Alexandria Bay, NY

July 2-

As we are sitting here in Alexandria Bay, NY waiting for the generator to be repaired, we decided to explore the region. but first things first....we needed more vodka. Now this shouldn't be a problem...if you have a car since the local liquor store is 6 miles away but we don't have a car..  Our cruising guide told us there was a store five steps from the town dock so we went find it.  Nothing in the area looked like a liquor store.  After asking a couple of folks, we came upon an older rugged-looking guy sitting on his front steps. Pete recognized the lights on his truck as fire house firefighter type so he approached him and asked about where the local liquor store is so we can buy vodka.  He didn't answer him but whipped out his cell phone, made a call and asking if there's any vodka left.  There's two bottles left and we can buy it for $10 each.  We agree and the guy took off in his truck while we waited in his front yard.  He returned with two bottles of Barkley Vodka.  The explanation we got is these bottles were "rescued" from a bar fire in the 70's so they are certainly aged, if vodka ages...Anyway, we're happy now...imagine life with no Bloody Mary's???

Tony M's bow thruster was not acting as strong as it should be (probably from all its use getting in and out of the locks) so Pete decided to work on it while we wait for the generator part.  Taking it out is not an easy procedure as it's under our bed and way below in the bow(hence bow thruster) but after many new words I never knew existed, out it came.  Pete cleaned up the armature and inspected the rest of it, then reinstalled it.  It sounded stronger-hope that's all it needed.

Boldt Castle is a HUGE tourist attraction and draws many bus loads to the  tour boats, which shuttle hundreds of foreigners and Americans out to see it.  We dinghied out and had a pleasant afternoon.  George Boldt,  a self-made millionaire, wanted to build a European-style castle for his wife.  He bought Hart Island, restructured it to look like a heart, renamed it Heart Island, and proceeded to spend  $2.5 million (a fortune in 1904!) to build the 124 room dream house.  Unfortunately, his wife died and he stopped all work on it.  The Thousand Islands Bridge Authority bought it and is doing an excellent job refurbishing it to what it might have looked like.  It's a good look into the Guilded Age and the wealth those chosen few enjoyed.  We also visited the Boldt Yacht house across the bay for a look at the yachts that many owned during this era.  This boat house had never been left to go into disrepair and was a beauty to see.  The boats were all classics and the apartment above the yacht house was furnished in classic Victorian style-a beauty to see.

                                                         Boldt  Castle Power Plant



                           Boldt Castle

Boldt Castle Gardens






July 4th brought fireworks over Boldt Castle and since we are docked directly across from it, we had front row seats to enjoy them.  Buddy hid in the shower during their glory-his most hated thing in his life is loud noises like fireworks.


Hope you all had a great holiday!