Our first lock came quickly after pulling out of the Marina this morning, just after passing the entrance to the Batten Kill. Each of the locks is meticulously maintained, some with floral gardens and others with mowed lawns. I loved the “Powerhouse” at Schuylerville’s Lock C-5.
LOCK C-5 SIGN
POWERHOUSE
We had to pass under another very low bridge this morning and Charles volunteered his services to climb up and be the “watcher” as we crept up to the bridge and inched under. Whew!!!
CLOSE, REAL CLOSE
As we exited Lock C-6 in Fort Miller the bright Tinker-Toy like structure underlined the nearby bridges.
LOCK C-6
BRIDGES AND MORE BRIDGES
Janet and Charles relaxed in the great outdoors as we were lifted up in Fort Edwards’ Lock C-7. We did, however, put Lorna to work at the ropes! This lock is the beginning of the 24 mile dug channel.
WELCOME TO LOCK C-7
LORNA AT THE ROPES WHILE JANET AND CHARLES TAKE IT ALL IN
At Lock C-8, also in Fort Edwards, we had to wait for parade of south bound boats to exit before we could enter and continue our journey north. This is the last lock to raise north bound boats as you reach 139 feet above sea level.
WAITING TO ENTER LOCK C-8
We are now seeing farm land with fields of corn, hay meadows and pastures. This old barn was perched just a tad too close to the canal banks!!
SLIP SLINING AWAY
At lock C-9 we experience our first Champlain Canal "lowering" and had to reach way down low to grasp the hanging ropes or tie-down pipes. Lock C-10 was never built when they discovered it was not needed.
LOCK C-9 SMITH BASIN
ENTERING WITH THE WATER HIGH
We passed by the newly renovated bridge in Fort Ann and watched these boys jumping into the canal. Ooh! Along this stretch we were also entertained by the soaring and dipping flight of several Blue Heron. Beautiful!
FORT ANN
JUMPER
HERON
We sighted the bridge to Comstock Prison then entered Lock C-11, our last lock for today.
COMSTOCK PRISON--THIS WAY
C-11--THIS WAY
C-11
LAST LOCK FOR TODAY
Whitehall, the northern most part of the Champlain Canal and last stop before entering Lake Champlain, was our home for the night. We pulled up to the fairly new canal harbor that was built by the New York State Canal Corp. and managed by the Town of Whitehall. This placed us just south of the last lock, C-12.
QUEST DOCKED IN WHITEHALL
David Scribner kindly drove over to pick up Janet, Charles and Lorna and we all shared dinner at the Finch and Chubb. Nice evening with friends!!
DAN, LORNA AND CHARLES (AND WHO'S THAT LOOKING OVER DAN'S SHOULDER?)
SO LONG!!
No comments:
Post a Comment