JULY 5-7: HEADING UP THE CHAMPLAIN CANAL

July 5:  Based on the current and tide conditions, we elected for a late morning departure to travel the short distance to the Federal Lock.  The current gave us a good push as we prepared for the first of several locks to come.

We passed Waterford where several Loopers are waiting anxiously for the Erie Canal to reopen.  Waterford   was also hosting a "Steamboat Festival".  Here is an example of one of the boats.

 The approach to the first lock on the Champlain Canal.  The Canal is 60 miles long and we will have to traverse 11 locks in all to reach Lake Champlain.  

 Inside the lock with fellow travelers.  This is a large wooden schooner named Hindu which hails from  Key West in Florida.  With her mast down, Hindu will not have any problems with the upcoming low bridges.

View of the dam from inside the lock.  Lots of water rushing down due to the recent heavy rains.

The first five locks are fairly close together so we traveled in a pack with Hindu and another boat.  It was a very hot day and a heavy downpour hit us as we were in Lock 5.  We were both completing drenched as we exited the lock and headed to the lock wall to tie up for the night.  

The Champlain Canal can be crossed in two days but we have chosen to slow down and take our time so we plan to spend two nights in the canal.  The canal pass that we purchased allows us passage through the locks and also permits overnight stays at certain locks.  We chose Lock 5 because it is in a quiet rural setting.

July 6-7:  Another couple of days, another few locks.  As the heat wave is predicted to continue, we prepared for an early departure.

 The Duddon Pilot with her mast and antennae down at the lock overnight dock. 

This is one of the many low bridges that we encountered.  Even with our mast down, it was nerve racking approaching and going under some of these bridges.  With the high water levels, we occasionally only had a few inches to spare. 

 Approaching yet another lock.

Our next home?  It is available and the price is probably right.

We spent our second night at Lock 9 which was another quiet setting-we were the only boat to tie up both nights. At Whitehall, we went through our last lock and last low bridge on the Champlain Canal and entered Lake Champlain.  The lake which is 120 miles long is very narrow at this point.  

 Going through the "Narrows" at the beginning of the southern portion of Lake Champlain.  

Our destination today was Chipman Point Marina where we will stay for two nights. The marina is housed in two very old historic stone buildings built in 1812 and 1824.  It is quite lovely.  This is a shot of the lake from the marina taken at 8:45 p.m.