Canada to end COVID travel restrictions

The mountains around Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Starting on Oct. 1, Canada will remove all travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

That means travelers into Canada will no longer have to provide proof of COVID vaccination, undergo pre-travel testing, or go into quarantine or isolation after entering. Masks mandates on planes and trains will also be lifted, and the ArriveCan app — used to upload health documents for visiting Canada — will become optional. 

In their announcement on Monday, Canadian officials cited the country’s high vaccination rate as a major factor for making this change. Around 82% of Canadians have received two doses of COVID vaccine, and over 90% of Canadians over 12 have received at least one dose, according to news sources. 

Bordering U.S. states were quick to praise the move. Vermont Gov. Phil Scott called it a long-awaited one for the state, which has extensive economic ties with its neighbor to the north. 

“Removing barriers to cross border travel allows our border communities to return to normal social and economic activity, which is an important part of the connection between our two countries,” Scott said in a Monday statement. “As was made clear during my recent trade mission to Montreal, there is a lot of interest in Vermont as a place to vacation and do business — and this step will also make tourism and businesses travel easier, benefitting Vermont’s economy.”

Canada’s announcement comes one week after members of Parliament and border-city mayors wrote a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Joe Biden, urging them to lift all remaining COVID travel restrictions. Proof of vaccination is still required for all non-U.S. citizens traveling into the United States.

— Gareth Henderson

Vt. names Canada liaison as U.S. border reopens for vaccinated travelers

The American and Vermont flags flying together in Bridgewater, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Cross-border reunions of all kinds have commenced now that the U.S. border with Canada and Mexico is open to vaccinated travelers. The major change, announced last month, took effect this week. 

An important type of reunion now going on is that of trade and commerce. And on Monday, after the reopening took place, the state of Vermont announced its new representative for trade and investment in Canada. CIDEP, a Montreal-based economic development firm, was named to the representative and liaison role.

“Our connection with Canada runs deep, and as the land border reopens, communities and families are reconnecting, Canadian travelers are returning, and businesses can once again focus on expanding operations and increasing trade with Vermont,” said Gov. Phil Scott. “We hope this reconnection will remind Canadian companies what Vermont has to offer when thinking about expanding or doing business here, while also creating interest in Vermont products north of the border.”

CIDEP’s main priority will be to initiate contact with Canadian businesses looking to expand into the U.S. market and then generate quality leads that have high potential to turn into Vermont investment projects, according to the state announcement. CIDEP will also represent Vermont at key trade events in Canada touting Vermont as a business and tourist destination.

"The relationship between Québec and Vermont is more than business. For more than 100 years, we have shared the same values,” said Michel Belval, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Québec. “We support environmental projects, family's businesses, and small and medium enterprises. The opening of the new Vermont Office in Québec is a sign that our relationship can only continue to grow and that our partnership is better than ever."

In 2020, Vermont exported over $918 million in goods to Canada and imported $1.7 billion in goods, 76% of which were used in the production of American-made products. There are also 66 Canadian-owned businesses employing over 2,900 workers in Vermont.

CIDEP was selected through a competitive bid process administered by the Vermont Department of Economic Development, state officials said. In addition to business recruitment, CIDEP will promote the state as an investment destination and encourage greater bi-lateral trade with its top market.

The funding for this two-year initiative was proposed in the governor’s budget address calling for investments in Vermont’s economy, workforce, and communities, Monday’s announcement noted. The funding was approved and included in Act 74 by the Vermont Legislature in June.

“I am firmly convinced that Vermont has everything it takes to attract more Canadian companies in the years to come, and we are dedicated to allocating all the necessary resources to promote the state of Vermont as a great location for Canadian corporations to do business,” said Frederick Bernard, CEO of CIDEP.

Marie-Claude Francoeur, the Québec Provincial Government’s delegate to New England, noted the importance of such partnerships to the region’s recovery from the pandemic. 

