8/2/2010 CHAMPLAINE MARINA AT MALLETTS BAY AND FLYING

Things shifted slightly last night and we awoke to find things a “little snug” with the boat docked just in front of our Quest. Dan made a few adjustments and tightened all lines on both boats to remedy this and avoid any more “close encounters” in the future.

                                                                CLOSENESS

Erin and Robert arranged a “birthday” flight for Dan and I from the Franklyn Highgate Airport in Northern Vermont. Robert’s friend, Kevin Dauphinee, was there to greet us and we piled into the little green and white Cessna 172 and took off into the wilds of Vermont and New York. Kevin gave us a smooth takeoff and we climbed up over the lake, marveling at the vistas below us.

KEVIN, DAN AND JUDY

TIGHT FIT

SOME HAPPY FACES

Kevin gave us glimpses of Vermont farmland, the lake’s shoreline on both Vermont and New York, beautiful homes, the busy ferry, a fort and our own Quest docked at the Champlain Marina in Mallotts Bay.

VERMONT SHORE

FERRY FROM SOUTH HERO, VT TO PLATTSBURGH, NY

NEW YORK'S FORT MONTGOMERY

QUEST FROM THE AIR

OUR SPOT AT CHAMPLAIN MARINA

After a perfect landing, we thanked Kevin and headed back.

LINING UP FOR THE LANDING

SAFELY BACK ON GROUND

THANKS KEVIN!

 Following Robert, we made our way to Shopping Bag, Inc. for one of their gigantic Sizzler burgers. Unbelievable!! They are located at 166 North Street, just a little convenience store with a grill for the take-out burgers. Be sure to take lots of napkins.

Robert had to be at work by 3:00 and Dan and I managed to make it back to the Quest before the impending storm arrived. Timing is everything! Flying in the morning and stormy later in the day, we did it just right.

TRACKING THE APPROACHING STORM

STORMY WEATHER

One of our boat neighbors suggested that Dan hook up a cable from our existing, old-style TV to the shore Cable TV outlet. News flash! We now have limited TV at marinas where it is available.

DAN NESTING IN FRONT OF THE TV WATCHING THE SPEED CHANNEL