August 10

We arose early and headed back to the public launch area maintained by the VT Dept of Wildlife Management near Cedar Beach. Arriving there we noted that the trees were bent over and whitecaps were forming on the bay where it was located.  It looked like it would be difficult to row against and across this to get back on our course toward Burlington, VT. We decided to drive around to another ramp further up the lake to see what conditions were like. From there it did not look quite so bad. We determined that we should go back to the original landing and try to make it out of that bay and around. We returned to find the wind even stronger. A ferry across to the New York side of the lake was due to leave at 9:30 from not very far away. We decided to get on it and take a look at conditions on the other side of the lake. We also had been told to contact a reporter over there that was interested in covering our story. 

On the other side of the lake the wind was just as bad. We called the reporter and had a telephone interview sitting in the car. This was going to be our first “weather day” of the trip. We decided to return to VT by the next ferry north that would bring us back to the center of Burlington.  From the ferry deck I watched two to three foot waves and new we had decided wisely.  I have never chosen to put my self in harms way when I knew there were alternatives.  I had no motivation to take such chances.

In Burlington we met with the editor of a local monthly magazine at the Icehouse restaurant only a few yards from where we got off the ferry. I also was to take part in a conference call, which I did for two hours sitting in the restaurant’s air-conditioned atmosphere.  A violent thunderstorm came in off the lake confirming our good choice of plans for the day. We then returned to our friend’s house for the night.