We left our private dock on Beaurivage Island just after 8:00 AM, threaded our way south through the islands, and crossed the border to the American side of the Saint Lawrence (see chartlet below). It’s perfectly legal to sail in either country’s waters, as long as you don’t tie up, anchor, or run aground—then you need to clear in to Customs/Immigration. We did a drive-by of Clayton and Alexandria Bay, NY, then took a look at Boldt Castle. Map Link: Boldt Castle, NY.
Construction of Boldt Castle began on Heart Island in 1900 by George Boldt, owner of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, as a gift for his wife, Louise. Hundreds of workers toiled to build the six-story mansion, but work ceased abruptly when Louise died unexpectedly in 1904. George would never return to Heart Island and the structure was left unfinished for 73 years. In 1977, it was purchased for $1 by the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority and is now a popular tourist attraction.
We traveled 26 miles in four hours, enjoying a 1-2 mph boost from the Saint Lawrence River. After crossing the border again, we docked at Grenadier Island at another Parks Canada dock in Thousand Islands National Park. We’re actually in a small marina, with finger piers, slips and room for about 20 boats. There are air-conditioned bathrooms ashore and a nice beach about 100 yards away. The weather is still lovely, although it’s a little humid again, and the beach, bay and docks are busy and noisy. It’s the final weekend of Quebec’s Construction Holiday, and folks are making the most of their vacations, with loud music being a major nuisance. While we’ve encountered mostly pleasant and friendly Quebecois here, we will not miss the Quebec Navy. Map Link: Grenadier Island, ON
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