We started out the Antique Boat Show weekend wanting to watch the boats cruise on Thursday afternoon for the 2021 Boats on Parade. According to their website, the boats were supposed to leave Clayton about 3:00 and cruise around Grindstone Island. We planned to watch the beautiful wooden boats when they went through the Wellsley Island Narrows about 4:15. We arrived in plenty of time, but only saw one wooden boat: No parade of boats! I am not sure if they just did not go or if they went later in the day. After reviewing ABM’s website, I found multiple times for the Thursday cruise on different pages: the 3:00 start time, a 5:30 start time and a 6:30 start time. Needless to say, I was very disappointed that I did not get to see the parade of boats. I wanted to grab a few pictures as the boats navigated the Narrows. Before heading in, we headed to Clayton to look at the boats tied up at the docks.
Friday night we had a good dinner with Peter and Paulla at The Kitchen at the Captain Visger House in Alexandria Bay. This boutique inn and farm-to-table restaurant had limited seating inside, but there also was an outdoor dining area. Since it was starting to rain, we opted to eat inside. Randy’s Bloody Mary and Cesaer both were made from scratch with lots of horseradish. Just the way we like! Randy tried their Utica Greens but I don’t think he liked them as much as the ones from Delmonico’s Italian Steakhouse. Of course being topped by a fried egg cannot compare to being topped with steak. My salmon was outstanding. Their desserts were awesome. Peter got a berry crumble pie and I got the carrott cake. Both were excellent but Peter’s dessert won the night.
Saturday we decided to head into Clayton and visit the Museum for the 2021 Boat Show. Most of the boats were in the water which was nice to see. I don’t thnk the total number of boats compares to the St. Michaels’ show, but there are probably more boats on trailers and less in the water at St. Michaels. Plus, St. Michaels was always a good time since we went on our boat, Liberty.
I was glad we got to the show early since it was not very crowded when we first got there. We took advantage of the empty lines and toured the 1903 Houseboat, La Duchesse, that we did not tour on our last visit. While today’s admission did not include the paid guided tour, we could walk through the boat. And there were enough volunteers telling us about the houseboat that I do not think we would have learned anything different about this beautiful boat on the guided tour. Plus we go to explore as slowly as we wanted. The 106′ houseboat, La Duchesse, was assembled at George C. Boldt’s estate in 1903 and was used for living, housing guests and entertaining. You could even rent the houseboat in the 1900’s for $100 a night; complete with captain and tugboat. Boldt’s 1897 tug, Queen, was used to tow La Duchesse as she was built without an engine. One of the tour guides told us a crew member steered the houseboat using a large rudder mounted on the stern. We were told that today it would cost over $4M to replicate this beautiful boat. In 1922, Boldt’s heirs sold the houseboat to E. Noble and she was used as an extention to the Thousand Islands Yacht Club. After sinking in 1943 while in the Boldt Yacht House, she was purchased for $100 by Andrew McNally III, of the Rand-McNally map company. In 1946 she was placed in drydock for a year-long restoration. I find it amazing that this boat has survived as long as she has, especially since she originally had a canvas roof. According to the placard near the houseboat, the original canvas roof was covered with an asphalt roof in 1954 and the wooden hull was replaced with a steel hull in 1956 . While owned by the McNally family she was docked at their home and was used by family and friends. With 6 downstair bedrooms and several bathrooms there was lots of room. I especially loved the large master bedroom on the stern’s second level. The McNally family eventually donated the houseboat to the Antique Boat Museum where she is currently.
On Sunday Bill and Gail came to visit so we could again try to watch the Parade of Boats. The boat parade was scheduled to pass under the Thousand Island Bridge by 10:40 so we waited in Swan Bay. But there were still no boats, even after 11:00. We thought it had been cancelled again so we decided to go for a cruise when we finally saw the parade of boats near the Sunken Rocks Lighthouse. Instead of leading the way as advertised, Zipper was bringing up the rear.
After the last of the old boats cruised by, we headed for the Wellesley Island Narrows again and anchored at Picnic Point on Grindstone Island for snacks and a swim. Well at least Bill and Gail went for a swim. I still can’t get in the water. It’s just too cold for me. This is a beautiful, deep anchorage that we shared with other boaters and a family of swans. Before heading to Clayton for a last look, we also stumbled onto a beautiful cove on Picton Island where a lot of day-boaters were anchored and partying. This anchorage reminded me of Stillpond where we used to anchor with Liberty. We have since learned about another spot on Grindstone Island that we want to explore on a future trip. Potter’s Beach is the only naturally occurring sandy beach in this area and sounds like a place we would love to explore. Still more to see in the Thousand Islands!
