Today we look forward to our run east on the St. Lawrence Seaways to Alexandria Bay, NY and JP’s Marine. We bid farewell to our Looper friends and dropped our lines. The weather was great with light winds and current out of the west. The shoreline and rocky islands were filled with beautiful homes. The river was teeming with speed boats, tour boats and small fishing boats and travelled past Wellesley Island which has a bridge that connects the US to Canada. This is the beginning of the Thousand Islands.
As we approached Alexandria Bay we slid around Cherry Island to get out of the main channel and the swift currents heading east and entered the harbor. JP’s Marine is located on the eastern end of the harbor next to the public dock. There were only 2 slips available and our power and water hose had to stretch across the bow of “Yensid”. The dockmaster and his wife were super friendly and helpful. After tying up we were given a loaner car from the dockmaster and went out shopping and a quick tour of the area. The town is filled with touristy bars and shops and is not as quaint as Clayton. It is however the best launching point to Heart Island the home of Boldt Castle directly across the river. After returning we dropped the dinghy and took a run across the river to visit the area around Heart Island and then visited the 1000 Island Yacht Club where “Gemini, Coconuts” and several other loopers were docked. Then it was back across the river dodging several speeding boats and large tour boats.
After dining in the town we sat on the back of the boat to watch the clown show of loud speed boats and pontoon boats setting up on the town dock for the 4th of July celebration and fireworks.
Maria and I walked up to the hospital hill to view the fireworks display that was right above the Boldt Castle which gave it a great backdrop.
On the 5th of July we ran the dinghy to Boldt Castle and toured the castle and the Yacht House. The Castle tour was quite interesting. We had to download an app that allowed us to self guide our visit and listen to a narrated tour through the app. We were the 1st visitors through the gates so we didn’t have to deal with the crowds. The weather was great and we spent a few hours touring the property and then took the shuttle boat to visit the yacht house where there was a wooden boat display.
“At the turn-of-the-century, George C. Boldt, millionaire proprietor of the world famous Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, set out to build a full size rhineland castle in Alexandria Bay, on picturesque Heart Island. The grandiose structure was to be a display of his love for his wife, Louise.
Beginning in 1900, the Boldt family spent summers in the 1000 Islands at the Boldt Family’s Wellesley House near Mr. Boldt’s Wellesley Island Farms while 300 workers including stonemasons, carpenters, and artists fashioned the six story, 120 room castle, complete with tunnels, a powerhouse, Italian gardens, a drawbridge, alster tower (children’s playhouse) and a dove cote. Not a single detail or expense was spared.
In January 1904, tragedy struck. Boldt telegraphed the island and commanded the workers to immediately “stop all construction.” Louise had died suddenly. A broken hearted Boldt could not imagine his dream castle without his beloved. Boldt never returned to the island, leaving behind the structure as a monument of his love.
For 73 years, the castle and various stone structures were left to the mercy of the wind, rain, ice, snow and vandals. When the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority acquired the property in 1977, it was decided that through the use of all net revenues from the castle operation it would be preserved for the enjoyment of future generations.
Since 1977, several million dollars have been applied to rehabilitating, restoring and improving the Heart Island structures.”
After Dinner at Riley’s By The River it was back to the boat to prep for another run on the river.