Day Trip to New York & Vermont

[taxlady]

We just got back from a day trip the U.S. We went to Champlain, New York and got swestrup's nosal spray at two different pharmacies, because the first one only had two bottles. We also bought some local maps. That was about all there was to do in Champlain. It's not a very big town. So, mission accomplished, it was time for some scenery viewing.

We drove to Rousse's Point and it seemed bigger than Champlain, even though the map claims it has a smaller population. We had coffee and figured out a route. Rousse's Point is right on Lake Champlain. Off we went, accross the bridge to Vermont. The view is really quite nice from the bridge; we managed to see the ruins of an old fort, whose name I've already forgotten.

More scenic driving: lovely views of Lake Champlain, the Green Mountains, cows, farm country, and marshes. The farmers only seem to grow corn or cows. Arrived in St. Albans. This was a surprising town. It has a lovely downtown, a lovely large park in front of a nice old court house, and at least three attorney's offices. We'll have to spend more time in St. Albans some other time. It was a much larger town than we expected - population 13,243. We had chosen St. Albans because it has the closest Taco Bell. I admit it. I like Taco Bell. But, it doesn't quite live up to my teenage memories. This Taco Bell was part of a joint Taco Bell/ Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant. Seemed a little odd.

After Taco Bell, it was time to drive home. But, I wanted to get some cheap U.S. gasoline. We had already seen the prices and calculated that the worst of them translated to approximately $0.65/litre for the high octane stuff that my car likes. Yesterday I paid Cdn $0.824/litre, with $.03/litre discount for cheapie Thurdsay. So, I turned off the highway 2 miles before the border. I swear I saw an icon for gasoline on that turn off sign. Well, we drove for miles before we got to a closed gas station. Then we drove some more. The countryside was pretty, so why not. We finally found an open Texaco station in Swanton. Yikes, U$1.7899/ gallon - only a penny less than the highest price we had seen. But, it was still cheaper than at home. I filled up the tank and went to pay. I had a look at the receipt and it said $1.49/gallon.

Me, "Why was the gas only $1.49/gallon?"
Cashier, "That's the price for regular unleaded."
Me, "But I'm sure I chose super unleaded (or supreme or whateve the highest octane gas is called at Texaco)"
Other cashier, "Oh yeah, that pump is broken."

Grrrrr, they couldn't have put a sign? Knud the Volvo likes "Super". He runs better on super and gets better mileage. Well, at least all of the rest of the trip was delightful. Even the border crossing was a breeze.

Comments

[kishiriadgr.livejournal.com]

Taco Bell is paired up with Kentucky Fried and often Pizza Hut too because they are all owned by Pepsi. However, when they are, they are usually Taco Bell Express and not as good. Taco Bell's food is quite satisfying, I find, though if you want good Mexican fast food, this is the place to be. Rubio's Baja Seafood is ok, Pollo Loco is great, Del Taco is a better version of Taco Bell. Down the street we are lucky enough to have Filibertos (http://www.filibertos.com) an Arizona-Mex place that serves terrific chicken burritos and makes wonderful chilaquiles in the morning.

[taxlady.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, just rub it in, that you can get good Mexican food lots of places nearby.

Our favourite Mexican restaurant got sold and the new owner "modernized" the menu. Unfortunately, he had no clue as to what constitutes good Mexican food. I'm not even sure if it is still a Mexican restaurant. It was downtown. The other Mexican places here seem to care more about making a good Margarita than about making good food.

Thank goodnes swestrup makes great tacos.

[ellenk.livejournal.com]

Nosal spray?

[taxlady.livejournal.com]

Yup, nosal spray. Sometimes we play with words. I'll try to think of some other ones.

[kishiriadgr.livejournal.com]

Course IMHO the best Mexican food is sold on the street in Mexico, but that´s just me. It doesn´t resemble what you would buy at Taco Bell.

[taxlady.livejournal.com]

I think that constitutes further "rubbing it in" ;) since you live so close to Mexico. But, I'm sure the best Mexican food would be found in Mexico.