Sun June 19: Clayton to Prescott ON

Rick here today:

It was still windy this morning (18-20 mph winds), but after spending another night sleeping in a washing machine we could find no more excuses to stay in Clayton. With some help from our friends we let loose the lines and backed out of the slip. It was a perfect exit despite the strong wind. Go us!

The water was rough but, as we have learned, once the boat is free from the dock it calms down and we had a relatively nice ride to Prescott.  The next few days will take us down the St. Lawrence river to the St. Lawrence Seaway and on to Montreal for our marina reservation on June 23rd.  

Our course further “down bound” on the St. Lawrence River

We loved the Frontenac, NY post office. I guess you cruise by and drop off your letters since it's on an island?

We had intended to stop in Alexandria Bay, NY for lunch but it was only about 9:30 when we arrived and with the strong wind we decided to go on past without a stop.   Boldt Castle is right in front of Alexandria Bay and we were able to get some good pictures from the water.

Boldt Castle from the north end of the island.  Power house that generated
electricity in the foreground.

Rumor has it that Mr. Boldt built this
house on a nearby island for his mother-in-law.

About 10 miles further down river we came to Singer Castle.  Not quite as big as Boldt castle but still very impressive, Singer Castle was originally called “The Towers”.  It was built from 1903-05 (the same time that Boldt castle was being built) by Fredrick Bourne, the fifth President of the Singer Sewing machine company.  He built the 4 story, 28 room castle as a surprise summer home for his wife and children. Unlike Boldt Castle, Singer Castle was completed and used extensively by the family over the years until it was sold in the 1960’s after the death of Bourne’s daughter, who had inherited the castle when Bourne died.   

The Towers, now “Singer Castle”

There are lots of Osprey on the route.  Here
you could see heads of the new born chicks (helps to use a magnifying glass).

The International Bridge - connecting the USA and Canada

I'm in the US and Melanie in Canada!  It's a cross-boarder relationship.

I have had this Canadian courtesy flag since 2020  - I'm so excited to finally be able to fly it!

These guys are going JUST A TAD bit faster then we are.  But they are burning ($$) WAY more fuel also.

We arrived at the beautiful Prescott, Ontario “Sandra S. Lawn” marina about 1 pm and had our first encounter with the local natives.  It is fun to be in Canada after waiting for two long years.  Once tied up at the dock we had to clear immigration and customs to enter Canada legally.   It is all done by cell phone now, via the ArriveCAN app now.  A few weeks ago I uploaded all relevant information - pictures of passports and vaccination cards.  Then 72 hours prior to arrival in Canada I entered the specific information for this trip into the app - date and location of arrival, mode of transportation, etc.   Upon arrival we called the toll free number and after about 10 minutes on the phone confirming info and answering questions (Do you have any weapons?  What kind of food do you have?) we were given a registration number and were cleared in.  It was all very easy and super organized.

Mel made the dockhands pose for a pic as our 'bagged' our first Canadians.  She was so happy that the one in the red shirt offered the bonus of sprinkling her sentences liberally with 'eay'!!!!!

Rick on the telephone with Canadian Border control

The water is very clear in the river.  We have been told it is due to the invasive Zebra mussel that filters out the algae.   The mussel is causing damage by clogging up drain pipes but it sure does make the water pretty. 

Prescott is small but quite pretty.  The marina sits in a little park that has an outdoor amphitheater.  When we arrived a group of people were working on the sets for the opening of next week’s Shakespeare festival.  Too bad we will miss it.  

 

Before the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway Prescott was the eastern terminus for large steamboats coming from Toronto and other towns on Lake Ontario.   It became very popular when the growing middle class started looking for 'adventure travel'.  Prescott sat at the head of a set of rapids (now gone due to the construction of the locks/Seaway system). Passengers would get off the big lake steamboats and board smaller steamboats that would shoot the rapids below Prescott and then travel down to Montreal.  

The small park at the Marina - just up from the boat.  Isn't everything in Canada cute!!

We took a short bike ride and when we ran out of bike path we returned the bikes to the boat and went for a walk.  And yes, you guessed it, we found another fort!  Fort Wellington, now a national historic site, was a British Fort established to protect British Canada from those pesky Americans.  It served an important role in the War of 1812 and quite a few battles were fought in the area. 

 

A shout out the all the Bradley Family gathered in Boulder for the first Bill Bradley family reunion.  (YES - ANOTHER reunion) We are sorry to miss you all and look forward to a new edition of the reunion in the future. 

PS - there are black squirrels here in Canada!!

PPS - I told the convenience store clerk how I was so happy to be in Canada where everyone is sensible, and she said she was the only one if her family of 7 who got the vaccine because all the rest of them think it is a hoax.  And now I am disillusioned for life.