watch our electric meter run backwards!

Day 6 coming home

Quechee Gorge Vermont
The trip will be viewed backwards for the endpoint here in Quechee Gorge Vermont, just outside of Woodstock Vermont where we stayed one night. A nice little town that appears to be recovering well from the hurricane. Before Woodstock we stayed in a town called North Hero, Vermont on an island in Champlain. These islands are not small - all together they probably have the land mass of Long Island - who knew? Not many pictures from there as it rained the whole time. Before North Hero, we stayed at the Garnet Hill Lodge near Gore Mountain - a place I would highly recommend - and not just because Bobby stayed there,

Day 6

Quechee Gorge Vermont

Day 5

Moss Glen Falls in Vermont

Day 5

A falls on Route 100 in Vermont - Moss Glen Falls.
The entire stretch of highway is being rebuilt after the devastating floods from Irene. We crossed many new areas of contruction, including a brand new bridge. We also witnessed many houses and farms destroyed. The rivers now look like innocent little streams - who knew the devastation they could wreak.

Day 4

Miserable day but walked on Chazy Reef http://www.ilmpt.org/ilmpt/The_Chazy_Reef_on_Isle_La_Motte.html
Apparently one of the oldest known formations in the US - many pretty interesting fossils on an interesting island called the Isle of La Motte

Day 3

On the road to Lake Champlain

Day 3

On the road to Lake Champlain

Day 2

Helen at Hoopers Mine

Day 2

a walk in the woods

Day 2

From within Hooper Mine

Day 2

The view from the Old Hooper Mine

Day 2

Old Hooper Mine where they mined garnet. There are still gems embedded within the stone all throughout the old mine area.

Day 2

William Blake Pond - and a brief bit of blue sky

Day 2

A hike in the woods to William Blake Pond

Day 2

 He's hiding

destination Day 1

Who knew that a bunch of wild turkeys is called a rafter of turkeys - anyway they were visiting for a while.

Destination day 1 Garnett Hill Lodge

This is the view from our room at Garnett Hill Lodge. Interestingly there is are two pictures by the stairs of Bobby abd Ethel Kennedy and one with Bobby and I believe his daughter Kathleen Former Lt Gov of Maryland) from 1965 when they stayed at the Lodge and entered the White Water Derby.

Adirondack trip day 1

I dont know the name of the creek

Adirondack trip day 1

Adirondak trip day 1

Adirondack Birthday Trip

A trip to the Adirondacks for Helen's birthday. Going north on Routes 30 and 8 and 28 we encountered many creeks, streams and rivers.

Cherry Blossoms March 30 2011

Here are a couple of different views of the Washington Monument - one with a Japanese Pagoda in the forefront, located near the FDR Memorial - the other taken from the George Mason Memorial (who knew there was one? And who knew that he was such a good guy - refused to sign the Constitution because of its lack of guarantee of freedom for everyone?)

Cherry Blossoms March 30 2011

Planes in DC

Is it me or are these planes scary low?

Snow Geese at Blackwater Wildlife Refuge

The calm before the storm