... than these "cheeseburgers" in parts north of the border.
We were
welcomed back to the US by the breathtaking beauty of Lake Champlain.
Vermont can indeed be proud of this body of water, framed by our
state's Green Mountains on the east and New York's Adirondacks on the
west.
It is the cleanest we've encountered, and a haven for sailors.
Many are Canadians who prefer this freshwater playground to the St.
Lawrence.
We
picked up a special mooring in Shelburne Bay, as guests of Wesley and
Patty Eldred, fellow LNVT owners! (LNVT = Lord Nelson Victory Tug) Be
careful when googling. You might end up at Live Nude Video
XXXX. Just go to this: lnvt.org. More about the Eldreds
follows.
Sally W was left to commune with the Eldred's Little Bitt #21 while we dashed home 150
miles south to wash clothes, re-provision, and most importantly, see
our family.
Daughter Poppet with granddaughters Madelyn and Clara |
Boating on Lake Mascoma with Sally's sister Susie and husband Pete Weaver. |
Grandson Russell on the right |
Susie, Sally, Sophie and Madelyn |
Patty and Wesley Eldred with Little Bitt #21 |
We
dashed back to the Eldred's and our boats to do the final prep for
the LNVT Lake Champlain Spontaneous Rendezvous. Just because our tug
association holds annual gatherings on the east and west coasts, it
doesn't preclude additional opportunities.
Along with Little
Bitt #21, there are two other tugs on the lake. Tugnacious
#7 ...
... and Calisto
#19. This made great potential for a get-together. We suggested the idea and the Eldreds immediately offered to be the hosts.
The arrival of the Howells |
Word
was passed, everyone loved the idea and plans were made. Dave and
Vicki Howell of Nellie D #63, even drove up from Maryland, as did
John and Lisa Taylor, Aramis #40, from Connecticut.
The
Howells joined Little Bitt and Sally W and headed south down the
lake. We cruised up the Otter Creek and discovered a similar
gathering of boating zealots.
This time it was steam launches. The
quiet waters of this creek were a good choice for them, and we
carefully inched past each.
It was gratifying to have the chance to
give thumbs up and yell, “Nice boat!” to this passionate group.
The
navigable portion of the Otter Creek ended in Vergennes, Vermont's
oldest town. The basin was very popular with vacationing Canadians,
so we dropped the hook and rafted up for the night.
LNVT President Dave Howell with Wesley |
Whenever
owners have the chance to step on others' tugs, it spawns “tug
talk.” This phenomenon appears to be universal and non-stop with
this group.
We think there must be a special lobe in LNVT President Dave Howell's brain for
tug facts. He is the clearinghouse for all details large and small.
The
next morning we joined the parade to the lake, and headed
for Kingsland State Park and picked up the Taylors and Bill and
Keefer Irwin on Callisto.
The
forecast for increasing northerly winds lead to a wise decision to fore go lunch and a swim, and head north up the lake and back to the
protection of Shelburne Bay.
But we couldn't pass up the opportunity to pass by the Burlington waterfront and toot our horns.
But we couldn't pass up the opportunity to pass by the Burlington waterfront and toot our horns.
The
weekend continued with tug talk and delicious food. Potluck can be
very rewarding. Robert and Maye Bachofen arrived without their boat,
Tugnacious #7, who stayed behind at her dock, nursing a bad case of
cable steering syndrome.
L to R: Allan Seymour, Vicki Howell, Dave Howell,Maye Bachofen, Patty Eldred, Wesley Eldred, Bill Irwin, Lisa Taylor, John Taylor, Sally Seymour, Robert Bachofen, Keefer Irwin
The event was a great success, particularly for the relatively new owners in the group. The Bachofens and Tugnacious are enjoying their second boating season together. The Taylors trucked their tug from California in March to Noank, CT. The Irwins just finished their maiden voyage from Maryland. This is the sixth year for the Howells; fourth for the Seymours, and twelfth for the Eldreds. We just never seem to tire of talking tugs.
L to R: Allan Seymour, Vicki Howell, Dave Howell,Maye Bachofen, Patty Eldred, Wesley Eldred, Bill Irwin, Lisa Taylor, John Taylor, Sally Seymour, Robert Bachofen, Keefer Irwin
The event was a great success, particularly for the relatively new owners in the group. The Bachofens and Tugnacious are enjoying their second boating season together. The Taylors trucked their tug from California in March to Noank, CT. The Irwins just finished their maiden voyage from Maryland. This is the sixth year for the Howells; fourth for the Seymours, and twelfth for the Eldreds. We just never seem to tire of talking tugs.