Next destination was Murray Isle, one of the 1000 Islands in Upstate New York on the Canadian border

What we didn’t know at the time was our friends Lorie and Calvin were driving behind and told us afterwards how close we were to the blue truck, very narrow lanes

..

Calvin and Steve are old friends going back to joining bowling leagues when they were kids. Calvin’s family has owned this piece of the island for many years and Steve spent weekends throughout the summers here with Calvin 

Calvin was also Steve’s best man at his wedding.

..

..

We parked the coach at a fellow islanders business parking lot on Wellesley Island and Calvin whisked us back over the the bridge and to the camp which had expanded since we were last here. They have a large family and each segment of the family has their own home. Dad’s summer home is the blue one in the center and original home.  Dad (Sonny) has been here since he was a boy, he’s in his 90’s now. The family has grown considerably and according to him there are 20 boats at their docks at weekends

You can see Calvin and Lorie’s camp as you come into the bay (to the right with the green fascia)

This is the post office dock at the far end of the island

Took a trip down to Boldt Castle in Alexandria Bay, on Heart Island with a very rich history.
George Boldt was the millionaire proprietor of the Waldorf Astoria in NYC. The Boldt family spent their summers at 1,000 Islands and in 1900 George set up to build a full size castle on Heart Island for his wife Louise, and like the Waldorf Astoria was built in grandiose style with no expense spared. 120 rooms and 6 stories with an Italian garden, drawbridge and a children’s playhouse.

In 1904 Louise dies suddenly leaving a broken hearted George who never returned to the island

Calvin and Lorie’s new camp, it’s almost complete and looks great, and they left us there for a couple of nights while they stayed with Sonny until the rest of the siblings arrived., Calvin is doing most of the building himself and it’s been a work in progress. It’s a really beautiful home and they should be proud of their accomplishments thus far, and what fabulous hosts

Most of the rooms are complete, 2 bedrooms and  a bath. The kitchen and living room still need ceiling, but the lights are in. We were really impressed by all their work.

View from Calvin and Lorie’s new camp and far away from the crowds at the main camp

Harper, the first grandchild for Calvin and Lorie, and a first baby hold for Chris, oh how awkward and unnatural, “now take it back please”

Happy hour on the deck, promptly at 5 oclock, with other Murray Isle residents who floated in. One, with his back to us spent many years growing up with Sonny, and was the CEO of Time magazine, the guy next to him lives in this camp, the only non-relative and is a bass player and composer. They all have the same common bond.

Happy Hour continues to grow, with many more to come, after all its Friday night