Blue Horizon Adventures: Thurs June 16: Hanging in Clayton

I got to sleep in, because it was supposed to be raining for much of the day. More sleeping then raining occurred, but that works for me! We feel (or Rick feel’s) that the weather services are trying to one up each other by predicting rain and storms, but then the bad weather never materializes. We’ll need to review the weather reports with a more critical eye. After breakfast Rick went off to the famous Antique Boat Museum, and I chose the Textile Museum.

Clayton has wonderful old architecture, like the many of the river towns we have seen, but is much more vibrant and happening. The summer has clearly begun, but it isn't madness yet.


A lovely day by the water. Several people swimming, although the water seems a bit chilly to us. It's nice and clear - not a sign of the promised 'weather'. The water is also very clear - apparently that's a by-product of the zebra mussel infestation, as they are filters.

The old Opera House - I had hoped to see Paula Poundstone there Sat night, but we will be gone by then. I'll find her somewhere else down the line.

Rick said the boat museum was mostly old guys wondering around saying enthusiastically 'WOW- look at THAT', to their very disinterested trailing spouses! I'll let him tell you more about it.

Rick here: The ABM is probably the premiere museum for antique boats and it is a wonderful campus. One could easily spend two days touring all the displays that start with a large collection of canoes and the wooden sailing skiffs that were common in this area prior to steam and gasoline engine power.

This is an early jet ski - there is a small engine in
the front section and the operator rides standing on the back.
Amazing that this existed in the 1960’s!

In addition to the canoes, there are multiple displays on power boats, detailed descriptions of manufacturers, engine design and evolution, outboard motors and a whole building dedicated to speed and boat racing. It really is a beautiful and well laid out museum but after 3 hours I was ready for a change. I do highly recommend a visit if you’re ever in the area.

After our respective museum stops we rendezvoused at THE destination shop in Clayton - River Rat Cheese. Famous for cheese curds, etc. We bought, wait for it ...... chocolate-covered-gummies. (We don't want to conform - although we did get Covid when all the cool kids were getting it. ) There were a bunch of Ompa-Lompas in the back of the shop making, cutting and shipping cheese curds! Forget Bitcoin - cheese curds are where it is at. (Did you know that a lover of cheese is called a 'turophile'?! {from the Greek tyros = cheese & philos = loving if you MUST know}