Lake Champlain - Port Henry to Partrige Harbor to Vergennes

I decided to try for Partrige Harbor on my second trip out. Familiarizing myself with it would be a critical stepping stone to further northward exploration. From what I'd read, it's one of the two most protected harbors on the lake. In anything but a rare east wind it stays glassy calm, and even then, the south half of the harbor is protected.

Partridge Harbor

I left my slip in Port Henry at about noon on May 22nd. Managed to make a really good impression on onlookers when I had to return to the dock, not once but twice for stuff I'd forgotten in the car. LOL, the glories of aging. :-) Anyway, I headed into a north wind and 2 foot waves. I used the outboard in order to make headway and pushed past Cole Bay and Westport to Partrige Harbor. The wind and waves dropped off steadily along the way but I continued motoring to avoid hours of tacking.

Heading out. That's Gary from 3 slips down on an O'Day 23

A Yacht coming out of the Champlain Canal Heading North for the Summer

Heading North toward Partrige Harbor

Arriving at Partrige Harbor

The view from inside the Harbor

Just me and my neighbors

Beyond Partridge, I had it in the back of my mind that I'd like to take a look at Otter Creek and the town of Vergeenes. The creek enters the lake a couple of miles north of Partridge and is navigable for 7 miles ending at the water falls in Vergennes. The town has two docks with running water and electrical hookups for weary travelers. One of the docks is on the site of a historic ship yard employed by the Americans to build a fleet to fight the British during the war of 1812. The falls were harnessed to power the shipbuilding efforts. The USS Saratoga was built there in a mere 40 days.

Otter Creek and Vergennes

So, after a decent nights sleep I got up the next morning, had a quick breakfast and headed out onto the lake to see if it was in the cards.

Heading out the next morning

The view South leaving the harbor. I didn't notice it when I took this picture but you can see rain coming down on my slip in Port Henry on the right side of the picture

Looking North

The lake was mirror calm

Once again my only company had wings

Reflections

Finally I notice the rain and commit to heading north to Otter Creek

Looking northward along the west side of the lake are the Palisades

A few miles north on the east side of the lake is the entrance to Otter Creek

The entrance to the creek is really tricky. You have to approach it from the north and hug Fort Cassin Point as you make the turn or you'll end up on the shoals in Fields Bay.