“In these uncertain times, North America's economic recovery will depend on trade initiatives that support innovation, enhance our competitiveness, protect our integrated value chains, promote our common prosperity and benefit both our regions as well as our respective workers and their families,” Francoeur said in a statement. “This is a win-win.”

Click here for more coverage of the border reopening and Canada’s rules for travelers.

— Gareth Henderson

A land of great connections

The historic marker for renowned poet Robert Frost along Route 125 in Ripton, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Vermont is a small state, but with a certain greatness to offer. That quality shows up many times in moments of natural grandeur, captured in a photo or video, and other times it has to do with great talents choosing to grace these mountains and valleys. 

Driving back home from a visit to Middlebury, Vermont, today, we passed through Ripton where world-famous poet Robert Frost spent the summer and fall from 1939 until his death in 1963. His writing cabin, a National Historic Landmark, is on a 150-acre farm nestled in the scenic Green Mountains off Route 125. Over the years, he often shared his expertise with the students at Middlebury College’s Bread Loaf School of English and its Writers’ Conference. What an experience that must have been for those young writers. 

Along Route 125, we stopped to take the above photo of the historic marker honoring Frost and his longtime connection to Vermont. The marker quotes the former Vermont Poet Laureate: 

Breathes there a bard who isn’t moved

When he finds his verse is understood

And not entirely disapproved

By his Country and his Neighborhood!

Reading Frost’s own words, and seeing his name honored there, I could not help but think that spot was the perfect place for this recognition. He lived here and shared his craft with aspiring writers, of course, but at the same time, these mountains assuredly brought some comfort and ease to his work. The Green Mountains, by their very presence, embrace the mind and paint natural scenes which give solace to thought and inspiration to the thinker. Looking out my window to see sunlit trees and a gentle blue Vermont sky, this expression of grace is like fresh water to grow new ideas, and this landscape remains an inspiration for artists of all kinds.

Indeed, when seeing Robert Frost’s name Saturday afternoon, and the trees towering behind the site, it represented the perfect combination of a beautiful landscape and a writer very much at home within it. That’s a familiar feeling for me, and it’s a joy to share the abundant inspiration gleaned from the wide world of nature. Like life itself, nature is always beaming with renewal and hope, whether the skies are cloudy or sunny. It’s a world always ready to inspire, and that goodness doesn’t diminish — it’s alive, and it’s here to uplift us all.

— Gareth Henderson

Greeted by harmony along the coast

A stunning scene from the ferry on the way to Peaks Island in Maine on Saturday. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

The open air, the brilliant sun, the peace as the sea breeze moves across your face. All these things are part of the coastal experience during the summer, and we enjoyed it to the fullest during a recent trip to Maine. 

This past weekend, we returned to our camping ways in Maine, staying at the Durham/Freeport KOA. On Saturday, we drove to Portland and joined the family on the ferry to Peaks Island in Casco Bay. The sun was doing beautiful things that day, as it illuminated the land and ocean. There were several schooners in full sail, gliding through the water. Everything seemed to glow, beneath the sweeping patchwork of clouds and pure light. 

After the ferry landed and we had a quintessential Maine lunch, we rented bikes and went for a scenic ride around the island. At one photo stop, I was able to capture some spray from the water, as a lighthouse kept watch very far in the distance. It was tremendous to see up close, numerous times, the many layers of the coastal landscape, between water, sand, rock, and vegetation. These layers combine to create a true treasure, as seen in their innate harmony in this incredible ecosystem.

The water splashes against rock along the coast of Peaks Island, with a lighthouse far in the distance. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Before we headed back home to Vermont, we went down to Old Orchard Beach, where we joined a friend for the afternoon and enjoyed letting our feet touch the sand along the beach during a walk. The hightide greeted us multiple times. At one point, I didn't know if my feet would get used to that cold ocean water. But they did before too long. It was a beautiful day, and a perfect way to wrap up the weekend. 

Nature always reminds us that we are one harmonious whole with the natural world, never separate from it. Looking out on the water, taking the Peaks Island Ferry for the first time, I felt perfectly at home with what I was seeing. It was natural for us all to be there appreciating the great beauty surrounding us. In a world that can feel made of islands, it’s moments like that which unify us, and bring home the greatness that underpins the world we share with one another.

