Nearing Whitehall, New York

September 15, 1991.

Lake Champlain becomes very fjordlike nearing Whitehall and at one point was less than 50 feet wide with water depths of less than 9 feet and walls of 200 feet towering above on each side. A narrow passage for a boat fourteen feet wide and nearly six and a half feet deep.

Hours later, suddenly Whitehall and destiny with our first lock was minutes away. Prepare those bumpers, get out the lines and boat hooks. Prepare to fend off the dreaded cement wall.

We were all so excited, except 'The Admiral' who was characteristically stern as we approached.

And as we began to manoeuver our way towards the wall, the gateskeeper pleasantly decided to open the gates and allow the remaining waters to flow out, just as we grabbed hold of the wall.

“Hold tight!” commanded Admiral Waddell, “They’ve just opened the floodgates” And we grabbed the wall with all our might to protect Blue Grace, and hung on for life, as we gradually pulled her slowly into the wall and secured her.

“Allright!” we all yelled. And we waited for the water to settle before heading off towards the great cement opening. Once inside , we secured ourselves to the wall and waited while the water slowly lifted us up to the level of being able to motor into the Lake Champlain canal system. Some people who were watching offered to take our photo, which is a good memento.

This was the first time we had ever been inside a lock and I remember from my youth when my parents took me to the Beauheaurnois Locks, on the way to Valleyfield to watch the boats lock through, and recall that it always looked exciting to me. Watching the sailors on the bigger ships, not the workers, but the crewmen, and thinking how interesting a life travelling from distant locations to landfalls must be.

And although that feeling subsided, on this day it came to mind with ease.

While we were in the locks, we were treated to the sounds of an outdoor classical band performing on a late Saturday afternoon in the park, while we tied up for a late lunch and wandered over to feed some local horses nearby.

But this was not where we wanted to stop, now that we gotten this far and we agreed to head further south.