May 24-25, Clayton, NY

KOKOMO II enters the St Lawrence Seaway

We motored from Sackets Harbor north and then east into the St Lawrence Seaway. The winter weather has moderated and today is sunny and mild with highs in the mid sixty's. We stopped at the Cape Vincent town dock and spent an hour for a look around town and lunch on the water. We watched a small ferry come in from Canada (just across the water) and unload two pedestrians and then take on several cars and motorcycles for the return trip. We did see a US Customs office but did not think it was open, so not much security here.

This anchor is the centerpiece of the town square at Cape Vincent. Linda with Ted and Cookie Snyder

After lunch we continued on another 12 miles to Clayton, NY, stopping at the Pier 225 Marina. Ted and Cookie go with the mechanic, who is ending his work day, and he takes them to Sackets Harbor where they reclaim their car. We now have a car in Clayton and are enjoying the luxury of not walking to town and of a much greater choice of restaurants. We use the car to go to the Clipper Inn for dinner, an option we would not have had if we were walking as we usually do.

Sunday the weather is beautiful with sunshine and temperatures in the high sixty's. We had breakfast in town and then took a walk to see the sights. We visited most every shop in Clayton.

Cannon on the waterfront at Clayton. Ted, Linda and Cookie.

Antique Boat Museum in Clayton

Cookie and Ted admire some of the exhibits.

Later we go to the big attraction in Clayton, the Antique Boat Museum, which has lots of old wooden boats (a good collection of Chris Craft mahogany boats) and wooden canoes and some sailboats. Lots of old gasoline outboards. The highlight of the museum, other than the old wooden boats, is a 27 x 120 foot houseboat salvaged from the Boldt Castle after a sinking and purchased for $1. It was then beautifully restored and lived in for 20 years as a summer home in the 1000 Islands before being donated to the museum.

Linda thinks we may be close to seeing the Amish as this roadside sign warns drivers to be careful of slow moving horse and buggies in this area.

Later we are off in the car looking for the Amish and their buggies and beautiful farms. Ted and Cookie had bought bread at an Amish roadside stand on their way back from Sackets Harbor and Linda wanted to see some real Amish folks, so we went looking. We found the farm but they were closed on Sunday. We did see the buggy in the yard and other of the horse drawn farm equipment. There were no tractors in evidence. No Amish about today. Maybe they are all at their church meeting.