WELCOME (BACK) TO KLYMA.COM

On a slow drive up route 7 in western Vermont, our two-van caravan was surrounded by 1,000 shades of green. Vermont is the Green Mountain State with good reason. After weeks of seemingly ceaseless rain, Friday August 8 was a sunny break. At least in northern Vermont.

For years I traveled from Buffalo only to arrive in cities and towns as they got a cold spell or a heavy snowfall. I would soon be hearing someone say "So, you brought this weather with you." I was happy to be bringing the sunshine to Vermont for a couple of days.

Vagabond Van was a quartet on this particular weekend. Shrimp drove down with his drum kit from Cabot on Thursday to meet Tom Bianchi, me and Sick in Middlebury. On Thursday night, it rained...