Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-09-18
CHAMPLAIN TO ST. WRENCH
A Delightful Cruise by Canoe
through Ancient Gateway"
Route Taken by Indian War Parties
Of Old Traverscd--Interestin EI-
periences md Suggestions o,
Six BurIlngtOninns.


written for the Free Press)
There is a freshness and a tang about
expeditions suddenly planned and imme-
diately carried out that are not always
found in excursions for which we have
made long aud laborious preparation
The thought OF a canoe trip from Bur
lington to Sorel on the st. Lawrence
Lake Champlain and the river
Richelieu presented Itself one evening,
and, on the third evening following, three
canoes, with six mortais on board and
enough provisions for a day or two, were
pushing forth on IL days' journey from
the yacht club wharf all of us wonder
ing that such thing could so easily he
brought to pass.
That night we made but n short paddle
to Apple Tree hay to test the muscles
and tho balancing power OF the party.
Next day it blew and blew, as II old
Champlain were rcsentful of this cookie
shell expedition In the path OF the great
explorer. But with the descending sun,
he grew less turbulent, and we set forth
again, padding hard before the south
wind. running n good clip round Col
chester Point and under the railway
bridge to the south coast of South Hero.
There tho southeast wind spoke up:
THUS far and no further!' and we had
to run ashore. In a piping wind and by
the swish or the waves we built our
campfire and cooked the evening meal,
procuring milk, eggs and potatoes from
the wild natives that inhabit those shores
That night We alrpt IN the open field
above, with to tars for roof. In that
night also ... a dreadful beast and
devoured ,unds of bacon from our
stores
TORM-BOUND
All day we were storm-bound
Rat mile tramp to the nearest
stor. lathe In the big waves, and the
scare .r our departed bacon made the
time ny At night, the rain came on
and tho little tent was put up for tho
protection of the stores and other bag
gage: while tho men of the party clam
hered, in the darkness, into hay-loft
nearby, to be awakened the next morning
! by the crunching OF the horses, the low
ing of the cattle, and the sharp point OF
the pitch-fork of our friend the far
! mer.
Next morning we started off, passing
3 through the shadows, under the Sand
Bar bridge, and then to the west of Gul
| island. on the east Of Fish-Bladder and
! Savage islands, At 10 we began long
hard plug against wind and wave for Is
land Villa on South Hero, and reached
it about 2:3o. IN time to do such justice
( to the hotel lunch that we do not doubt
it seemed a judgment to all that were
/ in the house. The bill of fare announced
the items lin family style" hut the fare
was eaten lin family quantity" The aft
ernoon paddle TO Ladds Point was easy
going, in the lea of the island. The
| "ChateauGay" steamed past as we cam'
to camp among the big trees of the shell
tered hay, and we went to bed in th'
meadow In the light of the rising moon.
WINTER AND SUMMER.
Next morning we made a swift run be
fore a spanking breeze, and on the dowl
side of fairly big waves, to North Hero
/ and little beyond, at the Garry over,
the narrow neck of the island. we had t
wait another day. on this side, where w
camped. the lake was as calm as mill
pond and summer was in the air; but OF
the other side, whittier we We're bound
a biting wintry wind was blowing. w
slept the night under an over-hanSin'
bank of rock The dawn came up Will
the same wonderful crimson sky. abov
the intense blue of the bay and the pur
pie OF the shore, in which the sun hal
set. in the west, the night before.
BEDS IN BARNS AND FIELDS.
At TWO o'clock next day we carried tn
canoes over to the west Of the island
and, with some new paidlers from tn
motor-car that Joined us at this point, W
crossed the bay. and portaging over Al
burg Point, struck across to the lea o
Isle La Motto, up the east coast Of whic
we.had a long easy paddle n the Golde
sheen Of the evening light Who know
the glory Of old Champlain, as he does
who crecps along. in and out of It's bays
touching It's high rocks, passing With
its shadows, looking Up to the harves
fields along its shores. feeling the guar
dianship of It's watching hills, and run
ming his canoe ashore at the end Of IN
, day. upon some far-in beach, where tn
tall trees meet the waters with tina
, mysterious spirit that makes the fores,
of the north unlike anything else in ID
world That night canoe and motor pa
ties occupied the barn OF our cordial hos
but we were aroused with n Jump. mex
morning, by rick OF oats drawn by tw
impatient horses. hurried ir from III
> coming storm. We took up our bells an
fed. All day from the lighthouse, an
from St. Anne. where tho first Christia
service was held liz Vermont we watohe
the white caps between us and the No
York shore; and at about ave, after III
motor-car had left for home, We Sc
forth for a quick So-minute paddle this
brought va safely over. At seven "
were at rhe customs house or the raj
way bridge a. Rouses Point with rail-
storm brewing overhead We drew III
canoes onto noat under the bridg
and spent the night on the bridge, eleey
, ing on the customs house floor treate
here with the same cordial hospitalit
We had received all along the way.
IN THE RICHEILEU RIVER
, Novt rOoTnin1 we werc IN the RiChelie