CHAMPLAIN CANAL: Beginning to End

CHAMPLAIN CANAL: Beginning to End

The Champlain Canal begins at the southern most tip of Lake Champlain
at Whitehall (Lock 12)
and continues southward to Lock 1 at the
Waterford junction of the Hudson River.
It was decided in the early construction of the system
that Lock 10 was not needed,
so 11 locks in total.
 
 
At Whitehall Marina we stopped for the night.
This was also the first reporting station after Rouses Point.
When asking for the nearest location for groceries,
the Bait and Tackle guy insisted he take us where ever we wanted to go.
”I have to pick up dinner anyway” he said,
”sort of killing two birds with one stone”.
He dropped us off at a deli,
returned a few minutes later,
then drove us around the village to show us some local history.
Super friendly place.
We were their evening entertainment as we un-stepped the mast,
and wrapped and strapped for the next stage of our journey….
 
 
 
Whitehall is the birthplace of the American Navy.
Pictured below is Skene Manor
(Colonel Phillip Skene, played a part in the Saratoga Campaign,
American Revolutionary War )
 
 
 
The beginning of the Champlain Canal at Lock 12, Whitehall.
 
 
 
We are now officially going downstream,
meaning red buoys to port…
 
 
 
Many low bridges to duck under…
 
 
….beautiful wildlife…
 
 
 
… many beautiful scenes along the way…
 
 
 
 
….locks that guided us past many water falls and dams…
 
 
 
 
…a lot of barge activity on the river…
 
 
 
 
…and a river ‘guillotine’
that was no doubt meant to control water level…
 
 
 
 
…mirror-still water…

 

 
 
 
 
…could this be our future boathouse?…
 
 
 
Day two, we docked for free at Fort Edward.
Showers, and electricity provided…
 
 
 
Just a short distance was the Shamrock Wine and Spirits,
where we replenished our wine supply
and purchased a bottle of Bootlegger Vodka,
from the NY-based Prohibition Distillery,
that was promised to provide the smoothest martini ever…
 
 
 
 
Our second night on the canal was spent at the public dock
of Mechanicville.
…again free dockage, free electricity, water and super clean washrooms.
and….get this…showers with light therapy and water massage.
 
 
 
 

The final lock on the Canal was at Troy, NY…

…different from the usual lines

was a pipe or cable that we lashed our mid-ship line to secure…

 
 
 
 
…And finally on day three,
free docking at Troy Town Dock…

Tomorrow we will be able to step our mast,

make our lady all pretty again

and sail away to

NEW YORK CITY!

 

 

LOCK 9 WAS MINE

LOCK 9 WAS MINE

Somewhere in the course of the day,

I decided I wanted to be the one in control of locking.

Lock #9 on the Champlain Canal was the one.

I hailed the lock master
that S/V R.E.D. was approaching southbound…
 
 

 

I felt confident…
 
 
 

 

François was very supportive and patient…
 
 
 
I brought R.E.D. slowly into the lock…
 
 
 

 

Lines secured with no problem…
 
 
 

 

YAY!!!!