And Willie Said: Farming, Logging, Manufacturing and Distilling

Day 21 - Thursday, August 4, 2022

Copper Cannon Distillery, West Chesterfield NH

Dawn at Spruce Creek this morning is at 5:30am and it is 65 degrees. Not as cool as yesterday, but the early daylight is because we are closer to the North Pole here than at home. We leave at 11:30 onto another hilly, curvy highway with lots of 'S' turns, and Herb drives very safely as we travel toward New Hampshire.

I am so amazed at the industries and activities we see here in eastern upstate New York. The first sign I see is caution for horseback riding, and I am surprised that a person would be brave enough to get on this busy highway. It is not a main highway, as we are avoiding many of them in order to take a more scenic route.

Seeing the logging, I am reminded of my days when I worked in the office of a sawmill and learned how to grade lumber. That wasn't part of my job description, but I just needed to satisfy my curiosity. The General Manager was happy to educate me. (I can tell you about a debarker and what a slab is, as well as what SYP means. And the properties of a #2 grade board as opposed to a #1 or #3). The chains on the wheels of the logging trucks are to help them get their loads out of wet, swampy areas.

Yes, construction is a big industry and it looks like the lane we are in has not yet been completed, judging from the uneven lanes.

Traveling through the town of Troy, we are amused at the sign reading, "Home of Uncle Sam" and my camera is drawn to the architecture and reddish color of the Hoosick Country Store in the village of Hoosick. It's no longer 65 degrees, and the Dark Sky app shows the ambient temperature at 93 degrees.

Just before crossing into the state of Vermont, we see lots and lots of Adirondack chairs and learn that they originated just to the north in the town of Westport, New York. Although they are very beautiful and I could probably take a nap in one, I find it hard to get out of one.

Wilmington, Vermont, looks like a cute touristy town, and we wish we had time to stop and play, but we must drive on. The terrain is just lovely with the mountains, hills, winding road, and wild flowers along the road.

We see windmills for the first time since leaving Texas, and naturally assume it is quite windy on the mountain tops.

The name of this brewery catches my attention. Is there something about the brewing process that I don't understand? Or could it be someone's name?

I don't even see what may have been the old highway leading to the old, rusty bridge.

After a long day's ride, we arrive to our destination, Copper Cannon Distillery in West Chesterfield, New Hampshire, which is just a few miles over the state line between Vermont and New Hampshire.

Jamie, our host at this Harvest Host venue, arrives shortly after we do, about 5:30 pm. It is 93 degrees and we are glad to go from the motorhome air conditioning to the air conditioning in his building. He tells us a bit about his operation, which is relatively young, and that he has been making rum. Only recently he distilled his first whiskey.

Whatever it is that he is pointing to, it makes Herb laugh. He puts out different bottles from his stock to sample. The ribbons suggest that he has won some awards.

After sampling some of his products, Herb purchases two bottles of 80 proof hand crafted Vodka from Batch #4, and two bottles of 101 proof bourbon whiskey. Named 'Fort No. 1,' the bourbon is from Batch #1 and aged 4 years. I find this information overwhelmingly fascinating.

I inquire about the water on the floor in the next room, and Jamie tells me he had been cleaning out the tanks after the distilling process.

As a member of Harvest Host, we are given free parking with no hookups, and need to run our generator to power the appliances. His space accommodates four RVs, but we are the only ones here today. Hosts ask that guests reciprocate by spending at least $20 of their product. At $60 per bottle x 4 bottles....