July 4th, 2016
Appletree Bay, Burlington, VT
I awoke to sunrise this morning and took a few pictures. I had noticed the wind had changed and was now blowing North West right into the protected bay and the surf was quite large. Returning to my hammock to get some more rest, I was wondering what today had in store for me.
After breakfast, I packed up and launched. I hadn’t even gotten out of the small island bay when I began to think that this is too much. The waves were very large and the strong wind was right on my nose making paddling difficult. I struggled on and before long I got away from the rocky shoreline, but hadn’t been making any forward progress.
I headed for protection from the Western Shore of South Hero and while I was getting closer, the wind changed and began blowing Northerly and then North Easterly. I decided that protection was not going to be found and I needed forward progress so I dug in and paddled as hard as I could straight into 3’ waves but this time there were cycled three to five seconds apart so rather than plowing through them like the first day, I was riding up and over most. Every once in awhile, I’d plow through a big one. I have to say that that part was fun, though I seriously knew I was in well over my head. I was glad I installed the mast to raise the flag up higher because I would not have been seen without that height. I even got a compliment from one of the sailors out there about the flag.
There was a small island just south of South Hero and I could see some boats anchored in a protected bay so I decided that was going to be my lunch and rest stop. Mostly rest though. I started riding the big waves at a forty-five degree angle toward that hole and it seemed like forever getting there. When I finally arrived, I was filled with relief.
Stave Island was where I had landed, and while there were a lot of sailboats anchored in the protected bay, the land was marked private. Then I saw my first two kayakers on shore and I went up and talked to them. They told me they had run into two other kayakers on an expedition today too. Kayak Dov was their blog but they are headed in the other direction so the wind, tide and surf was their friend today.
This couple also told me it should be fine for me to stay and pointed out the owners boats so I made myself comfortable and got some rest. A little while later I noticed a person on one of the owner boats so I went over to introduce myself. It was a nice couple from Canada and they said I was more than welcomed to stay there. I wish it was later in the day, I would have loved to camp there. We all shared a mutual love of the sun and water, if you know what I mean.
I left the protected bay as they wished me well and tucked around to the East side of the tiny island. The couple I had met told me that it is typical for the lake to calm down in the evening and sure enough it was beginning to. I decided that I could make up time I lost earlier and I paddled clear down to Appletree Bay, just north of Burlington, VT.
I met two women paddle boarding off the shore and it turns out, they are from Miami, FL. I asked them if I could camp on their property but they said its part of an Association so probably not, but they were looking forward to seeing me in Miami.
Rounding Appletree Point I saw a large group of people on a sandy shoreline so I paddled up and asked them if I could camp there. They said sure so I set up camp on their beach. Later on I got to play some volleyball with them and enjoy some of Vermont’s own, Ben & Jerry ice cream with them.
Day Three Complete and not to many pictures as it was too rough to take them. Video below.
Great reading before bed love it be safe