Clayton is the place to be!

 August 4, 2025

      We had a nice cruise up to Clayton.  Weather was warm but beautiful for boating.  Everyone else agreed.  There’s lots of traffic of all kinds on the St. Lawerence.  Our Marina in Clayton was literally across the street from the Museum.  We got in around 2pm on July 21st.  We used our CBP Roam app to check in.  Amazingly we were cleared within 5 minutes, no inspection, no questions asked.  We were relieved.  Next on our agenda was to walk to the Antique Boat Museum and find out about visiting.  Since they closed at 5 and it was already 3:30, we opted to wait till the next day to visit.  Last time we were here, we were awaiting the arrival of our first grandchild.  The kids lived in Binghamton, NY which was a short drive away.  The museum was flooded from rain storms and some of the exhibits were not open.  This time the weather was perfect and everything was open!  

      Later that evening we rode to the grocery and wine store.  The grocery store was very expensive and not very satisfying.  We did not provision in the US before we left wanting to spend our money in Canada.  Well, we have had to go without many things we enjoy at home but we’ve had a chance to try many new things.  Being back in the USA I was looking forward to finding some favorites.  Well, guess again. We now drink Tim Hortons coffee- which my friend Monica introduced me to years ago.  We eat plain pasta - no whole wheat to be found, and they have no pizza shells just pre-made pizzas in the freezer section.  Next year I’m bringing a supply of all the things I couldn’t find this year!

      We had a marvelous time at the museum.  There are some stunning boats here.  If you’ve not been I highly recommend you make a visit.  These pictures should speak for themselves.

Beautiful sailing and rowing skiffs

Some old, some new!  The birch bark is my favorite.

Bob had a hydroplane but not near as fancy as this one!

Gadfly- a commuter boat, made for going to and from your island home.

An amphicar- always a crowd pleaser!  We saw one in the water on Lake Erie

Such a sweet color.

Cute utility vessel

The Captain with an antique airboat

All that beautiful wood!

     The following day, my sister, Leslie, came to visit from Rochester.  She had a part for my sink to bring up and she added a few home baked goodies.  We had a nice visit and went to lunch at a wonderful restaurant called Belle’s.  There was a line to get in but it moved quickly and we even got seating on the back porch over looking the river.  She left mid afternoon and we retreated to the boat for some siesta time.

We couldn’t resist this giant truck.

     During our visit to the museum we found out that the following weekend was the Antique Boat Show and Auction.  You know who decided that we would have to come back for that. We also found out about the Thousand Island Hot Air Balloon Festival - here in Clayton this weekend.  We were destined to stay a bit longer.   We spoke to Jennifer the marina manager and got an extension on our stay.

      Friday, July 25th we tuned up our bikes, checked the maps and headed out to the Coyote Moon Vineyard.   The GPS said it was 5 miles and not too hilly.  The day was hot so we took our time and tried to enjoy the ride.  Unfortunately most of it was out First Line Rd.  Which is also Highway 3!   New Yorkers drive fast.  We had a shoulder the whole way but still felt exposed.  Needless to say, we made it to the vineyard in time to listen to a local band play and see them air up the balloons.  We also met a nice family from Potsdam, NY.   There daughter Emma was a graduate of Boston University preparing to move to Houston to be with her boyfriend.   We had lots to talk about and left her with our numbers if she needed more information about Houston.  We couldn’t stay for the true “glow” because riding our bikes in semi-dark on that road would have been suicide.  The owner of the vineyard told us it was a terribly dangerous road and encouraged us to be most careful.  He also told us about the classic car rally happening there the next day.  Guess we’re staying a little longer.

Flying high

They had a huge crowd for the “Glow”

The Winery Coyote Moon donated the space for the balloon festival

The crowd kept getting bigger as the balloons fired up

Live music too!

     On Saturday we rode back to the vineyard to see the cars.  It was a nice show, not as crowded as the balloon glow and they were selling wine slushies!  The day was hot again and the slushies did the trick. The show was good with some new and interesting cars.  The ride home was uneventful and we got back in time to prep for leaving the following day.

Crowd was not near as big for the car show but still lots of fun

     We cruised out into the Thousand Islands and checked out some of the beautiful homes along the shores.  We ended at Grindstone Island in a very quiet and secluded anchorage. As we dropped the anchor we could hear the loons calling.   By late afternoon and had seen a mama and two loon chicks and trumpeter swans with their five cignets.  Their were also osprey hunting down in the end of the bay.  We spent two nights here.  We managed to wash the decks of the boat and do a few other boat chores while relaxing in between.

Thousand Island Bridge

A laker passing on its way to Montreal 

        On Tuesday we went further east to the Thousand Island Club and took a slip.  This is located on Wesley Island across the St.Lawrence River from Alexandria Bay.  We had hoped to be on the other side in Alexandria Bay but it was not to be.  The Marina was very well protected and had facilities and a nice restaurant but the only grocery was across the river.  We got directions on how to access the grocery stores dinghy dock and proceeded to put our dinghy in the water.  It was and interesting boat ride back to the dinghy dock.  We went way up Muddy Creek until we found a disreputable looking dock that was built for small power boats, not a dinghy.  The climb out was a challenge - especially avoiding all the spiders!  We walked up the hill to the store and managed to find almost everything we needed.  Then back to the boat to unload and explore the area.  We’re a stones throw from Boldt Castle and the Boldt Boathouse.  

       The next day was cloudy and cool - a perfect day to visit the castle.  We donned our long pants and sweatshirts and headed off to Boldt Castle.  We bought tickets for both the castle and the boathouse.  We took the dinghy to the castle visitor docks and tied up.  We knew there was a shuttle to the boathouse if the weather turned and figured we’d use it if we needed.   

The ballroom

Main entryway 

The castle

Stained glass rotunda in the main hall

The power house for Heart Island
They used a steam generator

The history of Boldt Castle is quite interesting.  George Boldt was the owner of the Waldorf Astoria in NYC.  He was a multimillionaire.  He bought Hart Island in the Thousand Islands with the intent to build a Rhine- like castle for his wife Louise.  Work began in 1900 with the help of  over 300 workers.  He changed the spelling of the name of the island to Heart Island to reflect his enduring love for Louise.  In 1904 with the castle and other structures one-third completed work was abruptly stopped.   Louise had taken ill and died and George no longer had to desire to continue the project.  He could not imagine living in his dream castle without the love of his life.

     The castle sat unfinished and exposed to the elements for 73 years before the Thousand Island Bridge Authority acquired the property in 1977.  Since its acquisition, the TIBA has been slowly renovating and completing George’s dream castle.

Clare at Alster Tower

Castle from the dinghy

    The Boldt Boathouse  was built in 1903.  Mr. Boldt owned numerous properties in the Thousand Islands and used his many boats to travel between them.  Some were rental properties, others were working farms where fruits and vegetables were grown for his hotels and his family table.  The yacht house housed not only small “commuter” boats but also Boldt’s house boat, La Duchesse, now on exhibit at the Clayton Antique Boat Museum.

Boldt Yacht House

Circular tower with reception rooms

There was also a large caretakers residence

   Now it was time to head back to Clayton for the Antique Boat Show and Auction.  We said our goodbyes to to Thousand Island Club and headed backup river to Clayton  I’ll save the boat show and beyond for our next blog.  Till then, have a wonderful August, stay cool and enjoy your friends and neighbors.