George Plumb will be hosting a “poetry hike” on his land in Washington on Wednesday, August 6th. The prime sponsor is the Green Mountain Club but the public is invited.

This will be a moderately strenuous walk up a hill and along a plateau where we will stop, have lunch and enjoy the views. There are gorgeous views at different points which include all the way from Belvidere to Killington including Camel’s Hump and the Mt. Mansfield Range. Photos are attached or can be sent. It will take about an hour and a half to get to the lunch place as we will stop along the way to recite poetry, preferably a bird poem, but any nature poem will do. Please bring one or two but if uncomfortable doing that don’t worry. There will be plenty. Binoculars are good. Also, if you have an electronic device with a bird app on it then it would be fun to listen to the song as well. I have no idea how many bird poems are out there but I lay claim to a loon poem! I have a collection of some forty loons you might like to look at.

We will take a different route back down and end up at the “sacred circle” where we will meditate for a few minutes and enjoy the view. If you feel you can only go part way that is fine, you are then welcome to just sit and enjoy the view. Part of the trail may be a little muddy so it is good to wear hiking boots but if you don’t have any then bring a change of sneakers in case the ones you do wear get wet. I have not picked up any ticks this year but precaution is in order and be sure to check yourself when you get home.

The land used to be a dairy farm and remnants of the old barn can still be seen. George has researched and written a detailed history of the place if anyone would like to see it. Interestingly a couple of times it was owned by General Stephen Thomas of civil war fame, a painting of him is in the Cedar Creek Room of the State House, but there is no documentation that he actually lived there.

Meet at George’s house in Washington at 10:30. Please let him know if you will be participating by emailing him at plumb.george@gmail.com or calling 883-2313.

Directions to Plumb’s

Take route 302 from Barre to E. Barre. At E. Barre, just past Roland’s quick stop, turn south down route 110. Arriving in the village of Washington take the first left just past the post office on the W. Corinth Rd. Bear right ¼ mile in staying on the W. Corinth Rd. Take the third left which will be part way up the hill and about 2/3 mile from the village. This is coincidentally (we had nothing to do with it) named “Plumb Rd.” It is on the corner opposite the fenced in village water storage tank. The Plumb house is at the end of the road, 1/3 mile, and is just past a large solar panel. Park in the driveway. Please arrive by 10:30.

In order to entice you even more I am attaching three photos of the best views which were taken on a cloudy day but give you and idea of what you will see. One is from our upper meadow looking southwest towards Killington. One is from the plateau on the neighbor’s land looking northwest towards Mt. Mansfield and where we will have lunch. And one is from our sacred circle just couple of minutes from the house and where we will end up.

I hope to see you Wednesday and feel free to pass on.

George
"Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks. Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle, but you shall be the miracle."
Phillips Brooks