Day Tripping,...

Saturday morning dawned to snow covered trees. Not a heavy snowfall, but enough to "frost" everything. A few big flakes were still falling when we pulled out of the driveway heading to Burlington, VT to drop a load of things off at Goodwill. The roads were snow-covered, but not at all dangerous to drive on. Within a short time that had all melted.

The river looked lovely as we drove by... And soon we arrived at the new ferry across Lake Champlain at the site of the Lake Champlain Bridge . The bridge is now gone and soon construction of a new bridge will begin. If you check that link you will see the original and majestic bridge. Now this is all that remains...

But life goes on, and so did we, ... boarding the ferry for the three minute crossing to Vermont. That's just a little bit more than the actual driving time to cross via the old bridge.

There is no more bridge. But,... in keeping with North Country humor,... The local favorite restaurant on the Vermont side is now called:

And now that the ferry service is established,.... the Bridge Restaurant, for now called the "No" Bridge Restaurant, welcomes New Yorkers back to the Vermont side of the lake.

For a great breakfast (or any meal!) visit the Bridge Restaurant in West Addison, Vermont. Say hello to owner, Lisa, and enjoy some eggs over easy,... my favorite! After breakfast we continued north to Burlington, dropped off our donations to Goodwill, did grocery shopping and arrived back home by mid-afternoon. A great trip for a late winter day.

Crossing The Lake,...

Normally the trip to Vermont from the Adirondacks is a pleasant drive via the Crown Point Bridge. On October 16th life as we know it in the North Country changed. The Champlain Bridge between Crown Point, NY and Chimney Point, VT was closed as it was considered unsafe. I applaud those who made that decision which they knew would be unpopular, I think those decision makers were heros for protecting lives. Maybe the bridge would never have collapsed, but ... what if it did? But I know what a huge inconvenience and expense now faces so many people.

Farmers, workers, those going for doctor appointments, and tourists are faced with either a rather long detour or the expense of a ferry ticket, which for a car and driver plus one adult passenger going round trip costs $24.25. Many people are employed in one state and live in the other state. People travel to Burlington, VT for surgery, dialysis, shopping for vehicles, and many other reasons. Lake Champlain Transportation has stepped up its ferry schedules, The Ticonderoga Ferry has put up floodlights so that it can operate after dark, and a new pedestrian ferry will begin Monday between Westport, NY and Basin Harbor, VT, as shown in this article in today's Plattsburgh Press Republican. A temporary bridge is also being explored. A sincere "thank you" to those that are working hard to solve this tough problem.

Today I drove a friend to Vermont to pick up a new car. Here's what that trip looked like...

Looking up at the pilot house on LCT's "Grand Isle" ferry.

Waiting to load a car buying a ticket at the booth,...

Underway across the lake, looking at NY to the west,... the Adirondack Mountains in the distance,...


Looking down the lake toward the south,... the NY shoreline in the foreground.


This couple is vacationing from Canada. We shared a quick visit while I was snapping the photos in the rain. I hope that the rest of your trip had better weather and that you arrived home safely!

35 Years and Counting,...

The word is out, Ethel's is open! Ethel's Dew Drop Inn, which opened in 1974 is celebrating 35 years of serving hungry people! Ethel's is a summer eatery in Willsboro, NY. Until early fall people will be flocking to Ethel's for some of the best food in the North Country. These people are ordering both food and ice cream.

That's Ethel herself behind that screened window taking an order.



What is my favorite on the menu? A "Michigan" of course! There are many recipes for the sauce. Since I was a teenager, my order is always "michigan, onions buried, fries and orange soda"... Here I am about to enjoy my first Michigan of the season... Mmmmmm, good!


A nice evening is taking your food "to go" and driving a short distance to the boat launch on Willsboro Bay. It's early for a lot of boats but there were already a few moored. One person was just bringing his in from a day on Lake Champlain.

Looking in the opposite direction from the launch ramp the sun sparkles on the water. In mid-summer this area will be full of boats anchored for overnight as people vacation up and down the lake.
Back home again... my wild daisies are blooming right outside my carport...


And a lone buttercup keeps watch...

What a perfect evening, good food, beautiful lake, and wild flowers!
P.S.... I may not be online for a few days as I hope to be leaving for a camping weekend today or tomorrow. See you soon!