— Gareth Henderson

Hightide along Old Orchard Beach on Sunday. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

A journey of camping, and patience

A rural scene just off Interstate 81 in Wytheville, Virginia. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Camping is booming business, and we saw that first hand on our recent journey westward and back. The entire industry is thriving, from gear to RVs and campgrounds.

We camped in or passed through 15 states in 12 days. Our first stop was in upstate New York, where we set up our tent at a KOA campground outside of Cooperstown. Many of the people there brought the whole family with them, reflecting a growing trend of parents and young children visiting campgrounds, many for the first time, according to KOA data in North America. From 2014 to 2020, the total percentage of KOA campers with minor children in the household went up from 41 to 54%. The industry continues to skyrocket this year, even above summer 2019 levels, as we learned in Cooperstown.

Before last week, our camping experience had been limited to tenting in Maine — and usually in the same spot in early June, just after dropping off our daughter at summer camp. But over the states we traveled, the great interest in getting outside was clear, even if some of the experience, well, wasn't exactly "roughing it". I'm at the point in life where campgrounds with better amenities do help me sleep at night. We became KOA members, and KOA sites have a baseline of amenities in most of their franchised locations.

Along the way, we stayed almost entirely at KOA campgrounds, and there were plenty of people enjoying their RVs, cabins and tents. Some of our favorite tenting was at KOAs in Cooperstown, New York, and also one outside of Nashville, Tennessee — where the individual sites were nicely spaced out and on grass. We stayed in cabins near St. Louis and also Columbus, Ohio, and we attempted to tent in the rain in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, before intensifying weather put the damper on that plan. We ended up driving for a little while, before the little while turned into 90 minutes, and we finally — after many attempts — found a nice hotel room in Washington D.C. It was a blessing in disguise, allowing us to get an earlier start on touring D.C. the next day and a very comfortable bed.

Farmland along our detour from Route 24, passing through Cadiz, Kentucky. (Gareth Henderson)

On the whole, the camping experience was an enjoyable one, which can be done on a minimal budget. But it's really the experience that sticks with you — the time with family, the kind folks who help along the way, and the fresh air and scenic sunrises out in the open. Most of the campsites were just a bit off the highway, offering some beautiful rolling hills and plains along the route. We were able to see farms and life in each of these communities. The humanity that we saw, and how everyday Americans are living, cannot be captured in a highway hotel or interstate. The stories of people passing through were priceless. They are also grounded the fundamental goodness of neighbor helping neighbor, an age-old story.

One of the overarching themes of the trip was patience, because at any point, plans can change — and a couple times they did. The night we spent outside of Nashville was a surprise-tenting night. A major highway, Route 24, was shut down for several miles due to paving with a detour over a narrow county road that had backed-up highway traffic as far as the eye could see. My wife took a left on an unmarked road. For part of the way, we had no cell service and it was a leap of faith into some of the most beautiful country. We had no idea where the road went at first, but we eventually went from western Kentucky to Tennessee and found a wonderful little campground, right by a cow pasture, which very much reminded us of home. It was another proof that patience, with a bit of waiting and trusting, can go a long way, even when the long way head of you seems like a lot to handle. On the road, its rewards were great, and interlaced with some beautiful, scenic camping we hope to repeat some day. The road is always waiting.

— Gareth Henderson

Road trips, playlists and artwork

The Lonesome Dove Western Bistro in Knoxville’s historic Old City. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Long road trips were made for hours of music and family memories, seeing each state as a square in a quilt, with the highways as the thread that sews them together. We were treated to lots of great tunes that served as the backdrop to our trip as we made our way West last week crisscrossing 15 states. That's thanks to the Chuck Worrell playlist on Spotify, grounded in distinct guitar-picking Texas country music — a classic (thanks, Perrin!). What better way to make the trip?

