Like Canadian Geese winter in Cozumel, I return often and with anticipation to Whetstone Station. The night is wet and foggy, unreasonably so for the end of January. Steam rises off of the Connecticut river, making me think of the White Walkers from Game of Thrones.
“Winter is coming.” I whisper to no one. The man next to me looks down at his phone as I turn around.
My partner, Aria and I got the best seat in the house. Right up front close to the hearth, knees bumping so as to leave a respectful arms reach distance from our neighbors. {{more}}
But I’m used to respectfully ignoring people awfully close, after all, Aria and I spent last Winter living and traveling out of my old VW bus. Making pancakes in the parking lot of Kroger’s down south quickly teaches one that personal space is as much a way of thinking as it is physical.
I order a Mug Life red ale, in honor of my time living Van Life. Aria goes for the Sticks and Stones Imperial IPA. Both are Whetstone originals, but Aria’s was a partnership between Whetstone and Branch and Blade in Keene.
My brew is full and perfect. A beer’s beer. Everything a guy could want after a day of doing not too much, but in need of a celebration. Oh so smooth. Aria takes a swig of hers. “Interesting,” she says. “What do you think?”
“Oh boy, that’s sour.” But what I really think is, ‘now I’ll be drinking two beers’ as Aria orders herself a personal favorite, the Big Stoner IPA. I don’t mind her experimenting, I’m always happy to lend a hand.
Per usual the food is great, though I’m a little bummed to see the Dirty Hippy black bean burger isn’t on the menu anymore. Whenever there’s a food I can identify with it becomes a personal favorite. So much so that the Dirty Hippy is the only thing I’ve ever ordered there in the two years I’ve been calling it ‘my’ restaurant. I guess I’m just lucky like that, to find my favorite meal the first go ‘round.
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Colby Thompson currently lives in Keene New Hampshire.
Colby Thompson is a wannabee Vermonter, living in Keene New
Hampshire. His days are taken up building his tiny house on wheels with his
partner, Aria, or working on clients videos for his wedding film business.
Colby traveled around the country twice in his 1975 VW bus and is looking
forward to his next chapter homesteading on his land in southern Vermont. He likes beer, cheese and cheap wine.
Check out the Road Tripping Photo Bus!
