Continued

I do not have the patience to do the research in order to write in a knowledgeable way about the history along Lake Champlain. There’s a peaceful shore road on the New York side near the Canadian border that Laurence and I enjoy walking. We stop to read the historical markers along the way: “Near this spot survivors of the British gunboat Simcoe buried their dead comrades left on board following the American naval victory on Plattsburgh Bay.” So reads one marker after another until our mind picture becomes one of musket blasts and death. But today, the lake is serene and blue and a dairy man leads his cattle to pasture.

South of here stands the massive ruins of “His Majesty’s Fort of Crown Point.” The French built a fort here between 1734 and 1737. In 1759, the British captured the fort from the French and built a fort here. General John Burgoyne’s army occupied the fort in 1777, and it remained in British control until the end of the Revolutionary War. (Are you history buffs following me?)

I told Laurence what I’d written about him wanting me to tell you the history. He replied, “Are you going to say how peaceful it is today?” There is hardly a lovelier place along the lake than by Crown Point. The formidable ruins make you gasp with their massiveness, but today, it is a serene park with an awesome view of the lake, a graceful bridge that connects New York and Vermont, and of mountains.

Yesterday morning, we took a hike that began at a Revolutionary War cemetery and led to the top of Coot Hill. We could look down on Crown Point, on the lake, and the Champlain Valley. The Adirondack Mountains were dressed in fall colors. I know of no prettier view. Yet, in this spot a British soldier once spied on the French at Crown Point.

We crawled in slow traffic back into the city yesterday evening. Today, I look out at the cityscape as I write about the Champlain Valley. This is home, but it isn’t far to go there, and, Lord willing, we will return to that peaceful place. Berniece