1000+ Islands

Day 11

Southwick State Park to Clayton

The SW wind pushed us on to Clayton and our stay at the 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel. I only made one reservation for this entire trip and it was for this hotel.  It is right on the river and a very nice place to recover and relax. Clayton was a major shipbuilding and lumbering port and retains some beautiful stone buildings still solidly standing and attesting to its past wealth and prosperity.  There are a couple wineries nearby. The Wood Boat brewing company brews a tasty channel marker IPA and several other beers which they have named after famous boats and boat builders. We had to stop there. I give the pale ale 5 stars.


On the way to Clayton we stopped in Sacket's Harbor to visit the 1812 battlefield site and learn about the town's history. The town was founded in 1850 and has quite a few really well kept stone houses from that time.  The founder's home serves as the town museum. The battle fought here was crucial in the War of 1812. http://www.sacketsharborbattlefield.org/history.htm

Sackets Harbor became the center of military and naval activity for the upper St. Lawrence Valley and Lake Ontario during the war of 1812.  There were already marines at the harbor to suppress smuggling and a large fleet was built at the shipyard. Barracks housed thousands of soldiers and sailors who were gathering to invade and conquer Canada.  

The harbor is peaceful today

Day 12

Clayton to Keewaydin State Park near Alexandria Bay

Keewaydin State Park, near Alexandria Bay, is on the site of a former gilded age mansion.  The campground still has some stone steps and other structures hinting at its past. There is a stone pavillion which is a perfect vantage point to watch ocean-going vessels as they traverse the river among the islands.  We saw some huge ships pass by and plenty of fishing boats.

we cooked dinner here and then watched for ships

stone steps leading from the harbor

The house across the way has a big black bear as a weathervane 

One thing to note about Keewaydin is the friendliness of our fellow campers.  We must look like we are starving, because everyone offers us food and cooks for us. We met John who gave us some freshly caught perch which we cooked up for dinner.  It was delicious! Probably the best dinner of our trip so far.

we fried the perch in coconut oil and savored every bite.  Thanks, John!

The following morning as we prepared to cook our oatmeal and make our pour-through coffee, our next door neighbors, Rose and Paul, insisted that they cook us some eggs and sausages.  They also had plenty of perked coffee and good conversation. Their delicious breakfast powered our ride to Jacques Cartier State Park. Definitely the best part of our trip is the people we have met along the way.

Day 13

A tour of Singer Castle http://www.singercastle.com/brief-history/ is on our agenda today.  We cruise the river for about an hour while our knowledgeable local guide tells us all about which islands we are passing, the families who own them now and owned them in the past, what fish are in the river, and all about past naval battles on the seaway.  For a guy in his 20's this guide really seems to have a passion for local geology and local history. He is also a volunteer fireman, so he points out islands where the fire department has responded by boat.

The castle is restored beautifully and is full of period furnishings. The coolest part about the castle is all the secret passageways.  They lead from all the major rooms and some are opened by pulling down on coathooks.

In the library you can open a secret panel beside the fireplace by placing a coin over two metal brads which are hidden beneath the mantelpiece.   The coin completes the circuit and opens the panel. In the drawing room there is a portrait to spy through from above.

One of the 1864 islands in the 1000 islands area

It is a beautiful, clear day on the river

Singer Castle on Dark Island

Look at that nice boathouse!

Uncle Sam's boat tours bought up all the other boat tour operators and is now the only tour company based out of Alexandria Bay.

Beautiful Singer sewing machines are throughout the house - This photo is for you, Tora!

Day 14

Keewaydin State Park to Jacques Cartier State Park

Here is Julia rolling along the seaway trail with a view of the river and some big ships.  The roads typically have a wide shoulder and we feel safe.

Our lunch stop today became our overnight destination.  We waited out a rain storm in the picnic pavillion at Jacques Cartier park and played just a few hands of 500 rummy.  The rain lasted all afternoon. We watched loons and ducks and ships on the river. Here we met Jimmy who offered to let us stay on the campsite next to his which his friend had just vacated.  He had plenty of extra food since his friend and his family had gone back home and we shared a great steak dinner and lots of beers with Jimmy and his girlfriend and a wide assortment of children.

Our campground neighbors and dinner hosts