July 4 - 5 Heart Island/Boldt Castle and on to Canada/ Mulcaster Island

July 4 and 5

We had a delightful Fourth of July anchored behind Heart Island – home to Boldt Castle.   Took our dingy over for the castle tour thinking it opened at 9 and found out it opened at 10.  So, back to the boat for a few projects before returning.  Most visitors arrive en masse via bigger tour boats but there is a pleasure boat docking area too.  We were the first group of boats allowed to use it after it being underwater for weeks.   Glad we got our touring done first thing because the tour boats started coming in full force and fully loaded.   The NY Bridge Authority is doing a great job restoring the castle. 

Boldt Castle power house -one of the first structures restored

Front façade facing the river - you can see area for main staircase which was never completed

Back side of the castle 

Much of the first 2 stories have been returned to their Gilded Age splendor. You can go up into the unrenovated 3^rd and 4^th floors just to see the condition of things before renovation starts.  Despite the graffiti and deterioration there are still signs of the grandeur in guest chambers where ornamental plaster work remains 

Restored stained glass above main staircase

Main dining room - seating for 18

Unrenovated room on 3rd floor

 Normally they  also have an additional tour over to the boathouse but that’s still partly submerged was not open.    To give you a feel for the scale of the boathouse – George Boldt had a 104’ x 22’ double level houseboat he stored inside it along with his private steamship.  He’s said to have owned over 60 boats.  We played the remainder of the day on the kayaks tooling around the islands, doing a little fishing and just relaxing.  As night fell the area filled with boat of all sizes awaiting the fireworks. It was almost 10’oclock before it was dark enough for them to start.  Pretty good show and a nice way to finish the day.

After spending the fourth on American soil it was time to head around Wellesley Island and back under the Thousand Islands Bridge but on the Canadian side.  We enjoyed a strong following current going down the St. Lawrence - - now we were headed upstream back towards Lake Ontario and were fighting the current.  It was flowing over 3 knots just after passing under the bridge where it constricts with very confused eddies.  We ran the engine hard for several minutes to push our way slowly through.

Thousand Island Bridge - Canadian portion

Two guys working on the bridge as we pass beneath

 Very picturesque on the Canadian side and we’ve found another anchorage near Mulcaster Island.  Pretty popular place as there’s about a dozen boats here with us.  We’re all checked into Canadian customs – they make it extremely easy for boaters.  Just a toll-free call and you get an agent who records all your relevant information and issues you a transient number.  Write the number on a piece of paper, stick it on your window, and you’re done.  No need to even see anyone in person.  

Water is weedy but clear at this anchorage.  Tops of weeds are about 4' down.

Kayaking around one of the islands surrounding the anchorage 

We stayed put for a second day at anchor. Rain overnight and on-off during the morning. Slept in some then a late breakfast of waffles and the last of the GA peaches from our trip home. Then more playing on the water with the kayaks.  Found a honey hole for fishing  - small mouth and perch hitting most every cast.  Small  fish but I had very lightweight gear so a fun time.   Got caught out in the kayak in one of the passing rainstorms and hid between the pontoons of a neighbors catamaran to stay semi dry. Weather turned nice in the afternoon and more boats came into the anchorage – still too cold for me to get in the water ,  but lots of these crazy Canadians think nothing of jumping in for a swim.  

Journey for July 5