Fort Edwards to Chipman Point, VT

Champlain Canal

We traveled through five locks this morning, starting at Fort Edwards.  The locks are run by the New York State canal system and they are very well maintained and the personnel are exceptionally helpful in getting you safely through.  Each lockmaster calls ahead to the next lock to let them know you are on the way and it is usual that the next lock will be open and waiting for you.  Occasionally Reunion needed to wait for a barge or a boat coming southbound, but never more than 10-15 minutes.  We came through Whitehall, an authentic old New England town, hanging on the side of a mountain.

Spitting Mussels on the Lock Wall

The scenery was spectacular all along the Hudson and the Champlain canal.  Densely forested hills and mountains, with outcroppings of granite.  Close to the waterway we saw some wildlife, and some pigs so large I thought they were cows until we got very close.  There are a few marsh areas, and gentle slopes covered with wild tiger lilies. 

Granite and lots of trees

It was our intention this morning to go as far as Kingsland Bay State Park and anchor out – but the anchorage was unprotected from the north and several boaters reported losing the anchor hold on the clay bottom.  Since we had been watching a storm build for the last couple of days we decided to pick a couple of alternative stops in case the weather turned on us.  We had very limited wi-fi and couldn’t see radar for several hours so we turned on the marine radio weather.  They were forecasting 60 mph winds, possible hail and severe thunderstorms.  NOAA calls it a “hazardous weather outlook”.  And there was a very good chance the storm would reach us before we could reach Kingsland Bay.  We like to think we have become a little more prudent in avoiding bad weather since the Memorial Day storm on the Chesapeake and so we opted for a dock and a marina – and tied up here at Chipman’s Point.

Whitehall, NY house on the hill

Beautiful Granite Mountains

This marina is Vermont authentic – and when I say it’s an “original” I mean --these really are the original buildings.  The buildings here on the hillside of the narrow south end of Lake Champlain are dated 1812, 1809 and 1824.  Inside they have seen little renovation except for installed toilets, showers and washers within the stone rooms. The ceiling beams and structural supports are rough sawn logs.  Pam is the owner.  She answers a loud ringing telephone that can be heard from all over the dock – she has no cell phone, and probably couldn’t get cell coverage anyway.  The map for visitors was hand drawn and lettered with a pen or pencil, and copied multiple times.   Not much like the brochures and pamphlets we often see, but accurate and appropriate for the place. 

Chipman Point Marina Office Entrance

Gift Shop

Modern facilities added

Cool architecture

Debi, Alya and Tom headed toward Reunion

Tonight Debi, Tom and the kids came in and we went to Pam’s Kitchen in Orwell for dinner.  Driving inland was a real treat as the hills and valleys offered beautiful rural views and it was fun to enjoy the evening together.  Now we have wrapped everyone in their sleeping bags and the wind is rocking us to sleep while we listen to rain on the roof.

Alya, Adam and friends ready for new adventures