Trees, trees, trees

---

Geo: 44.1897, -73.7864

Putnam Camp was established way back in the late 19th century by a bunch of sophisticated city folk who wanted an escape back to nature where they could pursue intellectual matters, read, play games and hike up the surrounding mountains. One of the founders was the brother of Henry James and was an early adopter of the methods of Freud and, indeed, when Freud and Jung visited the USA they went to stay at Putnam. Freud said that these Americans like to think they are roughing it but actually had all modern conveniences. Well by todays standards the conveniences aren't so modern. There is no TV, no mobile phone reception, no internet (whether or not to provide wi-fi is a hot topic of debate), heating is by wood burning stoves (there was snow on the hilltops the day we left!). All meals are taken communally and conversation is the after-dinner activity. We were there courtesy of an invitation to join Annie and Tim, from Boston, their daughter Abby and husband JP and 1 year old daughter Elodie - they had driven from Montreal.
It is surrounded by miles and miles of forest which waa at its glorious autumn (fall) colours. We drove up there from South Dartmouth on Friday 5th, a long drive - almost 8 hours - but largely through pretty Vermont countryside. On Saturday we did an 8 mile walk with very little uphill to a lake on a broad path that was also used by the occasional car and monster SUV, Sunday a shorter walk but very much more a climb to the top of Round mountain (well not Peter, he decided to forgo the last 20 minutes climbing!)
And then Monday we left for another longish drive to Clarence Center near Buffalo to spend a couple of nights with one of Liz's cousins (Yvette) before going on to a couple of nights with her Uncle.Great to be in a warm house again and enjoy the comforts of a spacious modern American home with Christopher and Claire, at high and middle schools respectively, the cat and big dog and slinky the ferret! It was also great to see cousin Rachel again after 30+ years who drove across the border from Hamilton, Canada with her 3 grown kids - Sarah- congrats on the MSc, Sean at Navy college and Jennifer, 2nd yr history undergraduate. Good to meet the new generation of Ecobs! Canadian Thanksgiving dinner twinned with Columbus day holiday made a good excuse to meet up for a big extended family Turkey dinner.

---

Photos

A pumpkin field
With Haloween coming - pumpkins are everywhere

Walking through the Fall foliage
Abby and JP's daughter Elodie is in the howdah that JP is in the howdah thing that JP is carrying.

Putnam camp
We stayed in the place on the rihght