After a wonderful stay, we will depart from Burlington today (September 18th)!
During our travels aboard Thistle (can you believe...it’s been six years?) we have a little saying when docking in a new to us town. Do you think this will be a one night town, two night town, a week, a month or should we move here? Well, Burlington you are close to perfect (most of the year, winter can be a bit ☃️COLD?).
Our next major destination is Brewerton, New York. Once in Brewerton we will tuck Thistle into heated winter storage until next spring.
To get to Brewerton from Burlington we will continue south on Lake Champlain. Then traverse the entire Champlain Canal and then part of the Erie Canal.
The Champlain Canal is a 60 mile Canal with 11 Locks, that connects the south end of Lake Champlain to the Hudson River in New York. It was constructed simultaneously with the Erie Canal. The Champlain Canal was opened in 1823.
The Erie Canal is a 363 mile Canal with 36 Locks. The Canal connects the Atlantic Ocean (via the Hudson River) to the Great Lakes. The Erie Canal was opened in 1825. We will start at Lock 2 in Waterford and end near Lock 23 (we don’t actually go through the Lock) in Brewerton after crossing Lake Oneida.
To our family and friends....Thanks 😘for following us, We feel your love ♥️XO.
With mixed emotions we are ready for this summers adventure to end and see what’s next🙂⁉️
After leaving Lake Champlain we will traverse the Champlain Canal (red line)
and then the Erie Canal (blue line) back to Brewerton, NY for winter storage.
We passed the Lake Champlain Memorial Lighthouse.
The lighthouse serves as a monument to to the 1609 voyage of French explorer
Samuel Champlain on Lake Champlain.
Soon after the lighthouse we saw 🏰 Fort Ticonderoga.
It is a large 18th century Star-Fort built by the French at the
narrows near the south end of Lake Champlain.
We docked for one night at Chipman Point Marina.
It is a very rustic marina today with lots of interesting history.
In 1812 the marina was a vital center for shipping,
with sloops and schooners delivering such good as flower, nails, molasses, iron and rum.
The goods were stored in the two brick warehouses that still stand today!
It’s getting chilly 🥶at night...Burrrrrr!
More fall colors.
Next stop is Whitehall....
Ready to start the Champlain Canal tomorrow 🌞morning.
The Whitehall Mansion.
All ready 😎to start the Champlain Canal Locks.
Every Lock has a navigational sign with Lock
information and the distance to the next Lock.
Downtown Whitehall.
A beautiful reflective day on the Champlain Canal.
Finished the Champlain Canal....
Docked in Waterford 🎠for the night.
Guess what Canal is next.....❓
Yes, you guessed (or payed attention) correctly.
✅
The Erie Canal!
All ready 😃to start the Erie Canal Locks :)
The 🎯Erie Canal.
Specially designed cruise ships ⛴ for the low bridges on the Erie Canal.
Little Falls.
Many demasted sail boats heading south (Florida / Caribbean?) for the winter.
Their masts are too tall for the Erie Canal bridges.
Utica.
Hidden beauty 🌸on our bike ride🦋.
Lots of fall Canal projects.
🎼 “ Low Bridge, Everybody Down” 🎼
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal.....
It’s ok, You are welcome to 🗣 sing 🎤along with us❗️
More Canal maintenance.
Another 🙂pretty fall day.
Waiting in Sylvan Beach for a weather window to cross Lake Oneida.
Then the following day to Brewerton for winter storage.
It was a three day wait (patience)!
We enjoyed a gorgeous sunset🌅 on our final night aboard
Thistle for our Summer 2019 adventure.
Good night 😴... sweet dreams and lifetime memories♥️❌⭕️❗️
