[Robert Pence]

This is the fourth part of my six-part Road Trip 2000 series.

Port Kent, New York & Lake Champlain Ferries

Port Kent, New York is just south of Plattsburgh, and is the point of departure for ferries across Lake Champlain to Burlington, Vermont.
http://robertpence.com/road_trip_2000/0619-02.jpg

http://robertpence.com/road_trip_2000/0619-03.jpg

http://robertpence.com/road_trip_2000/0619-04.jpg

The Lake Champlain Ferries between Port Kent and Burlington carry full-sized tour buses, recreational vehicles and many cars on each trip, and they run frequently. The crossing takes about an hour.
http://robertpence.com/road_trip_2000/0610-06.jpg

http://robertpence.com/road_trip_2000/0610-07.jpg

http://robertpence.com/road_trip_2000/0610-09.jpg

http://robertpence.com/road_trip_2000/0610-10.jpg

http://robertpence.com/road_trip_2000/0610-11.jpg

Amtrak's Adirondack trains between New York and Montreal stop at a shelter just above the Port Kent ferry landing. I saw about a dozen people get off the train with baggage and backpacks and walk down the hill to board a ferry to Burlington.
http://robertpence.com/road_trip_2000/0610-13.jpg

http://robertpence.com/road_trip_2000/0610-14.jpg

http://robertpence.com/road_trip_2000/0620-11.jpg

http://robertpence.com/road_trip_2000/0620-10.jpg

When I crossed the lake on the ferry Valcour, the sun was bright and the sky was blue with wispy white clouds. A brisk wind made the lake choppy, and sometimes waves would slam into the bow sending sheets of spray flying across the forward part of the deck. The sightseers there soon headed for the stern or for the lounge and gift shop below.

The wind was whipping a flag on a pole near where I was standing, and the rolling motion of the ferry was enough to make the air suspension on the tour bus parked behind me to pant and sigh rhythmically as it tried to keep the coach level.
http://robertpence.com/road_trip_2000/0620-12.jpg

Burlington, Vermont

http://robertpence.com/road_trip_2000/0620-13.jpg

University of Vermont
http://robertpence.com/road_trip_2000/0630-12.jpg

http://robertpence.com/road_trip_2000/0630-13.jpg

Congregational Church
http://robertpence.com/road_trip_2000/0630-14.jpg

Church Street is pedestrian-only for about three blocks, lined with shops and restaurants and sidewalk cafes. The crowd is mixed; a lot of college students, but a fair number of middle-aged folks and seniors and, of course, tourists, too. There are mainstream retailers among the specialty shops.
http://robertpence.com/road_trip_2000/0630-15.jpg

http://robertpence.com/road_trip_2000/0630-16.jpg

http://robertpence.com/road_trip_2000/0630-19.jpg

http://robertpence.com/road_trip_2000/0620-21.jpg

http://robertpence.com/road_trip_2000/0619-01.jpg

North Beach Campground was one of the best campgrounds I visited. It's run by the city of Burlington, and overlooks Lake Champlain. A path leads directly to the beach and connects with Burlington's bike path. It's a no-hills, no-traffic 2.5 mile cruise to downtown.
http://robertpence.com/road_trip_2000/0630-10.jpg

North Beach Campground has a good beach, with shallows going 'way out.
http://robertpence.com/road_trip_2000/0620-14.jpg

Winooski River, north of Burlington
http://robertpence.com/road_trip_2000/0620-15.jpg

http://robertpence.com/road_trip_2000/0619-05.jpg

Burlington's bike path reaches about 14 miles along former Rutland and Canda Railroad right of way, including the causeway across Mallett's Bay. The pathis well maintained and well utilized.
http://robertpence.com/road_trip_2000/0620-16.jpg

In 2000, trail users crossed the Winooski River via bike ferry ($1.00). In 2004, a new bridge closed this gap in the trail.
http://robertpence.com/road_trip_2000/0620-24.jpg

Lake Champlain beach north of the Winooski River
http://robertpence.com/road_trip_2000/0630-01.jpg

http://robertpence.com/road_trip_2000/0630-02.jpg

http://robertpence.com/road_trip_2000/0630-03.jpg

http://robertpence.com/road_trip_2000/0630-04.jpg

The causeway across Mallett's Bay, built at the beginning of the 20th century by the Rutland and Canada Railroad, was in use until 1960. It was built by Italian laborers with huge marble blocks, some measuring six feet on a side.
http://robertpence.com/road_trip_2000/0630-05.jpg

A gap about three miles out on the causeway remains to be closed by a bike ferry; demonstration ferries have operated on selected weekends as recently as August 2007. Trail promoters hope eventually to open the trail all the way to Canada.

The black road bike is mine; despite the advice of the "experts" it is possible to ride skinny tires on gravel. You just have to pay attention.
http://robertpence.com/road_trip_2000/0630-06.jpg

http://robertpence.com/road_trip_2000/0630-08.jpg

The sailboarder was really moving until he came into a dead spot in the lee of the causeway.
http://robertpence.com/road_trip_2000/0630-09.jpg

[Ex-Ithacan]

You take some of the most interesting trips.

btw, ya didn't get seasick did ya?

[KevinFromTexas]

Lake Champlain. It was always a going joke in school that if you swallowed too much water you'd get drunk. :haha: Nice pics. Looks nice and relaxing.

[Robert Pence]

... btw, ya didn't get seasick did ya?

Nope. I was enjoying watching the folks who would go up to the bow of the car deck for the view. They were already cold because they hadn't dressed in anticipation that the wind off the lake in October would be chilly. Then, a wave would hit the bow and they'd get soaked in a spray of very cold lake water.

[JManc]

i used to live in plattsburgh; about a block away from the lake. been on those ferries afew times. great pics.

damn cold in the winter.