June 9, 2010 Wednesday
After we exited Lock 12 in Whitehall, NY, we entered Lake Champlain. It was a definite improvement in scenery and water quality. The murky water of the canal was replaced with clean water and we could now see some rolling hills with picturesque Vermont farms. The lake is very narrow in the beginning but then widens to look like what you would expect a lake would look like. We decided to try to see Fort Ticonderoga-I say try because they don’t make it easy to dock your boat. But have no fear-Pete is here! We anchored Tony M about 200 feet from shore, threw Buddy in the dinghy and found a spot to put the dinghy on shore. We had to walk through a newly mowed field and up about 100 old wooden steps to the Fort only to discover we couldn’t get in because on their “No Dogs Allowed” rule. Somehow on our way back to the boat I lost my camera so pictures are limited until Saturday when Thyra will meet us in Burlington. Get our your Costco card, Thyra.
The winds started picking up and the forecast was for rain so we headed for Partridge Harbor, a small buttonhook cove nestled on the NY shore. We arrived just as it began to lightly rain and the first anchor went down perfectly -only Pete wanted to drop a second anchor off the stern. He dinghied the anchor to shore and wrestled (and I mean wrestled ) it onto shore. Now hopefully we(he) can sleep better knowing we won’t swing too close to the granite cliff.
After a good night’s sleep being rocked by the cove’s gentle waves, we motored across the lake to Mile Point where we explored Lake Champlain Maritime Museum which allowed Buddy to come with us. The place was crawling with kids on a field trip (can’t seem to have a June without being with kids on a field trip!) and I’d have to say they were very well behaved. The museum offered much info about the Revolutionary War and Benedict Arnold’s burning his ships along with his injured men, ship building and the canal boats during the1800’s going from the ST. Lawrence to NYC with all the manufactured goods of the day. From there we traveled down the Otter Creek (a 7 mile no wake zone narrow waterway that looks like a Louisiana bayou) to Vergennes, VT where we are docked for the night. This is another town that offers free dockage with power and water for boaters –how nice is that! We need to somehow let these folks know how much we appreciate their hospitality!
Beginning of rapids at Vergennes -view from Tony M
June 11-13, 2010 Friday to Sunday
Burlington was a jumping town with the large amount of college age kids and a jazz festival going on all over the city. By Saturday our good weather had disappeared, the rains came and Thyra rescued us with her patience and her car. We bought some more stuff for the boat (I didn’t think there was anything more we could buy for it!), my new camera (yeah!)and some fresh provisions. Left Burlington Sunday morning under sunny skies and flat water. We motored to Valcour Island where the colonists lost its first naval battle of the Revolutionary War. We anchored in Sloop Cove with many French Canadians. Where are the Americans? We hiked on the island on pine lined paths that smelled fantastic! We then motored north to Rouses Point, NY for tonight so tomorrow we can enter Quebec, Canada bright and early.
Burlingston Community Boathouse
Vancour Island
HAPPY DOG!
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