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| flag of Green Mountain Boys & the Vermont Republic |
2,871 miles
Nov 12 – These
islands in Lake Champlain, North Hero and South Hero (also called Grand Isle), were named after Ethan Allen. He and his
Green Mountain Boys militia were instrumental in defending Vermont settlers from the sovereignty
claims of New York during the colonial and Revolutionary War period.
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| Seal of the Vermont Republic (1777-1791) |
Because of their efforts, the people of Vermont
were able to declare and maintain their independence from the British Crown and
the new United States and eventually enter into the Union as a separate state.
North Hero
Island could be two islands, if not for the narrowest strip of land here.
From the road, you can see vast stretches of
Lake Champlain on either side.
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| town view from the frozen lake |
North Hero
is a township of about 800 people. The
land around Lake Champlain is an unusual floodplain forest, and most buildings
are made of wood. The architecture
reflects New England style much more than that of nearby Québec.
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| rental cabins uphill from the lake |
For a
century, the people here have made their living from tourism.
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| Post Office & general store |
The Post Office/general store/gas station/bike-&-boat rental shop displays a variety of flags, from Nouvelle France and
Parti Québécois to the Vermont Republic and American Revolutionary War varieties. Boaters from Lake Champlain can tie up in “City
Bay” and stock up on supplies.
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| lakeside cottage with Adirondack chairs |
The older
buildings in town are built up away from the shoreline road, but many of the
cottages are built as close to the shore as possible. Since the lake level can fluctuate seasonally
about 6 feet, this one seems precariously placed. The view on a sunny day, of course, is idyllic.
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