Whitehall, NY -- Gateway to Lake Champlain

Day 28  |  Fort Edward to Whitehall |  22 Miles  |  5 Hours

We travelled up the Hudson River for 13 days, beginning in the biggest city of them all (New York City) and finishing up with many small towns that used to be major players in the Colonial American economy. We have gone from concrete jungle to harsh cliffs to gentle banks. Today, we finally reached our end of the Hudson River at Lock 7 when we veered off on the man-made Champlain Canal.

We travelled with three other boats this morning, going lock-to-lock in a little caravan. Because of the low bridges, sailboats must have their masts lowered and strapped across their decks. When folks ask us why we got Crossroads and sold our 41-foot sailboat, Laughing Place, it was because of this. We couldn't see ourselves traveling in such an unnatural and cluttered manner. For the Great Loop, a trawler is definitely the way to go.

We went through one lift lock and three lowering locks today, all without drama. This house was one of the most interesting sights along the way. It was remarkable if only in its resilience, not giving into the power of the water.  

With the final lock, No. 12, of the Champlain Canal in sight, we pulled over to the free town wall in Whitehall. Catching our eye on the approach was a massive house built on the side of Skene Mountain. Google Maps helped us identify it as Skene Manor, find out that it was open until 4:00, and that it was only a short walk (less than a mile, albeit at a pretty significant incline) from the dock. Skene Manor is on the National Register of Historic Buildings and was the home of NY Supreme Court Judge Joseph Potter. We took the free tour and marveled at the view from the third-floor window of Crossroads down on the Canal.

We will stay here tomorrow and do a bit more exploring before the predicted rain comes in the afternoon. Whitehall is the birthplace of the US Navy and there are several monuments and markers in the adjacent park detailing the history. The Skenesborough Museum is 100 yards from us and there is a grocery store about a mile away. This will be our last chance for a while to get fresh fruit and vegetables. Once we leave Whitehall we will anchor for several nights in a row on Lake Champlain.