THOUSAND ISLANDS, NEW YORK

These pictures are from our drive through the Thousand Islands and Saint Lawrence Seaway area of upper New York state.  It is a beautiful area and the highlight of our stay, at least according to Ken, was our visit to the Wooden Boat Museum in Clayton, New York.  

Our drive after we left Essex Junction, VT took us through the islands of Lake Champlain including North and South Hero and Isle La Motte before crossing into New York just south of the Canadian border.  We discovered the monument to Samuel de Champlain and the site of the old fort on Isle La Motte which is also home of Saint Anne's Shrine which dates back to the 1600's when the French settled the area.

I have to admit that I enjoyed our visit to the Wooden Boat Museum almost as much as Ken did.  The old boats are beautiful and some of the things we saw were very interesting, like the first wave runner built in the 1920's and the ELCO yacht.  "ELCO" is an acronym for Electric Boat company which also manufactured WW II PT boats and  now manufactures submarines. The house barge was built for the Boldt family who owned hotels as well as an island in the Thousand Islands.  The McNally family who bought it are of the Rand McNally name.  Some people have way too much money.

OVERLOOKING THE SAINT LAWRENCE SEA WAY IN THE THOUSAND ISLANDS

 AN OLD VICTORIAN ALONG THE WAY

FROM OUR CAMPSITE IN CLAYTON

BETTY'S FOUR LEAF CLOVER

MY OLD REPAIR SHOP, LOL

SAINT ANNE SHRINE

EARLY WAVE RUNNER
Note outboard lower unit in bow

I LOVE OLD MAHOGANY WOODEN BOATS

THIS IS AN OLD CHRIS CRAFT YOU CAN GET RIDES ON

PARDON ME

OLD ELCO YACHT

LATE 1800'S HOUSE BOAT

THE HOUSEBOAT IS REALLY A BARGE

THE DINING ROOM

ONE OF THE MANY STATE ROOMS

BAROMETER

PARTY DECK

MORE BOATS

BELIEVE IT OR NOT THIS IS THE TURBOCHARGER FOR THE ABOVE ENGINE

ESSEX JUNCTION VERMONT

It seems hard to believe that we have only been on the road for 5 weeks. We are now finishing up WORK in Essex Junction, Vermont.  Since last post we visited Betty's mother and siblings in New York. We were fortunate that Louis took us fishing on his boat one day. It was good to be back on the waters of Long Island's south shore that I had been on since I was a kid and then in the Coast Guard over 40 years ago. Anyhow I guess I have lost the knack for fishing, only the girls caught fish. As usual, according to Louis, Charlene caught the biggest fish.  

We also attended Betty's mom's graduation for this years senior citizen class at The Arbors where she lives. This was her second year participating in the program. 

We then left Betty's sister Louise's front yard where we were parked and headed North. Our first stop was a campground outside of Bennington, VT that we first stopped at in 2001 when we started traveling. It still was pretty much the same. Then a couple day stop in Shelburne, VT where we found -  guess what? A winery, yes Vermont has replaced most of the cows with wineries. LOL Well not quite but it was a surprise to see and taste grape wine in Vermont. Apparently they have developed a hybrid grape that can survive the cold winter temperatures. We also visited the teddy bear factory where I was able to get a man sized hug. 

Our first assignment for Adventure Caravans was the FCRV Family Campers & RVers, annual Campvention. Until a few years ago we had not heard of FCRV but it has actually been around longer than Good Sam or FMCA. It is different from the others as it is a non-profit with only two part time employees the rest is all volunteer. Their membership is made up of both US and Canadian members. They are also trying to grow the membership.  In conjunction with FCRV we went on a lunch cruise the day before Campvention and again I was on the waters of Lake Champlain that I had cruised in the Coast Guard almost 50 years ago. There are a lot more boats on the water now then back then but what was absent was the oil terminals along the shore. Our booth was located in the main entertainment hall so we had the opportunity to observe the preparations for the teen queen pageant. The pageant is judged and a Queen or King is selected. Last year's queen sung "Let It Go"from Disney's "Frozen" which was fantastic. I tried to record it on the I Pad for Payton but was I Pad challenged and it didn't work out. It was a great show for all age groups. What a great organization.

After the Campvention we moved over to Mallet's Bay for a few relaxing days.  This is also an area I use to patrol in the Coast Guard. We took a ride up to Stowe and the Ben & Jerry's factory for a tour and free sample. But that was not quite enough to satisfy my pallet so I had a hot fudge sundae with a new flavor for me (triple caramel.  I should have stuck with cherry garcia.

Our second assignment was the FMCA NEAR rally. For non rv'ers, that is Family Moter Coach Assn. North East Area Rally. Again manning a booth for Adventure Caravans and presenting RV travel seminars. This group is a motorhome only group put is starting to allow towables to some events. Like all RV clubs they are losing membership due to aging membership.

Today we have finished the rally so its time to do laundry and paperwork. Later today we will be starting our travels and only going an hour or so North then tomorrow starting our trek west along the saint Lawrence sea way Thousand Island region. 

Lou' Boat

LOU AT THE WHEEL

BETTY

SUMMER FLOUNDER,  Lou and Charlene

CARRIES GRADUATION

Lou and Carrie

The Family plus one
left to right
Charlene, Barbara, Louis, Carrie, Me Betty, Carries friend Fay

Our first stop in Vermont
From our campsite across the way was our site in 2001

I always wanted to wrestle a bear

Our luncheon cruise boat

Who says you can't do a selfie with a camara

Cruising on Lake Champlain

Burlington Coast Guard Station
Not quite the same as when I was stationed there 47 years ago

Burlington Waterfront

The Ferries have not changed. These are the same
ones that were here 47 years ago 

This is the first production factory after they moved
out of  their original location a converted gas station
in Burlington

A reproduction  of  the original motorhome that
Ben and Jerry used to travel the country and dispense
free samples to get the word out about the product

Mallets Bay Vermont

Betty at work talking to potential customer

Dick and Kathy winners of a gift certificate
They will join us at Mardi Gras in 2015

The teen Queen and King contestants at campvention

You can do this too if you are
a retired New York City cop

SUMMER TRAVELS 2014

Hello Everyone. We departed Florida on Friday the 13th and are on the road again. Our friends Bob and Lynette as well as Lambert and Sandy have all told us we needed to stop at the campground at Naval Station Mayport, FL. So on this trip we left a day early and made a detour to Mayport. A terrific location and facility. Unfortunately we were in the back row but those in the front have a great view of the Saint John's river and ocean inlet and get to watch ships coming and going to the Naval station and port of Jacksonville. While there we saw three cruisers departing and we can only imagine where they are headed. We also had a beautiful sunset.

We then proceeded up the coast to Cape May, New Jersey where we spent several days visiting with old friends and visiting some of our old haunts. We also managed to squeeze in a visit to Hawk Haven winery which is located around the corner from our old home and used to be a lima bean farm. They now produce some very nice wines.  

This morning we will are off to Hillsdale, New York where we will stop and visit Betty's family there and on Long Island. We will then be traveling to Essex Junction, Vermont where we will set up shop for Adventure Caravans at the FCRV campvention and then the FMCA NEAR rally before continuing our travels west. So if you are in the area stop by or give us a call.

ENJOYING THE VIEW FROM THE TWO MILE LANDING CRABHOUSE

AND ENJOYING A YUENGLING

THE CAPE MAY BEACH

BEAD AND BREAKFASTS ON BEACH DRIVE CAPE MAY

ANGELS OF THE SEA