Castles and Fireworks

 Last Sunday found us driving to Watertown to the North of us.  We had made arrangements with our President to spend the 4th of July in Alexandria Bay on the 1,000 Islands.  We were pretty excited to visit this beautiful place.

Alexandria Bay sits on the Saint Lawrence Seaway. (The Saint Lawrence Seaway is the water way connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes.  Tankers move back and forth and go as far as Minnesota on the Great Lakes system.)  It’s deep.. They have had ships go down there and divers can’t get to them because they are too deep.   We got there early and had a perfect parking place in their parking lot.  We wandered around town for about half an hour to kill some time.  We had a nice visit with a couple who was there with another couple (sisters and their husbands).  They talked of having been there before and some of the places to see and eat.  They had been to the castle the day before and said we would love it. We could see the castle, just across the water and I was excited to get up close and personal.

We boarded our boat and off we went, cruising the 1000 Islands.  Oh, my goodness,  it was breathtaking. The 1,000 Islands are really about 1,800 islands.  (Trivia note:this is where 1,000 Island salad dressing comes from) There are islands of all sizes. Some are big and some are tiny.  Some are big enough just for a small house and some are big enough for a mansion and beautiful gardens.  Some of the big homes have beautiful boat houses, some just a dock. In order to be called an island it has to have at least one tree and one plant growing on it and has to be out of the water for the entire year.  The picture of number 15 is the smallest island in the group . The 15 is not how many people can stand on it but the speed limit.   We crossed into Canada and it was cool just to think we were in Canada.

At the end of the cruise, we stopped at Boldt Castle-the highlight of our day.  George Boldt was owner of the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia (now the Hyatt) and then became the proprietor of the Waldorf Astoria in New York.  He became very wealthy.  He loved his wife, Louise more than life itself.  He bought Hart Island in the 1000 Islands and changed the spelling to Heart Island. (Notice the heart and the stag in the family crest-you can find hearts and stags all over in the design of the castle and grounds) He decided to build his wife a castle like the castles in Rhineland.  The castle is 127 rooms and 6 stories high.  They had a swimming pool, a ball room, a library, grand staircase, a huge kitchen, dining rooms, huge porches, beautiful suites for the family and guests.  There was a power house that would supply power to the castle, as well as a play house for the children complete with a billiards room, a kitchen, and a 2 lane bowling alley.  He also loved boats- he had 60 boats at one time including three huge yachts and a houseboat- so there is a huge yacht house that actually sits across the water on Wellsely Island. Boldt Castle was started in 1900 but in 1904 his wife suddenly died.  He sent a telegram to the workers ordering them to stop the building of the castle immediately! He never went there again.  There were no parties, no over night guests, no one ever danced in the ballroom, there were no galas with people moving up and down the grand staircase, no fancy meals cooked in the huge kitchen, no anticipated celebrations! George Boldt had other properties in the 1000 Islands that he and his children visited but he never went to Heart Island again. His heart was broken.

After sitting empty for 70 years it was falling apart. It had been vandalized and was a huge mess. The estate sold it to the 1000 Island Bridge Authority for $1 with three stipulations. 1- No one could ever live there-because Louise never lived there. (so no hotel) 2 -  The Castle could never be finished more than 95% because they never finished it for Louise.  And 3 -They could not make a profit so all money earned on the island goes back into the preservation of the island.  It was a sad little love story. 

We came into Alexandria Bay and went looking for something to eat.  We had our first plate of Poutine.  We had heard great things about Poutine and I have to say it was pretty good.

We walked around, and then we drove around to find a parking spot that would be good for the big getaway after the fireworks.  We found the perfect parking spot and a perfect spot to watch the show.  Alexandria Bay is very popular for their fireworks.  As the night came on, it was really interesting to watch the boats gather all around the castle to watch the fireworks. There were dozens and dozens of boats with their little lights on gathered all around. 

As soon as the show was over we picked up everything and headed for our car.  We were amazed at how many people there were-we had not seen that many before-we don't know where they came from.  We were in the ideal spot and got out before most of the people had even walked a small distance.  It was a fun day.  

We had a great District Council on Wednesday.  I made cinnamon rolls for the Sisters and Elders and then we delivered some to some other people in our branch.  We came home, gathered ourselves together and went out for a lesson with our friend.  I was bothered by a headache, neck ache, and a sick stomach.  By 9:45 I felt like I had been hit by a truck.  I had a fever and chills.  I climbed into bed and couldn't get warm.  I hurt in every bone of my body.  I don't think I had ever felt like this.  I texted our mission nurse the next day and she said that it sounded like Covid.  Now wait! What?  I can't have Covid.  I have dodged that bullet for 2 1/2 years. Sister Boone said to wait until Friday to test and sure enough! Positive.  Mike has it too.  Stinking Covid. We have too much to do to be stuck in quarantine-even though we feel lousy and don't want to be doing anything else but resting.  Hopefully we can move forward sometime this week.

We are so very thankful for the opportunity to be a missionary.  We hope you all have a wonderful week.  Remember the church is true.  Jesus is the Christ!  He is everything! Be happy and find Him.  You will find peace.