South to Fort Edward, NY

 Tuesday, August 29 -- Ticonderoga anchorage to Fort Edward -- 47 miles and 5 locks

We were underway just after nine because we had a long day ahead. The run down the far southern reaches of Lake Champlain was uniquely beautiful -- more like running on a broad river -- with marshes alternating with rock ledges and big mountains in the distance. There was very little boat traffic and very few homes or cottages. But the Amtrak rail line to Montreal ran right along the west shore for almost the entire ride and was often visible. 

This progression of photos shows the lake narrowing and becoming more river-like as we headed farther south. The mountain in the fourth picture is 1,045' high per the chart and is on the east side of the lake just north of South Bay (a geographic feature, not a town). The fifth picture shows "The Narrows of Lake Champlain" just north of where the lake ends at what was the junction of Wood Creek and the Poultney River. Wood Creek effectively was turned into the Champlain Canal when it was rebuilt and expanded in the 1910s. 

After leaving Lake Champlain we traveled 25 miles on the Champlain Canal and went through five locks -- the first three going up and the last two going down. The pool at the top is at 140' elevation (versus about 95' for Lake Champlain). After the fifth lock at Fort Edward we exited into the Hudson River, which at this point has been "canalized" with a series of locks and dams and is considered part of the Champlain Canal. 

Here is Lock 12 at the northern end of the Champlain Canal in Whitehall, NY. The lock gates are to the right and the dam is to the left. 

Here's a stretch of the canal with natural rock walls on one side. Probably following the old creek bed in this stretch. Notice how muddy the water turned.

We finally got to see an Amtrak train go zipping by. This was near the village of Fort Ann.

Here are some cows hiding in the shade. It got close to 80 degrees today. 

We saw some nice farms along the way. 

Here is Lock 7 at Fort Edward with the Hudson River coming in from the right and flowing off into the distance. The British built a fort here in 1755 to protect the important portage from the Hudson River to Wood Creek -- and then on to Lake Champlain. 

We tied up at the town dock in Fort Edward along with four other cruising boats. There was water and power and no charge for docking, but the restrooms were pretty sad, as was the town. We ended up getting a pizza to go and having dinner on board. 

Here's a view of the town dock as we left the next day,

and of the south end of Lock 7 as we passed it the next day. 

P.S. Careful readers will note that progressing from Lock 12 to Lock 7 doesn't match up with going through five locks. For some reason there is no Lock 10. It might have been made redundant when the Champlain Canal was upgraded in the 1910s.