Each day of the trip was the beginning of a new adventure with twists and surprises. As we pulled into the historic Old City of Knoxville, Tennessee, there was no plan except exploring with an open mind, and being curious. I recently learned one of Chuck's favorite novels was Lonesome Dove. And it so happened, we were greeted in the Old City by a restaurant named Lonesome Dove Western Bistro — you never know what you'll find when you travel. This historic area had a number of interesting architectural specimens, including the bistro building layout spanning the block. It was a moment in history, just waiting for the camera lens to happen by.

One of the greatest gifts of traveling is taking in each place with a fresh perspective — one that sees things others may miss. I took that perspective into Knoxville’s downtown, where the arts are alive. Amid the hustle and bustle of the city, I discovered some artwork in a place I didn't expect to find it just a block from the famed Tennessee Theatre.

A mural of Dolly Parton in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Walking by the alleyway of a one-way street, some brilliant colors caught my eye. I looked back to see country music icon Dolly Parton smiling back, from what would otherwise be a non-descript brick wall. This artwork was part of brightening up an alleyway in Knoxville which had been an eyesore for some time, until a local effort to enliven this alley took place about 5 years ago. It’s further proof that art, and the inspiration accompanying it, can always surprise you, by showing up where you might not usually look for it.

However, there was also plenty of art out in the open, where you would expect it. A major example is "Postcard from Knoxville", a mural created in 2013 to honor the "artists, musicians and visionaries that continue to make Knoxville a great place to work, live, play and visit." Crafted by artists Bobbie Crews, Ken Britton, Walt Fieldsa, Curtis Glover and Randall Starnes, the mural adorns the side of the Knoxville Visitors Center building. It was indeed an inspiration to capture this piece of the city's creative soul. And I love the opportunity to bring this postcard home and share it with all of you. The world's creativity, and its unlimited reflections, never cease to amaze.

— Gareth Henderson

“Postcard from Knoxville,” created by artists Bobbie Crews, Ken Britton, Walt Fieldsa, Curtis Glover and Randall Starnes. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

The road of kindness

The cornfield by the Cooperstown KOA Journey in New York. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

A pleasant, cool breeze, sprawling corn fields, the clip-clop of a horse-and-buggy rolling along in the distance — all these things were part of the scenic environment that waited for us on Saturday morning.

It's day 2 of our family road trip, which started in Maine, came through Massachusetts yesterday, and stayed the night in upstate New York. We spent the night in our tents at the Cooperstown KOA Journey in Richfield Springs. Waking up this morning, you can imagine, I went straight for the camera to capture the fields which buffered the lower end of the campground. The higher side of the property abuts an oat farm. It came as no surprise to find that this KOA used to be part of a 280-acre farm formed back in the 1800s — it became a campground in 1974.

This morning, several other people were out on the lawn with their cameras, too. You can't let the moment pass you by on a partly-sunny day, when the light could disappear in seconds.

What a stark contrast between the clogged-up traffic that led us to Interstate 90, and the majestic treasure nature greeted us with this morning. Life is indeed a show of contrasts, however one constant theme throughout our trip so far, is the fact that people are kind and they want to help. Humanity is grounded in expressions of love and grace. Arriving at the KOA late at night, we took a couple wrong turns on the way to our tent site (though the map we had was a good one). It didn't take long before several folks saw our plight, left their campfire and came over to patiently re-direct us. It was a pleasant, fun interaction, among people who were just loving the chance to enjoy the outdoors for a while.

And that's a theme these days. The year 2019 was a record-breaker for campgrounds, and this summer has even surpassed that industry-wide by 30 to 60% depending on location, according to Kate Kemker, co-owner of the Cooperstown KOA Journey.

"Everyone who can get out, is getting out," she said. "It's a great time to own a campground."

It's a great time to enjoy the wonders of nature, as well. We will enjoy seeing the upcoming vistas, the learning, and other new friends we’ll get to experience on the road.

