Brandon, Vermont, is an old, lovely town. Older yet, however, is the so called Old Brandon. I have lived in nearby Salisbury for years, and only heard of Old Brandon a few days ago. I was visiting with some neighbors recently, and the subject of Old Brandon came up quite tangentially. It was explained to me that near where the thriving village of Brandon stands today, there is an older village, long since abandoned and in a state of ruin.
Well, it’s autumn, so I have posted the obligatory foliage photos. Take a look at the gallery, if you’d like.
I have been looking across Lake Dunmore from it’s western shore at a power line easement, and wondering how to get to the top. The views from up there should be spectacular. Turns out, it isn’t much effort at all, and the views exceed expectations. The road up from Rt 53 to Silver Lake is an easy hike; near the top a couple of other roads lead into the Silver Lake trail from the right. Following either one a short distance will lead to either the power line easement or an aqueduct easement. If you find yourself at the aqueduct, proceed on uphill, and you will arrive at the power line easement. Look back toward Lake Dunmore and you’ll see the overlook. It is an easy hike to the top.
If you prefer, go on up to the lake, and when you head back down, find the first road to the left after you cross the footbridge. Go up the road a few yards until you see another footbridge over the half buried aqueduct. Go over that bridge and follow your nose up to the overlook. If you’re a kid, you can practically jog up that trail; if you’re older or in poorer shape, take your time. No single step of the hike is undoable and your patience will be rewarded. Don’t go without a camera and binoculars, and if you can, con someone into hauling a picnic with you.
The day I was up there, the sky was a little hazy, so the view into the remote distance wasn’t ideal. The photographs show it, too. But they are still nice photos. I just need to get up there on a clearer day.
We had a minor flood here, today. See the Photo Gallery for pictures. It rained a great deal all summer, and there has been some minor flooding. Here at Lake Dunmore, there was just enough flooding to be interesting. Not much property damage, and not too much frustration. The rain is supposed to continue for several days.