Three Mile Bay from Pickerel Park Carefree RV Resort along the shores of Lake Ontario

We departed Pickerel Park Carefree RV Resort in Prince Edward County heading toward the Thousand Island Bridge border crossing. We took the scenic route along 33 and ventured into towns with the same names as towns in western New York, Bath is one example. Traveling along these two lane roads affords you a chance to see so much more than traveling down the super highways! We moved onto Route 2, continuing our tour along the northern banks of Lake Ontario, eventually merging onto the 401 and back over the Thousand Island Bridges.

After we crossed back into New York we followed the Seaway Trail for a while. If you look for the green-and-white "footprints and waves" signs, they will guide you on your Seaway Trail journey. If history is more your cup of tea and you follow the brown-and-white “sailing ship” signs, you will discover the sites related to the trail's role in the War of the 1812. One of these sailing ship markers is on Route 12 outside of Alexandria Bay, New York. It shares the story of The Battle of Cranberry Creek. British ships used the St. Lawrence River to transport materials. In 1813, on July 13^th an American raiding party intercepted a shipment. After the supplies were confiscated by the Americans, the British pursued the Americans into Goose Bay and up Cranberry Creek. The force of about 50 Americans hid, preparing to surprise the approximately 250 British soldiers pursuing them. The Americans inflicted heavy casualties on the British and forced their retreat.

 We made an overnight stop at a high school friend of Charlie’s, Kathy & Pat Hadley. They summer in a cottage in Three Mile Bay, on the opposite side of the peninsula from Point Peninsula. Point Peninsula is a water management area. It is divided by Beach Road, South Shore Road and Pine Woods Road. It is a natural wetland area made up of sand beach, dune, emergent marsh, grassland and wooded shrub swamp. It is predominantly wetlands, with mix of grasslands and wetlands on the property's eastern edge. Late summer mowing is conducted every year to prevent grassland succession to brushland or young forest. This area is home to many species of small game, white-tailed deer and multiple species of grassland nesting birds. Point Peninsula is located in a bird migration corridor and provides important stopover and feeding habitats for a wide diversity of migratory bird species. In addition, Point Peninsula may be one of the most critical wintering areas in the Northeastern US for arctic-breeding raptors, including the short-eared owl, rough-legged hawk, snowy owl, northern shrike and the northern harrier.

We drove across the isthmus to get to Kathy’s house. What the heck is an isthmus? I asked the same question … it is a narrow piece of land connecting two larger areas across an expanse of water that otherwise separates them. I guess you can say if there is an isthmus, it stops it from being an island. At the isthmus, we found “Lake Ontario at the Isthmus Park.” It is the Three Mile Bay Waterway access site providing additional access to Chaumont Bay. It features a single-lane concrete launch with a floating dock. Parking will accommodate six vehicles with trailers and 10 additional vehicles. It was very full when we went bay and that was a week day, I am sure it is over full on a weekend! Naturally, we had to dip our toes in the cold waters of Lake Ontario!

Kathy told us there used to be seventeen farms on the peninsula, now there is really only two and one is a gentleman farmer, who has a few beef cows. He got the beef cows so he could show that he was a “working” farm. Since he is a working farm, he can have a windmill. He really did not want to be a farmer, he just wanted his windmill! What some people will do to get what they want!

We also learned that the Chaumont-Three Mile Bay area is known as the "Golden Crescent." This is one of the most locally famous spots of the region. It is known for some of the best fishing in New York State. The bay’s rocky shores and shoals provide the prime places for the best catches: bass, perch, pike, salmon, lake trout, pickerel and bullhead are all likely to make the menu after a day of fishing in Chaumont Bay. Void of heavy commercialism, areas of Chaumont Bay offer relaxation, swimming, fishing, biking, walking trails, boating and camping. On the walking trails, you can just stop and smell the wild flowers!

There is also a great State park on the peninsula, Long Point State Park. The remoteness of Long Point State Park offers a peaceful, relaxing camping experience for all. It is situated on the peninsula facing Chaumont Bay on Lake Ontario, the park is small and almost completely surrounded by water with great views from anywhere in the park. The bay provides a protected harbor for boats, and Lake Ontario offers excellent boating and fishing opportunities. Constant lake breezes keep the park cool and mosquito-free. Any place that is mosquito-free is for me! We sat on a picnic table and watched the sunset.