Latest Update from Karla

Subj: Montpelier, Vermont -- Capital City
Date: 8/1/02 6:09:07 PM Pacific Daylight Time
From:    kbwalk@mymailstation.com (kbwalk)

Howdy Everyone!
  Today was my day off, so I was a tourist here in Montpelier, where the capital of Vermont is. Yesterday after walking to Montpelier, I was able to stay at Betsy's B&B for free, a really nice, welcoming inn. Then today I moved half a mile away -- all downhill -- to The Inn At Montpelier, also a very nice place that's letting me stay for free.
  Shortly after I arrived at The Inn At Montpelier, the local newspaper came and interviewed me. Then an hour after that the TV Station out of Burlington came and did a story, so the innkeepers were pretty pleased with all the publicity. I'm thrilled to get the free lodging, so we were all happy.
  I walked over to the Capital and enjoyed a tour. I was also able to talk them out of a t-shirt, and the officer gave me a patch that says "Capitol Police" on it. I have a package of stuff that I'm getting ready to send back to Kansas to a group of 4th graders at Lincoln Elementary School. Whenever I get "stuff" or "doodads," I pack them up and send them to Ms Heidebrecht's class. Here's what I'll be sending back now:
  * 4 t-shirts, all given for free. One has a picture of a moose on it and says Vermont; one has a picture of the State Capital on it and says Vermont; one is from the St. Johnsbury Fire Dept, and the other is from the Marshfield Volunteer Fire Dept. I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say I bet I've mailed a hundred t-shirts back to them -- and so far I've only had to pay for 4 of them!
  *2 Books -- "Best of Vermont" -- a pictorial collection of the Green Mountain State; and "History Happens Here: The Story of Vermont's State Houses & It's Government."
  *5 Patches -- from 4 fire stations in Gilead, ME; Bethel, ME; St Johnsbury, VT and Montpelier, VT; plus one patch from the Capitol Police.
  *7 Refrigerator Magnets and 5 commemorative coins.
Plus Maple Grove Co out of St Johnsbury is mailing 25 small, individual bottles of Vermont maple syrup to Ms Heidebrechts students, and Cabot Cheese Factory is sending them 20 coloring books that begin with a picture of cows grazing out in the field and ends with packages of cheese being loaded onto trucks, and explains the whole process of making Vermont's famous cheese.
  I've discovered a great way to get freebies is to stop at the town office, tell them my story, and ask them for "stuff." I've gotten many t-shirts, magnets, pens, pins and commemorative coins by stopping in there first of all. Plus it's a great place to get information on who to contact and where to go to find lodging and to get local information.   Can you imagine how much fun that must be for the students to open up those packages and see what's inside? I hope they're having as much fun with this trip as I am, and learning about this great country we live in.
  Tomorrow I'm walking around 12 miles to Waterbury -- home of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream. I plan on knocking on their door and asking for a double triple quadruple mega jumbo mammoth extra-large serving of 20 flavors of their ice cream with all sorts of toppings on it. Hey, they may laugh and kick me out, but you better believe I'm going to give it my best shot! A free t-shirt and magnet would also be nice, but this time I'm going for the gold!
  Tomorrow night I'll be staying at the Methodist Church in Waterbury, so that'll work out well. Take care, and remember:
I scream, You scream, We all scream for ice cream!!!
KB

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