Glacier Lakes Chapter
Wisconsin

ACBS International Annual Meeting and Boat Show, Lake George NY - By Wil and Mary Vidal
( #1)
Over the past seven years, Mary and I have had the chance to travel to far away places (North America) and enjoy ACBS meetings and boating venues that one would possibly not have had the opportunity to participate in. They included: The Grand Hotel/ Mackinac Island; Gravenhurst, Canada; Lake Tahoe; Coeur d’ Alene Idaho; St Simons Island, GA; Lake Lanier, GA; Lake of the Ozarks; Lake Hopatcong, NJ; The Rideau Canal to Ottawa, Canada; Mt Dora, Florida; Lake Winnipesaukee, NH; and Lake George, NY, to mention a few. When we attended our first ACBS International event at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, we didn’t know a soul. Today, we have friends in Canada, NY, California, Georgia, New Jersey, Idaho, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, probably 40 out of the 50 states. We have written about these adventures in the Blackhawk newsletter, “The Smoke Signal” and in The Glacier Lakes newsletter, “at the Waterline.” My last official event as a director was the trip to Lake George. Because of the new Glacier Lakes web site, I thought we would share the Lake George adventure with color pictures. The story has been expanded to include some history not included in the newsletter.

Two friends that have done quite a few trips with us has been Howard and Donna Schneider of Muskego, WI., where we use to live.

When we contacted the Schneider’s about the upcoming September 2007 Lake George trip, Mary and Donna had some other ideas in mind. Mary and Donna Schneider flew out to New York on Thursday September 20th and took in the big city sights including a play. Howard Schneider and I started our drive, Wednesday September 19th, pulling Ellie’s SEQUEL. It was smooth driving except for going across the George Washington Bridge, a suspension toll bridge. It was a mistake and a nightmare. The bridge has a lower and upper level that feeds into and out of Manhattan. Spanning the Hudson, the bridge is considered one of the world's busiest bridges in terms of vehicle traffic.

It is estimated that nearly 300,000 vehicles use it daily. The afternoon we hit the bridge, I’d swear it was 75% trucks, and they (all 225,000) were all out to get us.

Anyway, after that ordeal, we finally reached Terrytown, NY early afternoon on Friday. Mary and Donna took a commuter train from Manhattan to Terrytown on Friday, where we met up. Howard and I put in Ellie’s SEQUEL at the Washington Irving Boat Club, on the Hudson. The commuter proved to be a great trip and experience. On Saturday morning, all the captains took their trailers (all 28 trailers) to Schuylerville, NY. It was about a 162 mile trip, three hours one way. A bus took us back to Terrytown. Saturday night, we were on our own.


On Sunday we took a tour around The Statue of Liberty on the Mariner III, a 1926 122ft fantail motor yacht. Mariner III embodies the elegance and luxury of America's Golden Age. Rich varnished mahogany, gleaming brass, and handcrafted beveled lead crystal windows from Paris are just some of the gracious details on this classic charter yacht. She accomodates up to 120 guests. We were limited in our trip around the Statue of Liberty because the President of Iran was doing a tour of the area. His yacht was accompanied by a number of Coast Guard gun boats. We were encouraged to stay at a safe distance. He had just finished a presentation at The UN. That evening, we were treated to a lobster boil.

On Monday morning, 118 ACBS members from around the country went to the Washington Irving Boat Club to start the 315 mile journey to Schuylerville and ultimately Lake George. On Monday night we stayed in Kingston, NY. Tuesday night, we stayed in Troy, NY.

Englishman Henry Hudson was looking for quick passage to China as he sailed along America's north Atlantic coast in 1609. Hudson thought he found what he was looking for when he entered New York bay. He and his crew traveled about 150 miles up the river near what is now Albany before realizing it would not lead them to their destination of choice.

What were the great sights on the Hudson?

They included West Point Military Academy, Franklin Roosevelt’s home in Hyde Park, the Vanderbuilt estate plus many others. It would have been nice to have stopped at West Point.

Here’s a little history on West Point. Benedict Arnold posed the last real threat to the security of West Point, attempting to pass the plans for the fort to the British in 1780.

