We Found Them!

Fossils, that is! They were on the NY side of Lake Champlain on Valcour Island near Plattsburgh. We had trailered the Sea Fox up north and planned on going all the way across the lake to the Inland Sea on the Vermont side. However, the wind gods decided to blow harder than predicted, so we turned around and snuck into Smuggler's Cove on the east side of Valcour Island. This is another place we haven't been to in years, mainly because it is usually jam packed with boats. Today we were alone except for one fisherman outside the harbor.

Dave snorkeled awhile in the 78 degree water. We have never felt the water this warm in this huge lake.

We took a hike on the rocks, looking for the fossils that we thought we remembered were here many years ago. Sure enough, there were plenty! Some looked like fossils of the buttons or button molds that used to be on Button Island...

Others looked like perhaps a trilobite of some sort...

Then there were a bunch of these tiny horseshoe shaped ones...

Dave thought this one was a high heel shoe. LOL...

We also stopped and visited the memorial for the crew of the Nomad. I found this piece of history on the Nomad and its crew: http://passageport.org/valcour/valcour-island-heritage-trail-guide/nomad-monument/

Even though this wasn't what we had planned for the day, it was almost better. In fact making it even extra special, a deer came to graze near the water. We had heard there were some living on the island but have never seen one. They had to either swim there or walk over during the winter on the ice.

"When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." We did just that today!