We left the City of Vergennes, VT at 8:05 AM and had the current with us as we exited Otter Creek.  With gray skies and spitting rain we entered Lake Champlain once again.  By the time we reached tiny Sloop Island, the sun was shining -- it's a beautiful day! 

We arrived at Burlington, VT at 11:20 AM and took a free city mooring for the day.  We took the dinghy to the Boathouse Yacht Basin and tied up to the city dinghy dock, obtained a city map and  got a recommendation for lunch.  Burlington offers a free shuttle about town which worked out nicely with our plan to buy groceries. We walked a few blocks to Handy's Lunch -- established in 1945, now third generation owner -- and had a good lunch and pleasant conversation with the owners and other customers.
 

  


We then caught the shuttle that took us through town to the City Market Co-op grocery store.  They had an amazing selection of organic and gluten-free products which is unusual, and we found everything on our list.  The staff was friendly and helpful and even gave us a 5% senior discount on every item.  Their bakery was to die for, but we only bought a baguette for dinner which was superb -- it was hard to refrain from the sticky buns and other goodies, though, but we did.

We walked only a couple blocks to a shuttle stop and enjoyed the fine music of a jazz group playing outdoors in the market square -- this week Burlington is having a Jazz Festival.  The shuttle took us to within a half block of the dock which was great. It was starting to sprinkle rain, but we arrived back at the boat with only a few raindrops.  Burlington reminds  me much of Boston and we both liked it. 


After stowing our groceries, we left the mooring field and cruised south  to anchor in Sled Runner Point.  The forecast did not look good and we wanted the protection  from southerly winds that this little cove provides.  We were joined by several sailboats with the same idea.  

We were just finishing dinner when the thunder, lightening and torrential rain began.  We had a tremendous storm.  Striper is frightened by storms and was beside herself and sought solace in the smallest place onboard -- the head.  Poor Stripie!  So we share the following photos of tonight's back yard.

Sled Runner Point -- the calm before the storm

The weather station during the storm

Poor Striper during the storm :(

After the storm