Burlington Boathouse

Burlington, VT  2015

I'm sure this place is much busier in the warmer summer months.  By the middle of October, most of the boats have been removed from the water for the winter.  It was pretty cold the morning of my cruise on Lake Champlain,  right around freezing with a stiff breeze blowing.  Later in the day I would see some heavy snow squalls.  Winter isn't far off. 

Red Rocks

South Burlington, VT  2015

Here's another interesting geologic formation seen along the shores of Lake Champlain.  The red color of these rocks comes from the high iron oxide content.  The sediments forming these rocks were laid down 500 million years ago when Vermont was close to the equator and under a tropical sea.  Over time the sediments became cemented into sandstone.  The heat and pressure which resulted from tectonic forces about 450 million years ago changed the sandstone into quartzite seen today.  This is part of the Monkton Quartzite formation.  This rock was quarried and can be found in some of the redstone buildings in Burlington and on the campus of the University of Vermont. 

Lake Champlain

Burlington, VT  2015

Before we sailed, I was able to get some shots of Lake Champlain from the docks.  This is the view looking northwest across the lake into New York state.  

The Spirit of Ethan Allen

Burlington, VT  2015

I spent a weekend recently in Burlington, VT, right on the shores of Lake Champlain.  Although much smaller than any of the Great Lakes,  the locals here like to consider Lake Champlain to be another "Great" lake.  It's over 120 miles long and lies on the border between New York and Vermont.  At places it reaches depths of 325 feet.  It was a very strategic water way during the French and Indian War as well as the Revolutionary War.  This sight seeing boat was about to embark on a 1.5 hour cruise on the lake and on a crisp autumn Sunday morning, I was along for the sail.  I can't turn down the opportunity to spend some time on a boat.