Sunday – Saturday, July 31st - August 13th 2022 … Two Lane Adventures Continue!

Before we left Ausable Chasm I was able to get a final walk in. I loved all the trails and the names of some of the spots on the trails.

These are meant for the bike riders but they are unique and kept me entertained as I walked.

I have seen deer on these trails, but never bike riders. This morning my only companion was this butterfly.

I saw this sign that said "Repossessed Area of Ganienkeh Territory, ESTD 50,000 BC" I had to do some research! 

These Mohawk had left the Akwesasne, Kahnawake, and other reservations to rebuild traditional lives. The founding of Ganienkeh was related to Mohawk local issues, as some families wanted to leave the reservation environment. They found it had problems with alcohol and substance abuse, among other issues. A three-year armed occupation of the Moss Lake, a girls' camp ended in 1977 after nearly 200 negotiation sessions with New York state leaders. The Mohawk agreed to move to territory at Miner Lake that was initially designated as a State Park, which was offered by New York State through an intermediary trust. Unlike at the ten reservations within the borders of the state, in which federally recognized tribes have a relation with the federal government and the state has no authority over them, the jurisdictional relationships between the tribe and New York have not been defined at this territory. 

By 1990, the Mohawk still prohibited outsiders from entering the territory. This became the settlement of Ganienkeh, about 12 miles from the Canada–US border. The local townspeople helped supply them with food and other necessities during the first winter as they were allowed to take nothing but their personal property. The Mohawk established a "permanent nonreservation settlement" and claimed sovereign status. "Ganienkeh's founding was a rare case of Indigenous people reclaiming land from the United States."

Northern Adirondack Central School District is a public school district located in Ellenburg Depot, NY. It has 779 students in grades PK, K-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 9 to 1.

The Chateaugay River is a great location in the Adirondacks for anglers to find brook, rainbow, and brown trout. Although polluted for many years, the river has been cleaned up and is beginning to be an eco-tourism destination for canoeing and kayaking.

Snuggled in the midst of farmlands, forests, lakes and streams, sits the historic, small city of Malone. They have exciting annual events, including the Hendrickson Hatch Fly Fishing Tournament on the Salmon River, annual Kids Fishing Derby, and Fun Runs in the Malone Rec Park. The town of Chateaugay hosts a hopping spring concert series, as well as recent films, in a historic theater. You can hike or walk on one of the area's excellent trails, polish off your golf clubs and tee off at the Malone Golf Club, celebrate local history at the Almanzo Wilder Farm or learn about the first inhabitants of the area at the Akwesasne Library and Cultural Center.

Also in Malone, there is a majestic entrance to the fairgrounds! Being a Hemlock "Little World's" Fair board member, I love to see other fairgrounds. The Franklin County Ag Society prides themselves on their work to provide and share, with their neighbors throughout northern New York and beyond, a safe, family friendly environment filled with rides and games, as well as events and exhibits which continue and honor the history of agriculture our society has embraced for hundreds of years.

This statue is in Memorial Park, in the center of Malone, at the corner of Elm and E. Main streets. There are various other monuments in this very small park, all visible from one another, including one other Smithsonian sculpture, the Cast Metal Fountain. The statue depicts a Union Civil War soldier in uniform, holding a rifle. On the column are carved various inscriptions bas-relief images: "Not for self but for country", below which is a face of Lincoln with the inscriptions JANUARY 1, 1863 above and EMANCIPATION below. Below that is a bas-relief of the New York state coat of arms. The Medal of Honor, with Grand Army of the Republic inscribed above it. Below that is a bas-relief depicting a woman holding a sword in one hand and placing a laurel wreath on the head of a seated young man in a uniform. A bas-relief of Washington with inscriptions similar to Lincoln's reading JULY 4, 1776, and Independence. Below that is a bas-relief of the United States federal coat of arms and a pair of crossed swords.

I saw a patriotic beautiful “quilt” square on this barn. Did you know that the concept of a Barn Quilt began with Donna Sue Groves and her wish to honor her mother, Maxine, and her Appalachian heritage by having a painted quilt hung on her barn in Adams County, Ohio. Donna Sue continued to share this idea with friends and the idea morphed from full quilts to quilt blocks. Paintings of quilt squares are popping up on barns around the country. But they're more than just a folksy attempt to beautify the rural landscape. These are the engines of a movement to promote tourism and spark economic development across rural America.

Lisbon Beach & Campground offers camping, a Public Beach, Swimming Lessons, a boat launch, a pavilion for parties and more! It is located on the St. Lawrence River. The beach and campground is 11 miles from Waddington, where the Bass Masters Tournament has been held for a number of years; close to Ogdensburg, home of the Frederic Remington Art Museum; close to the Adirondack Mountains and spectacular hiking and views. I think we have friends from Florida camping here.

