Locked out of Champlain Canal and Into Lake Champlain

On the bow of the Muriel June Peggy looks out of a Champlain Canal Lock at the long straight section carved out of rock.

PCB Contaminated Hudson River bottom from General Electric plant is offloaded from a barge and sent through a reprocessing plant and returned to another barge to go back to the river.

Muriel June encounters another really ugly, low, and rusty railroad bridge we had to duck under.

Heavy fog this morning delayed our departure.  But once in the Locks we cruised right on through 5 more locks.  Lock masters called to the next lock to tell them we were on our way, the Lock 3 Yacht club cruisers who had been locked in for a month,  and also told us what to expect along the way.  All the lock masters came out to talk with us about the New York Canal System and the damage on the Erie as well recognize the Lock 3 Lock Club.  We reminded them that we had written a letter to the Director of the Canal and Governor Cuomo.  Alan continued to wear his yellow hard hat for low bridges and space junk.  Lock masters thought we might stay and help them spiff up their locks for their October 21st inspection.

Our weather window worked perfectly and by the time we got to Lake Champlain at noon, the skies had cleared and it was a beautiful 70 degree blue sky and puffy white cloud day.   We arrived at Crown Point Bridge and marina about 4 p.m. today.

Along the way at Lock 8 the General Electric re-constituting river soil from the PCB contamination were working away.  They were off loading the bottom of the Hudson River into a processing plant that looked like an oil refinery.  The reprocessed soil was put into another barge and replaced into the river.  Also along the canal were many farms with dairy cattle grazing.  Unlike the Erie, there are not major towns along this stretch, only farms and open spaces.  It was a beautiful fall day.  The original tow path for mules is still evident in most places.

Once in Lake Champlain, we lifted our fenders, and headed north to Fort Ticonderoga.  This is where the Americans held off the British long enough so that Benedict Arnold could gather his troops at Saratoga to defeat the British.  (Before he was a traitor)

Many have asked where is the Champlain Canal.  It does not go through Lake George.  It leaves the Hudson River at Ft. Edward and it cut through rock to the bottom of Lake Champlain.  In the old days, boats were portaged from the bottom of Lake George to the Hudson River.