Across the Big Lake

Good day and how are you!

7-31-07. from missiquoi river, vt. i made it across lake champlain!

This morning i got up around 5:30am and left camp by 6am. so early for several reasons but mainly to get the best water to finish up Lake Champlain. the other reason, well, i stayed at Campmeeting Point at Knight State Park and overnight camping may not have been the norm.
the water was beautiful this morning and for most of the day. i would say the sunrise was also beautiful. the lake was not glass but using the word waves would be too much. how about perfect.

i made good time. the wind was not much at all and if anything was coming from the North. hugging the eastern shore of North Hero Island helped. the temperature was warm, the sun intense and humid. i drank lots of water.

within a couple hours i stopped in the lakeshore village of North Hero for coffee, powerade, tobacco and a breakfast sandwich. there was a nice general store/deli/bakery right next door to a United States Post Office. so a nice surprise for breakfast. mailed another map home and had a nice coffee break.

for lunch i breaked eight miles up at Stephenson Point in North Hero State Park. this place was excellent for a break...nice toilets, spiggot water, shady picnic tables and a fantastic view.
for lunch i ate Wheat Thins, Cheese Whiz, Venison Jerky and Granola bars.

visited with a nice couple who are currently living in Massachussets. and a nice family gave me a tuna fish sandwich that i ate most of while relaxing on the Missiquoi river.

an hour before sunset and i hear the ringing noise made by swarms of mosquitos. they are not that bad now. i have seen worse in N. Minnesota and Yosemite National Park.

there are water marks on the trees. this is a wildlife refuge with a heron rookery not too far North. blue herons are everywere. so are several types of ducks. i saw lots of fish several times today when the water, locale and conditions were right. little walley, smallmouth and perch.
right now i am 2-3 miles South of the USA/Canada aquatic border.

the weather for the week is supposed to be nice and sunny says everyone today.
while paddling, this morning after breakfast i sung two Waylon Jennings songs memorized on my car trip up North. decided to add them to kareoke list of favorites. oh yea, i have added a KISS fav-Feel My Heat. maybe i'll have to sing Jimmy Bufett songs tomorrow?

Isn't Rob doing a he11uva job?
[ed. note: obviously TDS has not yet learned that I've been lax in posting his stuff!]

More to follow. Stay tuned for my Thoughts on Tobacco.
Happy Trails,
Totally Different Subject