Eden
Mica and Barry bought their land on the shore of Gut Pond, twenty miles south of Canada, in 1988 and proceeded to build a camp. They are still at it. First . . . the outhouse. Then the stout cabin with its steep roof to shed Vermont’s prodigious snows. Later, the deck, the dock, solar panels, running water, the indoor toilet, the refrigerator, the flower gardens. My favorite amenity is the hot tub, perched above Gut Pond and heated by a wood-fueled firebox palisaded off from tender skin by a picket of redwood.
Painted turtles sun on the shoreside logs and plunk off into the shallows when you try to sneak up in your silent canoe. Purple irises mysteriously bloom knee-deep at water’s edge. In the late afternoon the beavers commute across the sparkling waters to gnaw down trees across from their lodge, and to slap their tails at you if you happen to kayak by. At night a loon paddles the pond and haunts the dark air with its northwoods call.
In Vermont for some unknown quirk of tradition they celebrate July 4th on July 3rd. On our way back from a half-day ascent of Wheelock Mountain we blundered into the town party at Craftsbury — barricaded streets where the denizens ate at picnic tables and listened to the Star Line Rhythm Brothers while kids and dogs circulated among the beer drinkers and wine sippers. On two long tables at street center, free food! I folded a fiver into the contributions jar and helped myself to a hot dog, mac and cheese, slaw, a brownie. We perched on the steps of the general store to eat among the happy gracious locals.
Back at camp we stoked the firebox. At dusk’s last gloaming Barry and I took a quick skinny dip (very quick, guys . . . submarine snapping turtles down there) then eased our aching bods into the hot tub while the fireworks freaks over on South Pond flooded the night sky with bombs bursting in air, a fusillade that lasted until we toweled off and snuggled into our quilts. Instant sleep.
The mailing address here is 161 Gut Pond Road, Eden, VT.
Eden.
hutch adventure 2 
Did Jack get into the cold water too?
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😉 All smiles, esp that you’re still traveling.k
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wow- love your travel blogs- very descriptive. Do they take guests?
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Sweet Summer Bliss ( snapping turtles 🐢 and all ) !
That part of the country has to be the ‘original Gods Country !’
Keep Adventuring On !
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How fabulously exciting — and life is a vacation too because there is only One in all of us. Enjoy.
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We love sharing “our slice of heaven” with the Hutchinson clan. Lori loved Vermont, especially Eden. Our family happily includes these west coasters. xo mica
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Wonderful to hear of this garden of Eden and your enjoyment in it! Blessing on your travels…. and love to the family.
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Bill, so great to hear from you. All the best.
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wonderful images of beauty….and pleasure
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What a wonderful place to visit. It does sound like Eden. Glad you are still traveling.
Love, Jan
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It does sound like Eden! The perfect spot for sweet summer adventures….
Thank you for sharing your special moments with all of us. Wishing you many more blissful days and cool cozy nights.
Sending you love from the sizzling hot Southwest,
Susan & Peter
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Hi Bill. Your narratives are wonderful. If you are enjoying your travels half as much as they sound, you are a lucky man. Nothing particularly exciting going on here between trips to handle all the abuse I have given my body over the years. Our place in Sapphire N C is a rather peaceful escape from South Florida where I can sip coffee looking at Bald Rock and listen to the birds. Only occasionally interrupted in the early evening by a passing black bear. Keep up the travel and the journal.
Ken Dunn
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Glad you are traveling (and writing) again. Ask Mica and Barry if they need any more West Coast members of their extended family.
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Hola Viejo,
Es un gusto recibir las cartas de tus viajes. Parace que el sitio alli es un poco de Paradiso. Desfrutate!
Salud y Abrazos. HB
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Sounds like a little slice of heaven. So glad you are enjoying it!
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Thanks for taking me to Vermont bill! Angela Kortright
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Thank you Bill to share with us. We have wonderful memories from Vermont with François.
Enjoy this nice place with your friends and Family.
Bises de Torçay Colandi
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Thanks so much for the great commentary. Always like to read about your most recent adventure, and this one sounds very much like the location. Don’t know where you are at this moment but Sonoma is under a heat advisory alert til 9 tonight. The travelogues are great so keep em coming. Enjoy!
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Thinking about you a lot lately, Bill. Sending love and wishing you happy travels.
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Wow Bill,
You certainly have filled your vacation with wonderful places to visit. Eden looks like heaven with cold water and turtles. We spent the weekend after you left with “the boys” and awaiting more deliveries. We now have a couch! Progress…..
Hope all is well in CA.
Take care,
Dale
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Bill,
Thank you for sharing your stories. You a prime example and role model on how to live life to its full potential.
Gary
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Bill,
Your stories always create such a sense of peace. So glad to hear of your continuing adventures. Thanks for sharing. Think of you and Lori often.
Best wishes, Julia
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