The Antique Boat Museum and Boldt Castle

Today (14th) was a beautiful sunny day in the "1000 Islands International Region of Northern New York State". We spent the morning at the Antique (wooden) Boat Museum in Clayton, NY. Mark's most cherished childhood memories are from the times he spent on his Gramp's boat as a kid, so our visit to "North America's Premier Fresh Water Nautical Museum" was quite a treat for him. I heard him exclaim several times as we wandered among the wooden boats on display, "This is so cool!" :)

My favorite part was a guided tour of "La Duchesse", the 106 foot houseboat commissioned in 1903 by George C. Boldt, millionaire proprietor of the famous Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City.

La Duchesse

Master suite aboard La Duchesse

After lunch we drove to Alexandria Bay to tour the incredible Boldt Castle, built by the same millionaire as an expression of love for his wife, Louise (who sadly died shortly before it was to be completed). The castle, which is located on the five-acre picturesque Heart Island, can only be reached by boat.

Boldt Castle on Heart Island

Power House and Clock Tower

Inside the six story, 120 room castle

We thoroughly enjoyed the spectacular architecture and the beautiful gardens and grounds which are also a popular setting for weddings (two took place while we were there).

Boldt Castle

Money saving tip:

Price of admission to Bolt Castle is $8 per person with an additional cost of $8 per person for a very brief Uncle Sam's ferry ride from Alexandria Bay to Heart Island. You can save the price of the ferry by driving your car to the Boldt Yacht House on Wellesley Island, purchasing a $10 combined ticket to tour the Boldt Yacht House as well as Bolt Castle and be transported by a free shuttle boat from the Yacht House to the Castle (and back). This information is not generally known (or given to tourists) since parkng is limited, but was shared with me by a local resident.

Boldt Yacht House (viewed from Boldt Castle)

 

Boldt Yacht House Shuttle (included free with tour)

 

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Falls and Forts

On Thursday morning (12th) we had breakfast at McDonalds so we could send out our first blog post using their free wifi, and then headed (again) for Niagara Falls, NY. Since we had seen the falls from the Canadian side on two previous occasions, this trip we planned to check out our side:) We were not disappointed. We arrived about 3:30 and spent a couple hours exploring. We were able to get very close to the crestline of the American Falls where the water plunges over the edge to the misty, churning depths below. We also viewed portions of all three falls (Horseshoe Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, & American Falls) which together are known as Niagara Falls, from several spots along the bank of the river, from an observation tower out over the water, and from Goat Island and Luna Island which we reached by crossing a pedestrian bridge over the rapids upstream from the falls.

When we arrived it was cloudy and warm with dark storm clouds rapidly approaching. It wasn't long before the sky opened up and poured. We found shelter under an overhang by the restrooms of the Misty Maid boat tours. When the deluge let up enough we hurried to their gift shop and purchased 2 of their thin plastic rain ponchos for $1.34 each:) and continued enjoying the views.

Since we planned to visit Old Fort Niagara the following day (13th) we parked at a nearby Walmart for the night and spent the next morning exploring the fort. We awoke to a very cold and windy day . . . Winter coat weather. We were disappointed that the admission price to the fort was still $12 each even though it is off-season for the costumed interpreters, living history demonstrations and reenactments. We did, however, have the good fortune of being the only participants on a very interesting hour-long guided tour. Our guide, a voluntary staff member and retired college professor, was a fount of information concerning the history of this strategically located fort that played a critical role in the French & Indian War, the American Revolution, and the War of 1812. We asked to take his picture, but he declined. Despite the wind, cold and occasional sprinkles, it was a worthwhile place to visit.

The first building constructed at Old Niagara Fort dubbed "the French Castle" is the oldest standing structure in the Great Lakes region.

Soldiers' Barracks

As we headed east along the scenic "Seaway Trail" which traces the northern border of New York State along Lake Ontario, we passed produce stands and flourishing apple orchards with trees laden with beautiful ripe fruit.

Our next stop was the historic Sodus Bay Lighthouse. Sodus Bay was the last way station on the underground railroad for many slaves who were escaping by boat across Lake Ontario to Canada. After their thousand mile trek north, the runaway slaves longed to see the Sodus Light, a symbol that freedom was near. We toured the small lighthouse museum and climbed the steep winding staircase to the top of the light for a great surrounding view.

Further east along the "Seaway Trail" we found Fort Ontario at the mouth of the Oswego River. Since it was past closing time we were unable to enter the fort, but we did take a walk around the outer stone wall and surrounding earthworks before heading east again to Watertown where we parked for the night at another Walmart. (Yay for free overnight camping:)

Outside Fort Ontario

 

 

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A Rocky Start

After a wonderful, productive morning at Bible Study Fellowship (Have I told you how much I love BSF?), we finally pulled out of the driveway at about 2pm after some inevitable last minute preparations:)

Putting the camper on the truck a few days ago. It's harder than it looks!