— Gareth Henderson

Peaceful waters: Building a fabric of joy

Long Lake in Maine on July 10, with Hawk Mountain in the distance, near center. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

You might call 2021 the year of travel. People are hitting the road everywhere, after emerging from the decidedly travel-less world of 2020 into their usual summer routines. 

For us, this includes driving my daughter to camp in Maine, which has been part of the summer travel schedule for the past eight years. Seeing the smile on her face, and on the faces of her friends, after seeing each other again in person for the first time in nearly two years, was a special moment. It was sheer joy and gratitude, surrounded by the wonders of nature in the Maine landscape, and the prospect of a lively, fulfilling summer. That moment was easily the pinnacle of the trip.

Leading up to that moment, however, were other joyful experiences. The first one: sharing a delicious Maine lobster dinner with friends — a treat I just have to mention. Another experience, while not directly related to culinary delights, is also related to nature. And that's the beautiful boat ride we had on Long Lake, a lovely 11-mile lake between the towns of Naples, Bridgton and Harrison. It's enjoyed by many summer camps, and the famous Charlotte's Web author E.B. White once had a vacation home on the lake. 

A loon pokes its head above the surface of Long Lake. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

That Saturday was the kind of day that brings numerous people to lakes in Maine. There's nothing like being surrounded by the expanse of water, with bright sun and wind on your face. At a couple stops, we'd see the occasional loon popping up, then plunging back down again to feed. White clouds dotted the clear blue sky, which soared above the green trees around the lake's deep-blue surface. It was an awe-inspiring contrast in color, which also blended together seamlessly. 

While we were swimming, tubing, and boating around that wonderful place, we were also, of course, in the home of the loon. And they did a pretty good job staying out of sight of my camera — except for one little fellow (picture above), who almost escaped the lens again as we scanned the surface for that one, perfect moment.

It was a series of great moments out on the lake, enjoying the ride and the company of friends and family — as were others on that summer day. Being on the water, time seems to expand and hang in the air, as your eyes move from scene to scene of graceful nature and the interplay of its elements. While boats toss the waves about, and the surface moves and changes, you realize a certain peace, revealing the lake's majesty as all-embracing, welcoming and a true treasure. That’s really part of an unfolding experience, of people being able to travel more and experience various, inspirational surroundings with others. Like the very waters of the lake, those experiences will blend together to create a fabric of joy and togetherness that blesses everyone around it. How fulfilling it will be, to keep adding to that fabric.

— Gareth Henderson

Spectacular clouds and reflections at Long Lake in Maine on July 10. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

State tightens quarantine rule amid case increases

The late-afternoon sun lingers in the hills, as seen from Route 12 in Woodstock on Saturday. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Vermont now requires a quarantine for all non-essential travel into the state, following news of increasing COVID-19 cases in the state, region and country.

Travelers into Vermont for non-essential reasons, including Vermonters returning home, must quarantine for 14 days or for seven days with a negative COVID-19 test. Essential trips are allowed, which include travel to attend preK-12 school and college if commuting daily, or for work, personal safety, medical care, care of others, parental shared custody, or for food, beverage or medicine.
Gov. Phil Scott announced the immediate change on Tuesday. The state will also increase compliance checks for public health guidance and move to expand testing.

"Though we’re not seeing the alarming growth many of our neighbors are seeing, we have to take action to ensure we don’t get to that point," Scott said in a statement. "I want to be very clear that much of our case growth is tied to two factors: Vermonters traveling out of state and Vermonters gathering in ways where distancing and masking break down. We need to act now to protect the vulnerable and to keep our schools and economy open."

As of Tuesday, the state's COVID-19 data modeling showed a 34% increase in cases in the Northeast since last week and cases are averaging 112,500 per day nationally. While Vermont continues to have the lowest positivity rate in the country, that doesn't tell the whole story. Vermont cases rose 46% this week, officials said, and hospitalizations are also rising in the Green Mountains. Over the weekend, Vermont reported its first COVID-19 death since July.

