This morning we left Ft. Edward heading north on the Champlain Canal through locks 7, 8, 9, and 11.  Lock 10 is no longer used.  Lock 11 is the first lock on our journey thus far in which the water has been lowered, this one, 12 feet.  All the other locks so far have raised the water, so this was something new for us.

We met Barbara and David Doyle of Memory Maker in Ft. Edward and traveled with them today.   The Doyles have cruised the Loop before and this year are doing a "mini loop" going to Canada to cruise the Rideau Canal and some other ports, but will return via the Erie Canal and head south on the Hudson to their home in Jacksonville, FL in the fall. 

The Doyles have a faster boat and we got separated between locks 9 and 11.  As we rounded a bend we came upon sailing vessel, Resolute," which had run aground in the Canal.  The sole occupant was a woman  singlehandedly sailing from Connecticut to Chicago via the Erie Canal.  She was heading south--we were heading north.  We stopped to help, I tossed her a line and bow-to-bow  Captain Wonderful was able to pull her off.  She thanked us and we were both back on our respective courses.

We arrived in Whitehall, NY at 1:00 PM and tied up at the city dock, once again they offer free water, electricity and wifi.   Ralph played with Striper who needed to run a bit and the Doyles invited us to tour Skene Manor with them, having obtained a ride from one of the locals, who said we "must see" this beautiful Gothic-style castle built in 1874 by New York State Supreme Court Judge Joseph H. Potter (1821-1902). 

We toured this magnificent mansion and were delighted to enjoy dessert in the elegant dining room which has been turned into a restaurant.  The specialty of the house is "Potter's Puff" -- an enormous cream puff filled with vanilla ice cream and strawberry preserves, topped with whipped cream and a cherry and drizzled with chocolate sauce.  The special dessert of the day was a magnificent two layer cherry filled cake.  Both were absolutely marvelous.  

The Manor has been restored and preserved by volunteers and private donations and in 1995 was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.  It's open on weekends and manned by volunteers.  It's definitely worth a visit while in Whitehall.

We arrived back at the boat minutes before the rain began again. The forecast for the next couple days looks like rain, so we are glad to be here at the dock.

American Great Loop Cruisers Association official burgee

Lock 9 our first experience with the water level being lowered

We found a woman singlehandedly her sailboat, "Resolute," had run aground in the Champlain Canal

I tossed her a line and we attached bow-to-bow

She's off!!

...and on her way south...

...and we're on our way north.  Captain Wonderful to the rescue!!

Striper loves to fetch

Good doggy!!

Skene Manor overlooking Whitehall, NY

Mmmm...Potter's Puff and Cherry Layer Cake