Our new handy dandy storage that keeps essentials at hand:)

Our plan? Sleep near Niagara Falls, NY. . . a 6-7 hour drive. Four and a half hours later, guess where we were? Lost in Lansing. I kid you not! For those of you unfamiliar, that's less than a 2 hour drive from home! We had been sitting for 2 hours in a "parking lot" on I 96 occasionally inching forward among the semi trucks. I had a headache, but was pretty content reviewing my notes from BSF. Mark, on the other hand, has a real aversion to traffic jams and was not a "happy camper". We had no idea what was causing this interminable hold up until I finally called over to a trucker with his window down. He said there was a fatal accident up ahead. That certainly changes one's perspective. I was so thankful to be safe in our stationary vehicle, and prayed for the hurting family who's lives had been irrevocably changed forever.

Progressing at a snail's pace toward Lansing, we were finally diverted off the closed highway onto a crowded exit (and very busy street) somewhere on the outskirts of Lansing. Proceeding forward like lost sheep among the harried and set free drivers, we had no idea where we were headed and how to get pointed back in the right direction! Unfamiliar with the fine points of our new GPS, it was completely unhelpful and kept trying to send us back onto the closed highway :( Mark finally noticed a group of semis turning left up ahead, but being in the wrong lane on a busy street, we were forced to make some difficult maneuvers along uncharted side streets before we were again headed in what we hoped was the right direction! After further digression along some back country roads, we came upon a highway (halleluia!) and eventually figured out the route we should proceed upon:)

At that point, since I was curled up on the seat with a headache that had progressed to migraine status despite my meds (no puking thank God:), Mark sweetly offered to find a place to stop so I could lie down. But since I didn't have to drive, I was hoping to at least make it out of Michigan before stopping for the night! So on we drove, heading towards a dark, ominous looking sky filled with storm clouds . . . Fortunately we didn't get much more than a sprinkle before pulling into a Walmart parking lot over the Ohio border a few hours later (around 9:30pm). Mark parked in a nice spot next to a tree, and I climbed into bed.

Interestingly, the Walmart we stayed at was in Perrysburg, Ohio. We are from Ferrysburg, MI, so we at least made it a whole "P" from home today!

During the night, cozy in our nest, we woke to the melodic drumming of rain on the roof of the camper. Great sleeping weather . . .

I wonder what day 2 will bring!

 

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A Special Family Tradition

     We have a wonderful family tradition.  The Vriesman Family Weekend.  When our kids were growing up we went to Cedar Point.  Every year.  The whole family.  Marks's Mom and Dad (Mema and Bapa),  brother Greg, his wife Sue, and their 3 kids.  Mark and I and our boys.  Sometimes even brother Dann.  We piled into 2 cars and headed to Ohio.  We slept Friday and Saturday nights in the Maumee Red Roof Inn and spent all day Saturday at the amusement park.  From the anticipation-filled moment the gates opened in the morning . . . until closing time at the end of a fun-filled day as we dragged our weary selves towards the exit . . . carrying sleeping infants and pushing toddlers in strollers or nudging along reluctant-to-leave adolescents . . . "Just one more ride?" . . . we had such a good time.  And we always had a hearty breakfast at Bob Evan's on Sunday morning before heading home to Michigan.

     Over the years the family has grown and expanded and we still enjoy a Vriesman Family Weekend.  Bapa and brother Dann stay home where its quiet; but Mema, Greg & Sue, Mark & I, our children, and our children's children all continue the tradition of spending a family weekend together.  We haven't been to Cedar Point as an extended family since the birth of the first grandchild (Mema and Bapa’s first great-grandchild), but we still spend a special weekend together.  For the past several years, we have rented a cottage in Holland the weekend after Labor Day with a view of Lake Macatawa and walking distance to Lake Michigan.  

September 2012

     This September we spilled over into a second cottage to prevent the first one from bursting at the seams with 15 adults and 12 children.

Jade

Lydia

    

Deacon

There is always lots of laughter, food, and good conversation. 

We have fun being together . . . walking to the beach, playing in the sand and water, watching the sunset.

The beach in 2007 . . .

. . . And 2011

Mark is the only adult braving the cold water on a foggy  September beach day.

Mema often brings a craft for the children . . . 

Painting t-shirts in 2013

     . . . And the kids always amuse us with a play or two.  This year they did a very entertaining performance of “The Sneetches” by Dr. Seuss and also a hilarious “Yertle the Turtle”.

Mema, "The Sneetches" narrator

"Now, the Star-Belly Sneetches had bellies with stars. The Plain-Belly Sneetches had none upon thars."

Sylvester McMonkey McBean

"Yertle the Turtle"

It seems every year there’s at least one televised football game with rowdy audience participation . . . 

2009

Chest Bump!

2011

Just a little excited . . . Michigan beat Notre Dame:)

. . . And the weekend wouldn’t be complete without our annual family pingpong tournament.  

David is the current reigning champ (2 years in a row:)

Good times and great memories.  

Years from now we’ll fondly say, “Remember when . . . ? “

Sweet Lydia

Our 7th precious grandchild, Lydia, finally arrived on July 31st.   She was two weeks overdue, anxiously anticipated and joyfully welcomed:)

July 31, 2013          Lydia Jewell Vriesman          9 lbs 8 ozs

Her four siblings . . .  Emilia (9), Jonny (7), Matthew (5) and Tommy (3) were absolutely THRILLED to meet her!

She is WELL LOVED and never lacking for cuddles and kisses.  Someone is always clamoring for their turn to hold her.  

She's definitely a keeper!  :)