Thousand Islands

This is the group of around 1800 islands in the middle of the St. Lawrence River in between the US and Canada  (its about 1/2 way between Montreal and Toronto).  It's where the rich and famous in the 19th Century built waterfront mansions.  The most famous is Boldt Castle.    It's also the place where Thousand Island dressing was created (or so the story goes).

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Boldt Castle

George Boldt (millionaire and owner of the Waldorf Astoria in NYC) started to build a full size rhineland castle as a tribute to the love of his life - his wife.  He started work in 1900 but his wife tragically died in 1904. He stopped work on the castle and never went back to the Island. The unfinished castle sat vacant for 73 years before the Thousand Island Bridge Authority obtained the property, did the rehab and then opened it to the public. The castle is on beautiful grounds, the pictures below show the power house/clock tower, the children's playhouse, and boat house.  Crazy beautiful.

Some of the other island houses

The Boat ride itself was pretty interesting....

  • We were buzzed by about 25 racing boats

    • They were heading back after a big race on the St. Lawrence.

  • We got buzzed by a helicopter - don't know what that was about

  • We saw a pirate ship reenactment  

    • Bob was thrilled

  • We were mooned by a speed boat full of guys -

    • Richele was thrilled

  • We drove by a bachelorette beach party with scantily clad girls and their giant penis balloon

    • All the boys and men (big boys) on the boat were shouting! 

NOW FOR THE CAMPGROUND (you just never really know what you're getting).  

  •  There were 2 weddings with the Cinderella carriage ride through the RV park.

  •  It seemed to be some sort of strange bird sanctuary

    • Thank goodness the roosters were far enough away from  our campsite we didn't have to hear all that crowing in the morning.  

    • Now we know that Sam HATES peacocks -  Not sure what that's all about!

    • We have now idea what those big round birds are???  anyone?

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Strangest named church

We have seen so many churches in this area.  I guess when the British Loyalists migrated north they brought many different religions and built lots of churches.