Friday July 8th, 2016
Whitehall, NY (aka Skenesborough)
Lake Champlain Done!
Today I officially completed paddling Lake Champlain from the Canadian Border in Alburgh, VT to its end at the Whitehall Lock in New York. Lake Champlain threw everything at me from the start. After six days on the lake, I finally caught a Northerly wind helping to push me off the lake. The north draining Lake Champlain also seemed to change direction and was flowing south, perhaps due to the low water levels or the wind, but whatever it was, it was like the lake was giving me a send off party.
I am amazed at how different the lake is from the north to south. My views changed daily, naturally, but it’s the geological make up that changed as well as the people and boats, all of them pleasant and accommodating. Landing here tonight, I realized the historic significance of Valcor Island, an island I just happened to pick because it was within reach for sleeping that night. Landing in Whitehall, I now see the connection and am glad I landed on that island that night.
Before launching this morning, I got to sit and talk with the folks from the boat I mentioned the day before that had listed in the blow we had. Great folks and they gave me information about where I was headed. In the photo is Captain Tom First Mate Mary (his wife), Terry & Tom, Cathy & Bill. All the women are sisters. What a fun group of people.
Today’s paddle led me to the narrow southern portion of the lake, which looks more like the Everglades than a lake in New England. Even the homes on the lake changed. Take a look at the pictures, I found the sights quite interesting especially after seeing the rest of the lake. It was in the narrows that I met a group of kayakers pulling weeds out of the shoreline. I was excited to see them. Before I had left, my friend Matt Lannon had told me his kids would be working on Lake Champlain in a kayak pulling out weeds and now here they were. I shared with them what I was doing and told them they had the best job in the world at the moment. Some disagreed, but I know they will look back on this time and remember it fondly.
I paddled on through the “everglades” and started to realize that I had to make it to Whitehall tonight, as there was no place for me to camp on the shore. A couple of the times I stopped to inspect wildlife up close (bathroom breaks) and I saw that the shoreline was very muddy. Getting the kayak out would be tough and then there was no place to pitch my tent or hang my hammock. I began to get a little worried that I’d be paddling in the dark. I finally reached the turning point when the South Bay cut off to the right and the Champlain Canal system was to my left. I was closing in on Whitehall.
Whitehall Lock dead ahead! When I first saw the lock from the water, I was so excited. Not only had I just completed Lake Champlain, but my first lock was right in front of me. Captain Tom had given me instructions on how to radio the lock master earlier that morning so I got on the radio and called out: Lock Master this is the southbound Kayaker looking to pass through, do you copy? He did, but I could not here his reply so I did it again as I got closer. Then I heard shouting on the railing of the Lock. My friends from earlier were all there to see me through! They were waving and cheering. I had asked the Lockmaster if I should pass through and camp or camp on the lower side. That’s when Captain Tom got on the radio and told me to come through. They were docked for the night on the high side.
I entered the lock and followed the examples I had seen in videos I watched preparing for this trip. The large steel doors closed behind me and then the flood valves opened. It got turbulent quick as I was rising up to the top. Eventually I was at the top and the large steel doors in front of me opened and I paddled on through. On the other side there was a beautiful park and my friends boat docked up ahead. My parents were staying at their lakehouse not too far away from here across the border in Vermont. They would be coming to visit and have dinner with me tonight. I docked my kayak off my friends boat at the City Dock, pitched my tent and then waited for my folks to arriv. I was literally camped right next to Poultney St and before I took off on this trip, I was living at the other end of this road in Poultney, VT.
My first milestone of the trip; Completed Lake Champlain, Entered my first Lock and the start of the Champlain Canal and it’s all tied into Poultney, VT.
After dinner, my folks said Goodbye and I rejoined my friends on their boat until the rain that was sorely needed arrived. Then we all turned in for the night.
Enjoy the pictures and video.
(Video beow )
