The next morning, Lee & Julie and Samantha & me were up at 5:30 AM packing in order to make the trip to Stowe. The trip is about ninety minutes south on mostly good highways, so we would be there by 8:00 AM just in time for breakfast. The events started at 10:00 AM, so our timing would have to be spot on.

As we drove, Samantha and Julie talked up a storm. They included us once in a while, but mostly Lee an I talked about the events and people we were most excited in seeing. The radio played softly and at one point we all sang loudly in unison to the song, "American Pie". It seemed appropriate as we were on holiday and had not a care in the world, but we were ecstatic to be on winter break and to be enjoying it on the slopes. It was even more enjoyable for Lee and I as we had trusted companions in Julie and Samantha for the final four days in Stowe. In total, our vacation was a whopping nine days.

I called my father that morning on the drive. He is a early riser, so I phoned him about 6:00 AM. He was happy to receive my call and got the scoop on how we all were doing. I promised to call him later that afternoon and tell him the good news about Samantha, but this morning my request was a replenishment of cash. He promised to go to the bank promptly at 9:00 AM if I would in turn pay off the balance within thirty days so he would not pay any interest. I agreed, and a $1,000 deal was made at the push of a few buttons on my cell phone.

We arrived at Stowe at 8:30 AM. During some points of the drive, Lee stuck his head out the window to feel the cool breeze in his face in order to stay awake. He and Julie must not have gotten much sleep either.

As I had done for our time in Killington, I was in charge of where and what we would eat...based on recommendations from the peanut gallery of course. The "Dutch Pancake" at the Grey Fox Inn just minutes from the mountain is where we would have breakfast. In addition to eggs, bacon, pancakes, waffles, sausage, orange juice and tomato juice (hangover juice), I ordered a bowl of oatmeal as well and an English muffin laced with peanut butter and honey. We all ate like "little piggies".