Aug 26-28 Day 131-133 On to Valcour Island. Then on to Burlington 5.1 Nm. Total. 2505

We left Plattsburgh with a bit of drizzle as we headed south to Valcour Island.

The view along the way was mountains and rugged shore with scattered homes.

Valcour Island is a state park in New York which is 968 acres, kinda big. The island has 26 primitive camps sites and miles of hiking trails and a lighthouse.

We anchored on the south east side of the island so we would have protection from the rain predicted for later today. We traveled past the lighthouse and pulled into a crowded anchorage.

Right now it is clearing up so we will pack a lunch and go exploring while we have clear weather.

As you can see Valcour Island has a rocky shore with pine forest and at the higher section deciduous trees. We walked past several camp sites and explored the lighthouse.

Since the sky was threatening we thought it best to cut our planned dinghy ride around the island short and get back to the boat. We got the dinghy secured just in time as it started to rain. Spent the rest of the rainy afternoon reading and relaxing on the boat. Another cold front coming through. In the mountains yesterday you could see just the beginnings of Fall, with a few trees turning yellow, orange and red. We hope to see more color as we continue our travels down the lake.

On to Burlington, VT. Day 132 Nm 15.4 Total 2521

Bill flew the drone this morning to capture Valcour Island.

We then pulled up anchor and headed out of the anchorage. We decided to take a detour to the east shore of Valcour Island that we missed due to rain cutting our dinghy exploration short. Enjoyed the rocky cliffs and beaches and even saw deer on the shore feeding on the weeds washed ashore,

Eastern shore of the island pictures.

Next we headed southeast to cross the lake to Burlington, VT. Had a plenty of sailboats and fisherman keep us company. It is in the low 60’s so Bill has on his sweatshirt!

As we head south the Adirondack Mountains rise up right out of the lake and the lake depths increase from 160-320 feet.

Approaching Burlington, we pass two coves lined with homes, rocky cliffs, and beaches. Then you can see Burlington sitting high up on the hill with its church steeples rising above the trees.

Burlington is the largest city in Vermont that was settled in 1775, but with the onset of the American Revolution most of the habitants left. At the end of the war the town was again resettled. The most famous resident being Ethan Allen whose farm was just north of the town.

Burlington is known for two universities- Champlain College and the University of Vermont and it’s industry- electronics, textiles, lumber and wood products, banking and tourism.

We get to explore the city this afternoon and tomorrow.

Burlington has a nice waterfront and Church Street is closed off for all the cafes and shops in a four block area. Fun to walk through and browse. Burlington also showed us a nice sunset.

Today we opted to sleep in and had a late breakfast. Bill struck up a conversation with the Coast Guard cutter docked next to us. Enjoyed talking to the Captain about the local waters and his job plying the waters around Lake Champlain. Was fascinated to find out that winter is the busiest time for them which makes sense with ice and winter storms playing havoc with all the navigational marks.

Afterwards we called for an Uber to take us to the Shelburne Museum. This museum was founded in 1947 by Electra Havemeyer Webb who grew up in New York and had a home in Shelburne, VT. Her parents collected European and Asian art, and she wanted to follow in their footsteps, But her collecting would be American art and antiques. The museum is unique in the Ms Webb found old structures- homes, barns, meeting house, jail, schoolhouse, lighthouse, general store, covered bridge and the side wheeler steamship,Ticonderoga, and then relocated them to the museum grounds. All in all she collected 39 buildings and one steamship. Just watching the videos of how some of these structures were moved was fascinating,

These structures house the American art and antiques which Ms Webb collected. Her collection ranges, from horse drawn carriages and sleighs to antique toys, to circus memorabilia to art work of Thomas Cole, Winslow Homer, John Copley Frederick Remington and Andrew Wyeth. One home is furnished from Ms Webb’s New York apartment- beautiful antique wood furniture and paintings by Degas, Monet, Manet, and Rembrandt. Was amazing.

Other collections included a railroad station with locomotive, a reproduction of a circus parade, reproductions of 1840s style town with general store, print shop, apothecary, barn with farm tools, cottages, manor homes, blacksmith shop and sawmill. The most awesome was the 220 foot side wheel steamship, the Ticonderoga.