Off of the Hudson - Two Sides of Lake Champlain

Friday, July 5- Friday, July 12, 2013


Four Loop boats (Carried Away, Harmony, Journey and Irish Attitude) pulled out of Shady Harbor Marina on July 5th. We picked up our friends off Sea Hunt IV along the way. (They had anchored near Shady Harbor.) New friends like Carl and Dottie on Downtime were left behind as they were unable to revamp to meet the height requirements. Jeff and Karen (Active Captain) had business that required them to travel the Eric Canal. Our goal was to reach Mechanicville, NY about 34 miles north. Our next 3 stops would be unique. NO Dock Fees!! Reviews in Active Captain were promising. Along the way we passed the cities of Albany (NY’s capital), Troy and Waterford. It was a hot and the clouds were brilliant against the blue sky. Three locks completed today and no issues! We've still got it even after all the delays!!! Our group walked into town (Mechanicville) and had dinner at an Italian restaurant. The emotion was unanimous; it felt good to be moving again.

Debris Collects as Water Recedes

Albany, NY

Capitol Buildings

Close Up of Spire is a Tall Ship

Moment of Decision!

The Gateway to the Erie Canal! Although the Loopers
 have moved up the canal from here they are
 still stuck between Locks 12 & 13.

A Picture from  Help Me Rhonda's Blog along the Erie Canal.
The Flooding is so Extreme the Boats have Nearly Floated On Shore.

The Catskill are Waning

Mike and Rick

Joyce and I swap photo opts in the lock

Mechanicville

Blue Skies?!

At 8:00 a.m.on Saturday we headed out. There would be 4 locks to pass through today on our way to Fort Edwards Yacht Basin . Fort Edwards has a concrete town wall complete with electricity, set alongside a park and gazebo. After dinner aboard we joined the others to check out the town with ice cream as a goal. Mission accomplished! This will mark the end of our month long travels along the beautiful Hudson River. If you have an opportunity to visit this area DO IT! Unusual weather aside, we found the Hudson River Valley to be full of history and breathtaking vistas. There are many more points of interest to tour and sites to see. The other NYC boroughs, West Point, CIA, Woodstock and the Erie Canal come immediately to mind. Mike and I will mark this as one our favorite areas.

Capt. Mike Gives the All Clear!

Everyone Cleared the Bridge!

Beautiful Views

Strange Monitoring Device

Harmony  in Fort Edwards

Nice Park at the Fort Edwards Wall

A View from the Bridge

Rain greeted us Sunday but staying in port was not a viable option. This area is still flooded and today’s weather would only add to the problem. Joyce and Bill on Carried Away said they had barely cleared the bridge last year and advised us all to move on.

Mike Agrees with Bill We Have to Get Moving, More Rain is Coming!

I'll bet Carried Away Can't Wait to Get Their Canvas Back Up!

Four more locks again today. We locked up on the first as we left the Hudson River and Champlain Canal narrowed. The next 3 locks we locked down. We were leaving the Catskill Mountain range before entering the Adirondack Mountains. We arrived in Whitehall, NY just after noon. Space was limited at the last free dock so we tied up to the wall and Harmony rafted to us. The afternoon cleared off and everyone carried their umbrella chairs to the gazebo to relax.  That night thunderstorms developed as forecast. Hopefully we all clear the low first thing in the morning.

We Watched Our Wake with this High Water

Adirondack Mountains in the Distance.

Green Meadows, Green Mountains

Skene Manor Was Built in 1874 

A Rainbow in the Distance!

Whitehall, NY - Another Gazebo

Success!! All our buddy boats made it under the last 17' fixed bridge. At mean high water the clearance can be closer to 16'! That is a load of concern off our minds. We are headed for Westport, NY. We cleared Lock #12, the last lock on the Champlain Canal. Water levels are high as we enter this section known as The Narrows. The area is a marshy wilderness. Rick on Journey spotted 3 eagles and alerted us over the VHS. 

Last of the Low Bridges.

Mike Rigged this Pole to Our Bow as an Early Warning System for the Bridges.
Bob on Harmony Like the Idea and He did the Same.

These Trees Show How Far the Canal has Flooded

Some of the Few Houses Along the Way

Eagle-Eye Rick Spotted 3 Eagles

Choo Choo!

Fort Ticonderoga from the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War

One of the Many Car Ferries Traversing Lake Champlain

Samuel D. Champlain Monument

Vermont's Green Mountain, NOT the Smoky Mountains

Two mountain ranges were coming into view as we entered Lake Champlain. The Adirondack’s to the west (or our port) in NY and the Green Mountains to the east (or starboard) in Vermont. The four boats were docked by 1:30 at Westport Marina about a quarter of the way into Lake Champlain. The dock guys were placing sand bags around the building! They said the lake was at 99 % capacity. This was obvious by the dock cleats visible under water and the power poles just above the surface.   

Approaching Westport Marina 

Some Docks Were Under Water!

Those Are Not Buoys but Power Poles on Flooded Docks

Our early arrival gave the guys an opportunity to assist Bill in raising his radar and enclosing the bridge on Carried Away. A feat easier said than done. It was much easier to lower it! They worked for hours while the women ventured into town. Westport is hilly and quaint. Joyce took us to Everybody’s Grocery, a unique store with creaky wood floors and a little bit of everything for everybody! We walked along Main Street window shopping. The Heritage Museum had a video of the 4 seasons of Westport. Viewing the snow covered winter scenes made me feel right at home. My southern friends just shuttered at the thought. That evening we ate at the Galley Restaurant at the marina (and the floors were dry!).

A Church in Westport

Falls are Active

Mike and Bill Fasten Down the Canvas

Irish Attitude, Carried Away and Journey departed around 8:00 a.m. for Burlington, VT on July 9^th. Harmony would follow along later. We fueled up at the Shelburne Shipyard on the Vermont side of Lake Champlain. The skies were clearing and the view was beautiful! This is our first visit to Vermont. Imagine this area in the fall!

Area Farm

Rocky Obstacle are  Easily Spotted in Calm Waters

Closing In On.....

Burlington Vermont!

We arrived at Burlington Community Boathouse Marina before 1 p.m. having traveled 37 miles. Walking the docks is a good way to stretch our legs. The Church Street shopping area is closed off to cars. Outdoor cafes and unique shops line a 3 block area. Margi and I scoured the shops looking for small spoons for our docktail dips. 

The next day Margi and I walked to Walmart…big mistake! My map app showed it was about a mile away. Rick walked part way with us, stopping at West Marine. It turned out to be about 3 miles; it was hot and literally uphill all the way!! Sorry guys! We split a taxi on our return trip to salvage the groceries. Mike and Bob walked the water front street and got an ice cream cone. Fitting, as Burlington is Ben and Jerry’s home base.

The Sun Sets on Another Wonderful Day

Vermont Vistas

On Thursday, July 11^th we pulled out of Burlington, back across the lake to  Gaines Marina at Rouse’s Point, NY. This is will be our last U.S port until Michigan. 

Back to New York State

Journey Enters Gaines Marina at Rouse's Point

Margi and I loaded up our carts with laundry and headed up town. An odd picture to be sure but we don’t give it a second thought. It’s just part of our life on the loop. Joyce and Janet have a washer/dryer on board. Last minute provisions were picked up then back to the boats. That evening everyone grabbed their umbrella chairs and walked into town to watch an original performance of Pirate Kings and Drama Queens (Dan Gallager) by the Adirondack Regional Theater. Nicely done! Tomorrow we enter Canada… assuming Customs does not have any objection!

Day is Done