Sunday Picnic...

The weather was bright and sunny yesterday, although just a bit cool. The state campground at Ausable Point is not open for camping yet. But yesterday it was alive with people enjoying it for the springtime day. A lot of people having picnics, launching fishing boats, and walking with their dogs. Lake Champain was bright blue... and waves were rolling in along the breakwater.

This man is fishing with his buddy...

Mama Osprey was sitting on her nest...

My osprey shots aren't as good as those you will find at Sharon's A New England Life. Give her blog a look!

The back water area of the campground is home to a beaver lodge...

I think they will not be able to drag this one home!

Mr. and Mrs. Mallard were enjoying the sunshine...

A great blue heron was annoyed at me for trying to sneak across a campsite to get this shot!

Well, if she won't leave, ... I will!

After enjoying a picnic lunch at a campsite table (the site where I'll be camping Memorial Day Weekend) I came home. Bright sun, fresh air, does it get any better?

Champ!...

Just south of the village of Port Henry, NY is this colorful sign. "Champ" (named for Lake Champlain) has been toying with us for a very long time, elusive creature that he is! The sign lists those that tell of sighting Champ. Samuel deChamplain, the first non-native to explore the lake between NY and VT, wrote of seeing "a 20 foot serpent shaped like a barrel with a head like a horse."



We, who live near Lake Champlain, like to think of our Champ as a friendly "monster." I don't say it is true, nor do I deny Champ's existence. With so many credible people listed as having seen a mysterious creature in the water we know they saw something. What they saw is the question!


Champ must be friendly, after all, how many monsters do you know with a heart on his tail?



To read more about Champ and the area, visit Paranormal Encyclopedia, The Lake Champlain Land Trust, or many other sites on the internet. Perhaps Champ is a first cousin of Nessie?



p.s.... I will be away this weekend, leaving Friday morning and returning Sunday evening. I do so appreciate your visits and your comments. If you don't see your comment appear quickly that is the reason why. Have a great weekend everyone!

Lake Travel,...

Lake Champlain lies between New York and Vermont and extends northward into Quebec. It is approximately 108 miles long, with a maximum depth of 400 feet. The lake is named after Samuel deChamplain who arrived here in 1609. It was the site of many events during the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. Perhaps the most famous is the Battle of Valcour.

In more modern times people in the shoreline communities needed to travel. The lake steamers came into being. This is an artist's rendition of The Vermont, the first steamboat on Lake Champlain. And according to the back of this antique post card from Basin Harbor, Vt, it was built in 1808 and entered service on the lake in 1809.

The builders were John and James Winans. The back of the post card states it was 120 feet long, with a 20 ft. beam and and engine of 20 hp.

Years later the second Vermont steamed back and forth on Lake Champlain. This photo is in my family collection. Perhaps taken by either my grandfather or grandmother.

The next steamer on the lake was The Ticonderoga. The "Ti" survived and is on display at Shelburne Museum in Shelburne, VT.

The date on this panel of gauges shows 1906, the year of my mother's birth.

Here is the diningroom aboard the "Ti". It steamed from Burlington, VT, to Ticonderoga, NY with stops at several lake shore towns including Port Henry, NY and Westport, NY. My mother told stories of my grandmother taking her on the Ti to shop in Burlington.

A few years ago I visited the Shelburne Museum specifically to step on board the Ti and feel the times of the past.

When the Ti docked in Westport there is a story of a fiddler playing music and this little girl dancing a jig for the passengers as they boarded the boat.

This little girl was my mother!

First and Last Light,...

Early yesterday morning I drove along Lake Champlain after going to vote. The light on the lake was amazing. But,... I didn't have my camera. So this morning I took it along on my way to work. Of course the light was nice this morning, but not the same deep peach color over the water as yesterday. However, every morning gives me the message that it's a new day and anything is possible.

This evening the sky to the west was a solid pale pink.

When I went back out on the deck to get the salmon off the grill it had become a deeper shade, and clouds were making layers,...

And five minutes later it was a deep rose color...

And ten minutes after that it was all over,... dark.

Watching the sailboats,....

A few evenings ago I took my youngest grandson out for supper at a local hot dog stand. We got them "to go" and went to the boat launch to watch the boats while we ate our food. To a second grader, this is great fun.