“My men went on and presently met the Lotus-Eaters, nor did these Lotus-Eaters have any thoughts of destroying our companions, but they only gave them lotus to taste of. But any of them who ate the honey-sweet fruit of lotus was unwilling to take any message back, or to go away, but they wanted to stay there with the lotus-eating people, feeding on lotus, and forget the way home.” Odyssey 9.91-97
Today we set out to see some of the Thousands Islands – and also to sea test the newly-repaired pod drives. Unlike Ulysses, these days the islands of lotus-eaters clearly far outnumber the islands inhabited by cyclops and witches. We went slowly though the channel downstream from Clayton NY through the American narrows (we are still on the US side of the border) and admired all of the houses built on such tiny islands (an island here is defined as land that is above water 365 days of the year and has at least one tree).
The Thousand Islands Bridge soars over the American Narrows from the NY mainland to Wellesley Island (US).
Our ultimate goal was to get to Boldt Castle on Heart Island, just off the coast of Alexandria Bay NY about 12 miles downriver from Clayton. George Boldt, the Prussian immigrant founder of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel empire, built this island estate for his wife Louisa – who sadly died before it was finished, and it remained unfinished. Forty years ago, the Thousand Islands Bridges Authority gained possession of the island and the ruined castle, and has with dedication and care restored most of it and the Boat House across the water on Wellesley Island - to not only its glory but to the intended glory that never was.
Salty Dog passed her sea test with flying colors– docked perfectly at Boldt Castle for the duration of our visit – and was beginning to look a bit too comfortable there. So we had to get back.
Salty Dog sitting at the dock at Heart Island as seen from the Boat House Caretaker's apartment.
Again upon return to Clayton, we discovered its small town charms and its Antique Boat Museum, and of course were rewarded with a lovely solstice sunset at 9pm sunset.
