Back to the USA!!

Before leaving Gananoque yesterday morning I called US Customs to report that we were coming back into the country. No problem, after a few questions we were given an arrival # and that was it. We slipped our lines at 0800 in calm winds and flat water. We wandered through the small channels between islands. Some adorned with mansions and others with small cottages.

We docked at Hutchinson's Boat Yard in Alexandria Bay, NY at 1000. Our plan is to get the boat settled and take the ferry across to Boldt Castle just a 5 minute ride away. George Boldt was the most successful hotel magnates in the US in the late 1800's with properties such as the Waldorf Astoria in NYC and the Bellevue Stratford in Philadelphia. He also owned several islands here on the St. Lawrence. Heart Island is where he was building the castle for his wife but she died before it was finished. He abandoned construction and it sat for many years. Eventually the Thousand Islands Bridge Commission acquired the island and have been restoring it over the years. It's a work in progress with much of it still closed.

The front entrance to the castle.

The main foyer.

Ceiling above the foyer.

The entrance arch to the island. There are 3 bronze stags atop.









He had his own power house built to supply electricity. It contained the generators.

Across on another island stands his boat house with quarters for the caretaker. It still houses several of his wooden boats.

Side view. The caretaker lived in the round section on the left.

When we returned to Alexandria Bay we strolled through the small and very touristy main streets. Ice cream shops, tee shirt stores, restaurants and gift shops. There were some interesting homes as we walked back to the marina.

We went next door to The Bonnie Castle Resort for dinner on the docks. Good food and good scenery.

 

This pontoon boat had just been catered (aluminum chests and blue cooler) and were heading over to an island. It took 4 guys 30 minutes to load all the stuff so must have been a big gathering.






After dinner, back to the boat and another great sunset.

This mornings view across to Boldt castle.