Serving under George Washington, Arnold was given command of West Point. He made contact with a British officer after marrying a Tory sympathizer and was promised 20,000 pounds sterling if he could help the British take control of the Hudson River. Arnold narrowly escaped capture after being discovered as a spy. The British officer to whom he passed the plans for the fort wasn't so lucky. He was captured while trying to get the plans, hidden in his boot, to British headquarters in White Plains. The plans were recovered and the officer, Major John Andre, was tried and hanged. Is this where Eggs Benedict came from? (See the movie w/Kelsey Gramer on Arnold)


George Washington set up his headquarters north of West Point, Newburgh, NY in 1782, where he remained through the end of the Revolutionary War. After seeing the effects on his troops from a lack of properly trained officers, Washington pleaded with the newly formed government for the formation of a military academy. But it wasn't until after his death that the United States Military Academy at West Point was established in 1802 under President Thomas Jefferson.

Another unique place we saw along the Hudson was Bannerman Island. We found out that during the Revolutionary War, patriots unsuccessfully tried to stop the British from advancing north of the island by sinking 106 upright logs tipped in iron points in the Hudson. Later, General George Washington approved plans to use the island as a military prison.

At the close of the Civil War, (1865) the U.S. government auctioned off military goods by the ton, mostly to be scrapped for their metal. A young Frank Bannerman can be called the "Father of the Army-Navy Store," for he was one of the first to realize that much of what was being sold had a market value higher than scrap.

Under his guidance, Bannerman's became the world's largest buyer of surplus military equipment.

At the close of the Spanish American War 1898, (Rough Riders) Frank Bannerman purchased 90 percent of all captured goods in a sealed bid, and it became necessary to find a secure place to store their large quantity of very volatile black powder. Frank Bannerman purchased the island in 1900.

Bannerman Island was primarily a warehouse, storing mostly war weapons and explosives. Also scattered about were invaluable relics such as the chain placed
across the river at West Point during the Revolution. Frank Bannerman personally designed the island's buildings, docks, turrets, garden walls and moat in the style of old Scottish castles. Almost all of it was done without professional help from architects, engineers and contractors. And all of it was elaborately decorated, from biblical quotations cast into all fireplace mantles, to a shield between the towers with a coat of arms, and a wreath of thistle leaves and flowers.

New York State had plans to open Bannerman Island as a park, and for a short time in 1968 they ran tours of the island. But the night of August 8,1969, a raging fire of unknown origin destroyed all of the buildings

Another treat was Cole Palen’s Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome Museum, Rhinebeck, NY. Cole Palen founded the Aerodrome Museum in 1959. It is recognized as the world’s leading “Living Museum of Early Aviation.” The collection includes over 50 antique aircraft, dozens of early aero engines and about 40 vintage vehicles of all types from 1900 to 1939. Some were lucky enough to fly in one of the vintage airplanes. You flyboy buffs will want to check it out www.oldrhinebeck.org

There were two boat breakdowns on the trip, and one was mine. The oil line pipe must have weakened at the connection and broke. Howard’s quick eye on the gauge saw the oil pressure loss. For all practical purposes, I should have been dead in the water for the remaining 75 miles of the trip. One of the boaters had a flange flair kit. Now, who would have one of these on a cruise? Anyway, we were up and running within the hour.

On Wednesday, we reached Schuylerville, NY where the boats were pulled out for the one hour trip to Lake George. Members of the Adirondack Chapter drained and washed down the boats to get rid of any possible zebra muscles and milfoil before the trip to Lake George.

It takes a lot of planning and coordination to put a trip together like this. A special thanks to Steen Melby and Warren Moore for orchestrating this once in a lifetime adventure. Also a special thank you to Chuck and Cheryl Schampier and Teri Hoffman for all the energy they put forth to make the Annual Meeting a spectatular event.

Lake George is an awesome place. The water is pristine clear. It was a beautiful area to be able to see and enjoy. As in any trip, it’s impossible to take it all in. This was the 32nd Annual Meeting and Sixth International Boat Show. Lake George is the site where ACBS was started in 1975. Rightfully so, it was labeled Homecoming Week.

Like the whole east coast, the Lake George area is steeped in American History. There is a historic war ship shipwreck at the bottom of Lake George dating to the French and Indian War, 1755-1763. It’s called “The Lost Radeau”. Divers are able to go down to view it, but must stay behind the special barricade markers.

During the event, we saw a number of Wisconsinites. Jim Klauser from Pewaukee was there checking out his new Hacker-Craft. We also saw Cal and Arlene Kaufman from Wisconsin Rapids, WI. Also attending the event were: Glacier Lakes Chapter and Blackhawk chapters) Helen and Frank Petran, Dave Doyle, Todd Schultz, Jim Staib, Al and Marilyn Busa, Jerry and Carol Petersen, and Don and Louanne Severson.