(Temporary Backup) Chipman Point Marina, Orwell, VT and Whitehall NY

Sunday August  21st New Horizon cruises underneath the Samuel de Champlain Bridge. At the base is the Champlain Memorial Lighthouse and the ruins of two forts: French-built Fort St. Frederic and British-built His Majesty’s Fort at Crown Point. The memorial has a bronze bust of “La France” by the renowned sculpture Auguste Rodin. Unfortunately Nana’s picture does not capture the bronze sculpture as she was busy looking at it through the binoculars and did not take the picture in time- hence the blockage with trees. You can dock your boat at that boat dock and tour the memorial and forts however the wind picked up and the Captain wanted to continue on.

This part of our cruise also bring us to Fort Ticonderoga. The Fort was built in 1775 by the French, captured by the British the same year, taken by Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain boys in 1776, only to be taken again by the British in 1777. There is a cable ferry that leaves from Larabee’s Landing on the VT side and docks at the Fort site. There is no landing for private boats. Also there is a tourboat called Carillon - which was the Forts original name - that leaves from Teachout’s Warf at Larabee’s Landing, Shoreham,VT. The site is surrounded by Mount Defiance on one side and Mount Independance on the other. 

The tourboat Carillon on its way to the Fort.

So much history in this part of the lake. New Horizon docks at Chipman Marina. This is a family run Marina and they are some of the friendliest people we have met on our journey. The two magnificent four story buildings, one built in 1810 and the other 1824, still provide multi purpose use. At its busiest time a variety of boats- sloops,schooners,and canal boats, stopped at Chipman Point to unload a variety of goods. 

Pat - who continues to operated the Marina with her family, offered her car for us to visit the Fort

 but unfortunately the Fort closes on Mondays. We will just have to return. 

While taking a short stroll Nana was impressed with this basketball hoop and pickle ball court. Very creative use of space and lots of fun.

Monday August 22nd we are our way to Whitehall NY which will take us to the into the Champlain Canal. The southern most part of the lake has many farms, industrial plants, and a variety of agricultural land so the water reflects this with its muddy brown color. Despite this Nana spent most of the cruise bird watching. The lake is almost river like with its windy, narrow and sometimes shallow waters. The water Reeds and Rushes provide the best camouflage for the waterfowl, great blue herons, eagles, turkey vultures, terns etc. Despite several attempts Nana just could not capture these magnificent birds. To watch them in their natural habitat, wading through the mud with their curled necks, some simply standing still, some perched on drift wood drying their wings, but always just as NH would get close they would spread their huge wings and fly away. On occasion they would just stay still with their neck elongating to its full potential and simply stare.  

As you can see the cell phone simply does not do the job. Nana did take some shots with her Canon but has not as yet figured out how to post it on the blog!

Lock 12 , the last lock if you are coming from the north however NH is heading south so for us it will be our first lock into the canal. Seems like we are cruising backwards! 

Whitehall is the Birthplace of the U.S. Navy, in 1776 the ships of the nation’s first navy were constructed here. The village is now much neglected despite what seems like a lovely visitors centre and museum both of which were closed. Lots of historic buildings in disrepair and businesses closed. A sad sign of the times. The magnificent Skene Manor - a Victorian Gothic-style mansion was also closed. 

Nana noticed these machines when we docked at the wall and thinks they are for harvesting waterchestnuts. She will try to confirm tomorrow.

Tomorrow Nana will write a little blurb about the canal.