Clayton, New York and Friends

O.K., we’re a little behind in the blog, but we’ve been busy, so this one is a little long.

Thursday morning we left Oswego, with the weather looking rather dark and overcast and headed out into Lake Ontario. Our thirty mile run across the corner of the Lake was a little bumpy with four to six footers rolling in with an approaching weather front. Once we reached Cape Vincent, which is the entrance to the St. Lawrence River, and got into the lee of the islands, we were fine. The St. Lawrence River is huge and deep, and runs almost a thousand miles north and east, past Montreal before it reaches the Atlantic. Our journey up the river was only about twenty miles to the town of Clayton, New York and the area called the Thousand Islands. They say there are over 1800 islands.

AWEIGH was moored at the town municipal dock directly in front of the newly opened Shipyard and Antique Boat Museum which of course, we had to visit the following day. Perhaps the most interesting vessel there was the 110 foot houseboat built in 1901 for the Boldt family, but more about them later. Clayton is a wonderful little town that has enjoyed the tourist trade who come for the fishing, sightseeing and cool weather, for over a hundred and fifty years. A one time there were over twenty large hotels catering to the people who came north to escape the heat of summer and enjoy this area. The old town area has restored old buildings with plenty of shopping and eating places.

Friday afternoon, Ed and Nancy Weise returned, bringing their guests Bill and Jodi Martin who had joined them in their motor home. Although, the Martins live directly above us in Gulf Harbour and the Weises live below us, we all enjoyed the opportunity of getting together again. That evening we had dinner at the only hotel still operating and which has been serving meals continuously for 110 years. The Thousand Island Inn also has the distinction of being the originator of the well known Thousand Island salad dressing. Everyone had a fish dinner of haddock, perch, or walleye and the servings were huge and good.

Saturday morning the Martins and Weises spent exploring the Antique Boat Museum while I had to get a haircut in the only town barber. He said he had been cutting hair in the same shop for forty four years and saw no need to update his shop of one chair. It was like a barber shop out of the thirties or forties, but a good haircut. He was still shaving some local men.

After a hot dog lunch from a young street vendor, we boarded a small sightseeing boat for a narrated trip about ten miles further up the river to visit the Boldt Castle. After passing island after island with larger and larger summer homes, we reached the area known as Millionaires row where over a hundred years ago, very wealthy men built elaborate summer retreats. The largest estate was built in 1903 by George Boldt who wanted to have built, a Rhineland style castle for his wife. They had stayed on the 110 foot houseboat which we had visited in the Boat Museum, while over three hundred craftsmen worked three years building this stone, six story castle with over 120 rooms. But in 1904, tragedy struck before the buildings were totally completed. Boldt sent a telegram ordering all work stopped. His wife had died suddenly and he was heartbroken. He never returned to the island and the buildings sat vacant for over seventy years until given to the Thousand Islands International Bridge authority. They have since spent millions restoring the property which is an ongoing project. The pictures do not do justice to the grandeur of the castle and buildings.

Although, we had a cool and slightly wet ride back to Clayton on our tour boat, everyone warmed up aboard AWEIGH during happy hour and several rounds of Shanghai card game. Dinner was up the street at a local spot, because it was close by and we wanted to return for one last game. Nancy was the big winner.

The Martins will spend the next week or so, traveling with Nancy and Ed in their motor home, as they tour this beautiful area of northern New York State and Canada. We’re off to Kingston, Canada later today.

Ned

P.S. We’re about to enter Canada and not sure how our Verizon Sky card which gives us a internet connection will work. We may have to use local coffee shops with Wi-Fi connections so be prepared for blog gaps.