First Day of our Travels

     It was time to leave before we spend any more money on the boat. We have a new anchor, dinghy and motor, prop protectors, made several repairs and we even have new sun hats in anticipation of bright sunny days on the water. The engines purred on our shakedown cruise and now adventure is calling.

Kathy and John ready for sunny days ahead
 



Goodbye geese. This one is for Lily!
 




Serenity pulling out from the slip...in 2013                 Photo by B. Deming
 

I would like to be able to say that we had an airplane fly over to record our departure, but that is not the case. This photo was taken last summer by the marina manager with the board president as pilot. What a great shot! That is Serenity in the channel and it was a picture perfect day. This morning it wasn't quite so sunny and there was a brisk breeze from the north and lots of clouds leftover from yesterday's storms.

John, with his ever present kneepads, unfurls the AGLCA burgee
 



We were off just after 6 a.m. in a cool 50 degrees but the sun finally came out and warmed us up inside the cabin. We could hardly believe we were actually on our way! The lake was a little choppy with 2 to 3 foot following swells - nothing that Serenity couldn't handle. Today was a perfect example of the rule: you can't follow a schedule when boating.
At first we were going to go just halfway down Lake Champlain, about a 6 hour trip for us, anchor out and then continue to the first lock in the canal the next day. The north wind pushed us along and we reached our first planned anchoring spot in late morning so we cruised on, and on until we reached the last good anchoring place but it really didn't have good protection from the north wind so we kept going. 11 hours after first shoving off, we reached Whitehall, NY, tied up at the docks at Finch & Chubb, had a very nice dinner and will get some rest tonight.
We thought we would get free docking if we had dinner there, but no, we were charged a rather steep fee for rickety docks with no power or water. Live and learn. Tomorrow we will navigate the Champlain Canal and who knows where we will end our day!




At the Finch & Chubb in Whitehall
 

Captain's Log May 31, 2014
 

Departed - Champlain Marina, Colchester, VT 6:07 a.m.

Nautical miles - 62
Engine hours - 10.7  Actual time - 11 hours
Arrived - Whitehall, NY 5:05 p.m.

Weather - Clear, cool NW winds 5-8 knots. increased N 10-15 knots - no real issues



Gearing up for the big trip - May 2014

Serenity Now on The Great Loop

Documenting the Journey of John and Kathy Scott on their Mainship Trawler
 

 Since our 2012 trip on the little triangle Loop from Lake Champlain to Ottawa then through the Rideau Canal and back through the St. Lawrence Seaway, we have been making plans to complete the Great Loop which circumnavigates the eastern United States. After living on our boat last summer for four months we have decided we are ready to take on the challenge of a long cruise. John has been a member of the American Great Loop Cruisers Association, AGLCA, for several years, has followed their blog and news forum and we have met lots of boaters who are making the trip. Last winter while in Florida we attended a Great Loop gathering and really got excited about doing the Loop ourselves.
 

John & Kathy with Ron & Kathrin who started their loop
trip in April from Florida on their 42' trawler, Companion
 

 

We rented a car to make the long drive from Florida to Vermont and arrived on May first. Our Mainship trawler was still snugly shrink wrapped in the boatyard among the dozens of other boats stored there. 

  

Spring at Champlain Marina shipyard after a long winter

 

 

Serenity in the travel lift on her way to the lake, May 14

 

 

Map of the possible routes of the Great Loop - most boaters travel
counter clockwise and follow the seasons. We want to be in Canada in July.

 

From our home port at the Champlain Marina in Malletts Bay on Lake Champlain we plan to get underway on or about June 1st and steer our course south to the Champlain Canal which will put us on the Hudson River and the entrance to the Erie Canal at Waterford, NY.

 

 






Double rainbow over the Champlain Valley -
we take it as a very good omen
 



We have moved onto our boat and are enjoying the views before the docks fill up with other boats. There are still lots of things to do and we are eager to be off and on our way!