September 15, 2016
Drove into Buffalo to find the Dr Martin Home that Frank Lloyd Wright created. Arrived at 10 and took the tour. The house is undergoing a major renovation so there was no furniture in the house, supposed to be completed by end of 2016 but think it will be more like end of 2017. They've already spent 54 million and honestly they need 20 million or more to finish.
The house it very unique and is over 15,000 SF. Like most Frank Lloyd Wright homes, it's open and stunning in the architecture that he used. We never get tired of seeing this style.
Lewiston, NY was our next stop, we thought it would have shops, etc. to see, but it's mostly restaurants with a few shops. Had lunch at the Brickyard Pub, excellent BBQ.
Tomorrow
we leave NY state and head to Ohio, we only have 2+ weeks before we get home,
can you tell I'm excited?
September 14, 2016
Caught up with Annette (friend from Havasu) who lives in Niagara Falls, Canada. She recently bought a home near downtown so we drove over to see her. She has a wonder place. She fixed us lunch and we visited for 3+ hrs.
Got home and went to the outlet mall which is across the parking lot from us.
September 13, 2016
Went out to Westley, NY and drove around the island. This is the largest island that the USA owns in the thousand islands. It only took us about 1 hour to go from one end to the other, stopping to take in the views, along the way.
We then went to the Antique Wooden Boat Museum in Clayton, NY. What an amazing display of wooden boats. Bobby was drooling over their beauty. They have the boat house that Mr Boldt had and are in a constant process of keeping it up. Never an ending job for this 105' 3 story boat. Took a tour, it's amazing to see the craftsmanship that went into building this. Just beautiful. One of the most unique features, they have a piano and a dance floor. Also the wicker furniture on the upper deck is original, yes it was purchased in 1904. Still looks brand new!
There are five buildings, each filled with a different type of boat, everything from small craft, canoe, etc. We spent over 2 hours looking at everything.
September 12, 2016
Took the 2 nation tour today. The boat ride first took us into millionaires row, where we see spectacular homes located on some of the islands. They are just beautiful and when you see them, you understand why individuals summer here.
We then tour the US & Canadian portions of the islands, in which our tour guide gave us details about the islands, owners of the islands, homes owned by whom, etc. It's a great tour and we highly recommend it.
At the end of the tour, you have the option to get off at Boldt Island and take the self-guided tour, which we did. Bought our tickets (separate charge from boat tour) and spent the next 3+ hours walking around looking at the castle and the buildings on Heart Island.
Mr Boldt was building this castle for his wife Louise but 2 months before it's completion, she died and ordered all work to stop. He vowed to never set foot on the island and never did, nor did his two children. He died in 1916 and the children couldn't afford to maintain the house, so it was left unattended until 1977, when the thousand island bridge authority bought the property.
To this date, they've put over 30 million into restoration and it's still not near completion.
Across from the Castle located on Wellesely Island but we took the boat shuttle, which takes less than 5 min. Here you get to see where the Boldt family stored their boats, of which two of them are on display. They are just gorgeous.
Took the shuttle back to the castle and caught a boat to the Alexandria Bay, walked around town a little and then headed home.
September 11, 2016
Left Malone around 8 and headed for Alexandria Bay, NY where we'll spend next couple of days. We arrived around 11, took a walk down to the St Lawrence River, which divides Canada and USA. If I still had my throwing arm, I might be able to throw a rock across the border. Yes, it's that close to us.
Had lunch and then drove into Alexandria Bay, NY. Decided that we'd take the boat tour to the Singer Castle, which is on Dark Island. Even though it's called 1,000 islands, there are actually 1,864 of them, but only a handful are reachable by car.
The boat ride provides lots of history about the islands and the river, plus some of the famous people that have bought islands. The ride took us about 30 minutes up river to reach dark island. Once there, you obtain a guided tour of the castle, which lasts 50 minutes. It's a great tour but nothing like we thought since we'd seen the Vanderbilt homes in NY & RI that are also from the gilded era.
This castle is much more like Hearst Castle, it's dark and kind of cold.
Frederick Bourne built the castle in 1903-1905. He was president of the Singer Sewing Machine company and original the castle was called Dark Island Castle but in recent years got renamed to Singer Castle because of his connection to the company. While touring the castle, you see many Singer Sewing Machines. In 1928 after his death, his daughter Marjorie stayed in the castle and added several additions to it. Once the taxes and up keep came to much for her, she sold it to a religious facility, whom later sold it to three private investors, which own it today.
On the boat ride back to Alexandria Bay, we learned of many ship wrecks, much of the river is very narrow and if you don't know where the shoals are, you go a ground and sometimes sink. Fishing is excellent and like the Columbia, they have Sturgeons.
Walked around town upon departing the boat, bought a few gifts. Tomorrow, we'll tour the Boldt Castle.
September 10, 2016
Played golf with Jim, as Marilyn is in the clubs Solheim tournament and couldn't play with us, however she did ride around with us on the first 9 holes. Bobby had an amazing round of golf, shot 82 with a10 on one hole, went in the water 3 times. I played well, 98.
It's very hot and humid today, 85 but with humidity, feels like 100+. Tomorrow we are heading to Alexandria Bay, so we can see the Thousand Islands.
September 9, 2016
We arrived in Malone around 11, found the Elks lodge and got parked. While parking, Jim & Marilyn Lusk (freinds from Havasu that summer here) stopped by to say hello. They only live about 2 blocks from the Elks.
Agreed to meet them at the Golf Course for a tour and dinner. Drove out to Almonzo Wilder's boyhood home (his wife was Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of Little House on the Prairie). Went through the museum and picked some apples.
Then we headed to High Hills Falls, 160' waterfall that's a hidden gem. Beautiful and glad Marilyn suggested it to us.
Got to the golf course just as they were finishing their round of golf, they showed us the east side as we're playing the west side tomorrow. What a beautiful course, green and very challenging. Hopefully we play well tomorrow on the west side.
Had dinner at the club, we were joined by their friends Mark & Mary, great couple. Had a wonderful time chatting with them and catching up with Jim & Marilyn.
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