Lake Champlain Part I

The Second Pentannual Spontaneous Lord Nelson Victory Tug Lake Champlain Mini Rendez-vous

Every five years, as it so happens, Lord Nelson tugs on Lake Champlain get together to cruise, compare notes (tug talk), eat, drink, and tell stories. This year, as Sally W was cruising north to meet Salty Paws at the border, she called Bill and Keefer Irwin on Callisto in the southern waters of the lake. It had been five years since the tugs were together and we were overdue for a visit.

Callisto was the 19th 37-foot Lord Nelson tug to be built in the fleet of 74. She is named after the Greek Bear Goddess. Bill and Keefer lead the way up the lake.

And we took turns taking pictures of each other. Chances for photos of our own tugs in action are rare.

L to R: CW Churchill, Schooner Lois McClure, Callisto. Note the similarities in design of the two tugs.

Callisto turned into North Cove to find his friend Art Cohn aboard the C. L. Churchill, one of the vessels owned by the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum. It was a lucky moment because Art was leaving on a 100-day trip with the Schooner Lois McClure across the Erie Canal and back. This voyage part of the celebration of the bicentennial of the Erie Canal National Heritage Corridor.

Schooner Lois McClure prepares to depart on 100-day voyage

The Schooner Lois McClure is a replica of an 1862-class sailing canal boat. The story is fascinating, and just scratches the surface of the maritime history of this region. Lake Champlain is known as American's Sixth Great Lake. It played a key role during the American Revolution. There are over 300 documented boats lying on the bottom of the lake, most with great historic meaning from the Revolution and early commerce.

The tugboat C. L. Churchill will assist the Lois McClure on the trip. Skipper Art Cohn is a co-founder of the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum. He is a professional diver and active in the lake's archaeological projects. 

The Missing Gunboat Found, by marine artist Ernie Haas (LCMM)

The latest effort is to secure $45 million to raise The Spitfire, one of Benedict Arnold's 15 gunboats. It was discovered intact in 300 feet of water in 1997. If funds can be raised, the US Naval History and Heritage Command, Vermont and New York will work with a survey team to develop a Gunboat Management Plan. The proposed 5-phase plan would take 25 years to recover the boat and construct facilities for preservation and exhibition. 

We spent the night in Burlington, VT. The waterfront has undergone a 20-year transformation project from abandoned factories to parks, museum, restaurants, and 35-mile bike path.

The term "bike path" can be loosely interpreted. Burlington is a very fit city.

It's also a city for foodies. This is a breakfast skillet from the August First Bakery.

These people offer a dining experience with a time out from today's distractions.

Two tugs tied at the hip. You can't get any closer.

We tied up at Gilbert Brook Marina in Monty Bay and spent two days getting to know Keefer's sisters and Bill's school chums of 40 years.

Typical Lord Nelson dock party

Bill's school cronies hail from Ontario and western New York. They kept us laughing with stories of their exploits, including Bill and Keefer's wedding 40 years ago.

We finally extracted Keefer from the galley, but only after making sure the food and drink were perfect. She has two sisters. They all live in Vermont and spend a lot of time together enjoying all manner of water sports.

Keefer, far right, finally fled the kitchen. To the left is sister Mo and just across in the white shirt is sister Sharon.

Sadly, good things came to an end and we finished the first half of the Lake Champlain reunion. Coming up, the second reunion: welcoming Salty Paws back to the States.