Paddlers: Bill, Bob, Bob, and Janet
Once again the day started early leaving Cambridge at 6:00 am. To meet with my fellow RRYC friends Bob Lindeman, Bill Green, Janet Chill at the Converse Bay Fishing Access.
Directions to Converse Bay Fishing access
Directions to Crown Point bridge
Well we got on the lake about 9 (I did not look at my watch actually). Day three started off with a slight breeze on our backs and continued all day. It did not take long for the day to get a bit on the warm side but still a pleasant day. The lake at this point widened out quite a bit
The first point of interest was mud island and rock island. Looking at them you can see that mud island is low (hence the name mud :) and had a flock of assorted gulls hanging out in the shallows north of the island. Rock island is just that a big piece of rock with a good ten 15 feet layer of clay and sand on top of it. I would suggest paddling around rock island so that you can see the various layering of slate. The layers are very fine and in some places less than an 1/8 inch thick! I climbed up the difficult bank to get on top of the island to look at the abandoned and run down camp on top. There were several cedar waxwing birds on top of the island (lots of gull shit down by the water by the way). I spent a fair amount of time exploring the shale pieces and if you are lucky you may find a fossil.
We took a short break on this island and then headed out along the VT side past button bay state park and basis harbor club. Both places one would like to go back and spend a little time exploring that area. We wanted to head over to the NY side of the lake to have lunch by Barn Rock. Bill had said he had a surprise for us at lunch and as we neared barn rock we heard the blast of a potato gun coming from the area of wreckage by Ticonderoga II (one of many under water museums) and then a splash as the potato hit water. It was Miles and his kids attacking us! They had come out for the day to meet with us at lunch and were a very pleasant surprise. We had wondered why we had not heard from him about paddling. Bill had been in cahoots with him to meet at us at lunch. Barn Rock harbor is a water a great little cove with a beach and cliff for those brave enough to jump off of it (be very careful of course). I left as this young woman from Chicago who had climbed up was having serious second thoughts about jumping off! We went just past Barn rock to a little cove where there is a lean to and out house.
We met these great folks from Massachusetts who had a barbeque grill going and plenty of food that they offered to all of us. What service we paddle up and get fed! Gotta love those big boats and all the amenities they have. Actually what was the most fun was chatting with them as they were very nice people with lots of stories and the gentleman had a laugh that was just contagious!
I made one mistake and that was to spend a lot of time trying to practice a roll (which I do not know how to do yet). I also practiced a wet exit and self rescue which was a little sloppy and I will need to practice again. However my mistake was rolling around too much because after lunch I was feeling pretty awful! My stomach was just turning around and around. I guess I looked pretty bad as bill was pulling out bobs first aid kit for some stomach relief! I settled on one of Janet's ginger candies which helped for awhile. The stomach thing came in waves and at one point I beached thinking I was going to die. But after burping and farting a bunch of times I felt better and got back into the boat.
After lunch was also the most interesting time because even if I was not feeling well the scenery was awesome. This part of the lake narrowed down to a fairly narrow stretch with the Palisades on the NY side. The Palisades are huge cliffs which drop straight to the waters edge. And looking at the depth charts goes down 200! Below the water till you hit lake bottom! The cliffs themselves are just a spectacular display of rock and well worth ogling even if you don't feel well. There were several large birds riding the thermals above the cliffs but I have to confess I was in no condition to rock in a kayak and look through binoculars to identify them! We continued paddling on the NY side (out of any wind, and little boat traffic) to Split rock.
Having stayed on the NY side along the rocks the northern part of the lake was kept hidden. Rounding Split Rock point the lake reminded me of the ocean as the big lake stretched before my eyes as far as I could see. The lake was dotted with several dozen sail boats playing in the wind. We grouped up to cross the lake (makes it easier for boats to see us). I was still feeling awful singing to myself in my own little world. The lake was tossing and turning every which way (just to help me feel better :) I enjoyed watching the sail boats come about as they zigzagged there way across the lake. For the most part I confess to keeping that big green house in my line of sight and just paddled! Converse Bay couldn't arrive quick enough and I was toughly glad to get back onto land once again. It wasn't until Sunday that I felt better! Converse Bay is an interesting bay and worth exploring around in the evening. Another safe and happy trip on Lake Champlain came to end as we loaded our boats and headed for the cars at the put in. Even feeling awful it was a great trip with great company. Oh as I was driving out of Crown Point an Osprey flew by with his/her fresh catch of the day clutched in his/her claws!