Have you ever wondered how Thousand Island dressing got its name?
Wonder no more as I discovered the name is based on not just 1,000 but over 1,800 islands on the St Lawrence River that straddle the border of the United States in northern New York State and Canada in south-eastern Ontario.
Off we went
A boat trip departing from Ivy Lea (just under 2hrs south-east of Canada's capital of Ottawa, half an hour north-east of Kingston, Canada's former capital, and 3hrs north-east of Toronto), saw us enjoying this waterway that was once a fashionable retreat for the elite. Today it serves as a hub for a variety of outdoor activities, from kayaking to fishing and scuba diving around shipwrecks.
It was a partly overcast day for our 1hr round trip when we set out but the weather held well with no rain and we nonetheless enjoyed the beautiful views. We weaved in and out of passageways with commentary providing education on the islands and points of interest along the way.
Picturesque houses dot the river
Our boat was a comfortable triple-decker decked in both Canadian and US flags with rest rooms on each deck, a coffee shop selling snacks and a couple of bars alleviating thirst. In addition to indoor seating with large viewing windows, there are a lot of outdoor spots to roam to obtain photos from various angles.
Along the picturesque shorelines were camping spots and marinas as well as houses on the water's edge and elaborate mansions higher up with Canadian flags flying proudly, whilst on a rocky outcrop the white Statue of St Lawrence stood amongst the trees overlooking the vessels and the mighty river.
Hope it doesn't flood
My next house - I wish
St Lawrence watching over his river
We cruised past islands that vary considerably in size. There are small ones that bear nothing but plants and trees whilst others are inhabited or habitable and huge. One such larger island is that of Heart Island and it comes complete with a castle, the beautiful German- style Boldt Castle with its story of love and tragedy. The castle was to be a summer dream home and tribute to the wife of millionaire hotel magnate George C Boldt (proprietor of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York) but his wife Louise passed away suddenly, just months before the castle was completed. With Mr Boldt inconsolable, construction halted and the property was left vacant for 73 years. In 1977, the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority acquired the property and began building and restoring what was destroyed by vandals and the mercy of wind, rain, ice and snow.
One of the smaller islands
Just Boldtin' round the back of the castle on Heart Island
The castle and its grounds have many gorgeous features, including magnificent Italian gardens, the Power House and Clock Tower, the Entry Arch of Honour with its swan pond, and the Alster Tower or Playhouse that housed a bowling alley in the basement.
The Boldt Castle Power House & Clock Tower - simply amazing
The castle's entry Arch of Honour hiding a swan pond behind it
The Alster Tower of entertainment
As we circled around Heart Island we saw the castle's elaborate stone structures and nearby on the river another building that looks like an old English inn. It turns out it is the Boldt Castle Yacht House, aka the garage, that housed the family's yachts and houseboat.
That's some 'garage'
Simply amazing, this castle and its surrounds, it was certainly a highlight of the trip. Other sights to see along the journey include the Skydeck, the Thousand Islands International Bridge and the Zavikon Islands (containing the smallest International Bridge in the world).
Uncle Sam beating us under the Thousand Islands International Bridge
This cruise is run by the Gananoque Boat Line who also run cruises a bit further down from Ivy Lea at their main base of Gananoque. There's a 2.5hr Lost Ships cruise and a 5hr Heart Island stopover cruise that allows you to explore the castle. The
website is currently listing 2018 rates as $28 per adult and $13 per child aged 6-12 years for the Ivy Lea cruise. Children 5 years and under are free.
Our patriotic boat, one of five run by Gananoque Boat Line
We certainly enjoyed our taste of this area. It's breathtaking and very worthwhile experiencing this part of our wonderful world.
