1,000 Islands area

Actually, there are more like 1,850 islands but they already had the dressing labels printed ....

This area is truly as beautiful as the hype.  I can totally see why all the rich people of the '30s and 40's bought islands and built huge mansions.  Breathtaking.

But before I arrived here ...

After leaving the Buffalo/Rochester area, I headed East to Pulaski, New York and then onto Watertown, New York.

The campground I stayed in Pulaski was celebrating Halloween that weekend and there were tons of activities, including hayrides, costume contests, the haunted rec hall, etc.  As I was leaving Saturday, I got stuck in the middle of the parade, totally ruining it and having people yelling at me, but I didn't know.  I asked what time check out was and they didn't mention the parade.  Oh well. Not the first New Yorkers that have yelled at me since I've been here.  It's a broad statement, but they do seem to be a pushy lot, especially the drivers.  I haven't been able to strike up a conversation with many and have been "pushed" out of line more than once, as I tend to stand back and give people space.

I briefly considered going to the NY State Fair (why is it held in Syracuse and not Albany?), but they were saying on the news they had set a new record high, even with the thunderstorm.  Almost 75,000 were there on a weekday; that's a stadium full of people all trying to walk around.  Nope.  I passed.

I did get a chance to take care of a couple "maintenance" issues that ended up costing more than planned.  First, I had my teeth cleaned and found a tiny cavity under my crown, so I had to have the crown removed, cavity fixed and a new crown put on.  That took a day of sightseeing off the plan.

So I took the rest of the time and went to Verizon for my Jetpack update, for which they charged me $100.  I ended up getting a new phone while I was there.  Getting a new phone is always a pleasant experience; no only does it cost a mint, it takes several days and LOTS of patience setting it up, especially with a new Jetpack.  I have to change the logon for every device I use ... TV, car, Kindle, GPS ... and remembering all the passwords for apps to reinstall.  Fun times.

I tried to extend my stay at this campground a couple of days to make up time and to get some rest, but they were full and I had to move on.

While talking to some locals about how the street lights hanging from cables rather than poles, they did have an answer other than it wasn't age, as they do the new intersections the same way.  I'm assuming it's because they have so many lights going across the intersection that poles would not reach.  Some intersections have a signal light for each lane.

I also did some traveling while I was here.  I drove from Mexico to Rome a couple of times; Mexico, New York, and Rome New York.😁

Also, I was able to add two National Historic Sites to my "visited" list while here, the Woman's Rights National Historic Park and Fort Stanwix National Monument.  Both did an interesting job of educating the visitors.

 In July 19,1848, Elizabeth Cady Stanton held the first Woman's Rights Convention in US history at the Wesleyan Chapel in Seneca Falls, New York.  The Declaration of Sentiments adopted at the convention took its first line from another famous document ... "All Men and Women are created equal ..." 

Besides the two floors of the visitor's center, there is an entertaining 20-minute film, Wesleyan Chapel, Stanton House, Mcclintock House, and Hunt House to tour.

The Visitor's Center at Fort Stanwix was done in an interesting manner; you walked through a timeline from one end to the other, which included short movies that started as you entered the area; always giving all 4 points of view; the four sides being the fur traders, the Indians, the Loyalist and the Rebels, including the wives and families on each side.  When you reached the end, you were able to tour the fort.

At the time of the Siege, the Mohawk and the Seneca fought with the Loyalists with the Oneida on the side of the Rebels.

The Siege of Fort Stanwix lasted 20 days.  On August 3, the rangers take down the US flag and raise the "siege" flag, then reverse the order again on August 23rd.  I was there for the flag ceremony signifying the end of the siege, on the 242nd anniversary.

The National Historic Sites are getting more and more into the "living history" aspect and I enjoy the interaction.

Alexandria Bay is a typical beach town; souvenir shops, crowds, narrow streets, no parking.  Plus they had an antique car show, so I was very glad I didn't try to drive my coach.

I took the Uncle Sam 1 hour tour of the bay and then spent some time at Boldt Castle.

George Boldt (Waldorf-Astoria fame) bought this island as a gift for his wife.  He changed the name from Hart Island to Heart Island and had the island shaped into a valentine heart before he started the castle.  One month before it's completion, she passed away and the castle was never completed.

The shortest bridge to span 2 countries

You know how when you walk through a Disney park and there are Mickey heads hidden everywhere?  George Boldt did that with hearts throughout the castle.

In the picture to the left, these islands are owned by the same person and the bridge is over the US/Canadian border.


Before heading back to the coach, I drove out to Tibbetts Lighthouse for some pictures.

I'm staying in Watertown for a week longer than planned, waiting on some parts for my tow bar before moving back into Ontario and Ottawa.


Today I drove across the border to visit Fort  Henry and the 1,000 island tower.  Unfortunately, when I got to the Tower, the elevator was having issues and I was asked to come back. Apparently, they couldn't fix the elevator, because when I came back they were closed.

Fort Henry had a lot going on.  I took the 1-hour tour provided by a costumed college student and then there was a Garrison parade which involved many guns and a cannon and was very loud.

On Wednesdays, at sundown, they do a reenactment which I'm sure would have been interesting but we are expecting a lot of rain tomorrow and I didn't think it prudent to be out in the rain when I'm trying so hard to get rid of the cough and congestion I currently have.  I was looking forward to buying a loaf of authentic soldier's bread, baked on-site, but they didn't bake today.

There was something I thought interesting about the "draw" bridge going into the fort.  Instead of lifting up to cover the entrance, this bridge lifts/folds in the middle so the US soldiers on the bridge would be dumped into the 10 foot ravine (like a molt) while the rest of the bridge would cover the opening.  This also prevents the enemy from using force to bring the bridge back down while it is being raised.


Lastly, you get to cross this toll bridge, or rather a pair of them, when you go over the border. It is $3/US or $4/CA and you pay each way

Hopefully, I'll cross this bridge again on Friday on my way to Ottawa after my tow bar is repaired.

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