Beautiful Burlington VT. 9-25-09

We have been to Burlington plenty of times by land as our son went to UVM and we always wanted to come here by water. This is our 3rd time back here this month and we’re lovin’ it. Burlington is perfectly situated right on the lake with the backdrop of the Green Mountains and a vista of the Adirondacks across the lake which is spectacular for sunset. Make sure to ask for slip #16 for the best view. Here is a view on Friday night, but during the week, we had most of the dock to ourselves, and at a rate of only $25 per night after 9/15, it is a real deal.

There is so much to do here. Take the free shuttle bus around town if you don’t want to walk up the very steep hills. The pedestrian mall is well-planned with artisan stores and apparently was designed by the same architects that did Boulder CO. Everybody here seems to drive a Prius or Subaru with a rack for a bike/kayak, eats organic (reprovision at City Market or Fresh Market) and thinks green. The food is not only healthy but terrific—here’s Bob lining up for the early bird special at Leunig’s French Bistro and we would also recommend Tiny Thai, Skinny Pancake, Single Pebble and Bueno Y Sano.

I rode the itty-bitty bike 20 miles roundtrip on the Burlington Bikeway to the Champlain Causeway where they have a bike ferry during the summer to bring you to South Hero Island. My tush is pretty sore but I loved the trip along the lake but forgot my camera so no pictures to prove that I did it. The bike was a little worn out too and we got it reconditioned at North Shore Sports.

We went to the ECHO Museum right in the harbor and were going to catch the bus down to the Shelburne Museum when Karen and Chris on Karen Marie told us about the free tour of the Lake Champlain Chocolate factory. Museum or chocolate factory—what would Peggy chose? No contest.

Bob’s cousin Maura lives here and it was so great to see her—thanks, Maura.

We ended our time here with a Bahamian sunset salute with a conch shell serenade by Bob.

Great Scenery in Lake Champlain 9-21-09

We have enjoyed great anchorages and moorings the past month in Deep Bay, Burton Island, Shelburne Bay, Mallett’s Bay, Point Bay, Mile Point Bay and we have not exhausted all the great places to stay yet. We even had front row seats for the World Lightning Sailboat Championships. We have gone into Champlain Marina and North Hero Marina when we ran out of water/ had a full holding tank (wish the reverse were true) or ran out of skivvies and had to do laundry. We are beginning to wind down to our haul-out on 9/28 and savoring enough memories to get us through the winter.

Family Time in Westport (Lake Champlain) 9-21-09

We have been trying to plan a weekend with my sister, Maureen, and her husband, Kevin, but wind and weather did not cooperate on the Vermont side of the lake so we cruised south again to Westport on the New York side to meet them. We enjoyed our first stop there and I know it is a favorite of gold Loopers, Jim and Barb on Golden Lily.

We were rewarded with a beautiful early autumn weekend of calm boating, spectacular scenery, great company and lots of food. Kevin even had the “Colossal Breakfast plate” at Me and My Girls Café, gave it a good try but no clean plate club here. We had tickets for the local Depot Theatre production of Almost, Maine and spent the night laughing and identifying with this relationship comedy.

The leaves are starting to change and the fall produce is lining up at Everybody’s Market. Maureen and Kevin are avid golfers, spend most weekends on the course, but really got into boating and relaxing at anchor. By the end of the weekend, Kevin looked like a pro and was helping other boaters with dock lines.

The Westport area attracts lots of birds and hundreds of Canadian geese are staging there for their flight south. This time last year we were joining them—maybe you are this year. Bon voyage.