On Tuesday, Vermonters were also urged to comply with a recent advisory limiting all private social gatherings to 10 people. On the same day, Vermont saw 46 new cases of COVID-19 and was monitoring 20 separate outbreaks. Officials called for people to comply with public health guidance, including masking and social distancing.

"I cannot say this enough: To stop the spread, to protect each other, we need to act now," said Dr. Mark Levine, Vermont's health commissioner, in the announcement. "We are on the threshold — the decisions we make today will truly determine our future."

Also on Tuesday, the state temporarily suspended its cross-state travel map, as the number of counties eligible for quarantine-free travel has dropped to only two.

On or about Nov. 12, the state will implement random, plain-clothes compliance checks for public health protocols at lodging establishments and other locations where people congregate, with a focus on indoor settings, according to state officials. If substantial noncompliance is found and a location resists educational efforts, such a case may be referred to the Vermont Attorney General's office.

Starting next week, the Department of Public Safety will also distribute COVID-19 safety cards during traffic stops to help inform drivers of the travel policy and other safety protocols. The Department of Fish and Wildlife is conducting outreach to hunters to ensure they understand the updated travel policy and gathering advisory.

The governor also announced the state is expanding its testing program, entering a contract with CIC Health of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and developing a plan to offer testing every day of the week at locations throughout the state. It will also increase surveillance testing, which tests asymptomatic populations to find the virus in the community more quickly, officials said. To establish a baseline, during the week of November 16, the State will offer testing to K-12 teachers and staff. These tests will be voluntary. Following Thanksgiving break, there will be a regular rotating schedule, offering testing to teachers and staff in one-quarter of Vermont schools each week, so every teacher and staff member will be offered testing once per month.

The focus on schools will help identify cases — particularly cases that never develop symptoms — thereby helping to reduce the risk of clusters or outbreaks and supporting efforts to sustain and expand in-person learning for students, according to state officials. The process will use the more reliable PCR tests. School personnel who are waiting for surveillance testing results will not need to quarantine.

In his Tuesday statement, the governor sympathized with Vermonters.

“With the success we’ve had over the last few months, I know it is disappointing to hear about new restrictions,” Scott said. “But by acting early and doubling down on the work that made us so successful in the first place, I know we can get this under control, hold onto the gains we’ve made, and continue to be in a better position to get through this faster and stronger than any other state.”

— Gareth Henderson

Travel restrictions to loosen

Vermont plans to ease travel restrictions next week as the hospitality sector continues to struggle under the network of rules meant to counter the pandemic. 

Effective on Wednesday, counties from seven more states will be included in Vermont’s quarantine-free travel policy, Gov. Phil Scott announced Friday. Currently, the policy lifts the 14-day quarantine requirement for travel to and from counties in New England and New York with less than 400 active cases of COVID-19 per one million residents. Next week, that will expand to include counties below this threshold in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia, as well as the District of Columbia.

“Our hospitality sector and the thousands of jobs it provides Vermonters has been one of the worst hit by this pandemic, and even as we’ve reopened, it hasn’t been enough to help them make ends meet or put all of their employees back to work,” Scott said in a statement. “With this data-based approach to determine low-risk counties, we can welcome more people to Vermont and support these jobs while continuing to limit the spread of the virus in Vermont.”

Throughout the spring, the governor has continued to loosen restrictions as Vermont’s COVID-19 data continues to be favorable to reopening, despite two small clusters of new cases in Rutland and Windham Counties. A recent outbreak in Winooski now appears to be under control. Despite that, the Scott administration has still been cautious heading into travel season amid the growing number of cases throughout the country.  

Moving forward, the biggest need for hospitality establishments is for restrictions to be eased while allowing for travelers from major markets to safely come to Vermont. Within that, they need travel to flow freely again between Boston and New York City - the two biggest providers of tourism for the state. Clearly, restrictions are preventing that as the pandemic is still with us, but both of those urban markets have made steady progress against the coronavirus, and New England is heading in the right direction. With continued collaboration and support among the states, this positive trend is set to continue. Together, we await more progress in the weeks to come. 

— Gareth Henderson