Day 1 - Cleverdale to Orwell VT

 

At Chipman Point Marina

Cleverdale to Orwell, VT (Chipman’s Point Marina)

35.65 miles,  8:15 hour ‘moving’

 The T-storm abated at 5:15 AM, so I pushed off at 5:45 in light rain. Brian & Cecile met me at their dock 2.2 miles up; an egg and English muffin sandwich added ballast and fuel. Where do we find such friends?

 A pretty nice south wind pushed me to Ticonderoga, but my lack of training took its toll nonetheless. A combination of factors sabotaged my aim to push the boat to the falls ….

1.       Poor conditioning

2.       An undersized carriage

3.       Too much luggage

4.       High heat!

 The boat kept sliding off the cart, so I presented my exhausted self to Jeff and Tristan at Snug Harbor Marina, pled my situation, and learned yet again that kind, ‘can-do’ people like Jeff and Tristan walk among us. Jeff gave the ‘OK,’ Tristan helped me toss my bags and the boat in the back of his Ram Hemi, I climbed in the bed to hold the boat in, and in four minutes we were at La Chute.

 Jeff, it would have been easy and entirely understandable to say ‘no’ to a guy with a 16’ boat out in the road, but you didn’t. Snug Harbor? They’re the good guys and thanks so much!

 And Tristan? There may be a few rust spots in that truck, but it purrs like a tiger – what a great sound – thanks for bailing me out … you are a rock star, too!

 Failing to complete a 2-3 mile portage today does not bode well for the 8 miles in Dresden, from Seneca to Keuka! I so want to walk it … perhaps I can do it if I just pull my boat (74 lbs) and oars (14 lbs) and ‘ship’ my sea bags (2,642 lbs!!) to the end?

 Am I a wuss?

 Just getting old?

Is this row already compromised because of Tristan’s generosity and my exhaustion?

 I do have 35+ miles in 8:15 to show for my labors, so that’s something. And I’m finally rowing towards Hammondsport, which feels more gratifying than 27 miles North in order to turn South!

I’m 82 miles from my right turn onto the Mohawk and Erie … which will be a morale booster extraordinaire.

Anyone who sees what I’ve seen today – the incredible purity of Lake George water flowing into the brown patina of southern Champlain – can’t help but be struck by how little separates these two eco-systems: gravity, the falls, and eagle-eyed inspectors keep us in the pink, or in the clear … and I sure do hope the septic inspection momentum picks up steam and support. What we have is just too special – too unique – to not do all that we can do to preserve, protect, and pay forward.

 My agenda tonight?

     1.       A shower here at Chipman’s Marina

2.       Some circular pasta ending in “O’s”

3.       A deep, deep sleep!        

 And tomorrow? Jackson Brown sang it, I just have to do it … again.

 Xxoo,

Al

Al has traveled this route before - for further reading and photos of La Chute and the Portage, see

http://arowtoofar.blogspot.com/2017/07/home.html