We spent almost 30-days in Canada and now, here we are again, with Canada just across the river. The river borders between New York and Canada and is only 6 miles from the Ogdensburg-Prescott Bridge to Canada.

The Maple Traditions Scenic Byway guides travelers through peaceful rural communities where they will see people continuing the heritage and traditions of previous generations—living off the land and producing a variety of food and hand-crafted products from the resources provided by the land. The byway also provides access to a mixed landscape of woods, fields and waterways for a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities. The Maple Traditions Scenic Byway route highlights the simple traditions of people living close to the land, while providing access to a variety of outdoor recreational activities. Beginning in Lowville, the 80 mile route takes travelers past farmlands, woodlands, the American Maple Museum in Croghan, and ends in the “Maple City” of Ogdensburg at the foot of the Ogdensburg-Prescott International Bridge to Canada, which spans the great St. Lawrence Seaway. Along the way, visit family-operated sugar bush operations where maple syrup is produced using wood-stoked fires and horse-drawn wagons; observe Amish farmers working their fields; and are tempted by a variety of locally crafted, traditions-based products such as furniture, cheeses, meats, candles, baskets, and candies.

New York has the fastest-growing Amish population, and 5th-largest overall. New York is a state which most people do not immediately connect with the Amish. But today over 21,000 Amish live in New York, in 59 settlements and nearly 170 church districts. The Empire State first saw Amish settlers in 1831, and has had a significant Amish presence since the 1970s. In recent years New York’s Amish population has grown by leaps and bounds, with over 40 new settlements having been founded in the state since 2000. A New York Amish community founded by settlers from the Keystone State is found at Lowville (three districts), in Lewis County, home of the original Amish immigrants to New York. 

Settlers from Path Valley (Franklin County, PA) arrived in this region of upstate New York in 1999, and were joined by Amish settlers from the Lancaster County daughter settlement in St. Mary’s County, Maryland. As with many other Amish migrants to New York, relatively inexpensive farmland was a big draw for the Lowville newcomers.  Settlers left behind high prices for acreage in both Pennsylvania and Maryland and set up dairies in this less-populated region of New York.  Farming is common here, and local Amish are able to provide higher-grade milk thanks to bulk dumping stations, reminiscent of the arrangement found in the Swartzentruber Amish community at Heuvelton.

We arrived at Wellesley Island State Park, our home for the next two-weeks. We are meeting some of our “NY Camping FRamily” here later this week.

Once our FRamily arrived, one day, we visited Dark Island Spirits is a True Craft distillery in Alexandria Bay, The Heart of the Thousand Islands. We visited to see how they handcraft and “Musically Mature” the award winning Bourbons, Whiskeys and Brandies alongside their Vodkas, Gins and Liqueurs. 

There is not the term “Neutral Grain Spirits” on a bottle made by them. In the tasting room and lounge, they offer all of our products for tastings, drinks and by the bottle, alongside numerous local NYS wines and NYS Craft Beers. Most of the gang enjoyed a True Craft cocktail or two.

While we were in the Dark Island Spirits distillery, we ran into friends from our park in Florida!

We decided to walk around the town a bit. We stopped at Nav’s Popcorn store. For nineteen years the Navarra family has made The River their home. Their best friends have been made here, their kids have grown up here, and their grand kids are now getting to see what makes The River the most magical place in the world. Jim and Cheryl's vision of retirement was to offer a unique and superior product and experience for our community. NAVS popcorn is fueled by a style of hospitality and service that never loses sight of its customer. The flavors are unique like Dark Island, Buffalo Blend, Heart Island, Sour Patch, and Fireball. They even let you try one of the many flavors. This is their 6th season of popping.

When the rain came we slipped into Skiff’s, a local pub. The time we spent at Skiff’s on James street was an enjoyable experience overall and we stayed dry! After the rain stopped, we made our way to Good Dog Charlies store. Good Dog Charlies has been family owned and operated since 1992 and has become a River destination for anyone visiting the Thousand Islands. They are opened seasonally between May to October. You can enjoy a cup of fresh brewed Green Mountain Coffee, and browse the River merchandise and their custom Good Dog Charlie River wear. They have a large assortment of St Lawrence River accessories, blankets, pillows, and specialty souvenirs. Shop our one a kind custom Good Dog Charlies sweatshirts, T-shirts, hats, and kids clothing. I got these socks for a set of very special friends!

Another day, we headed to Thousand Island Winery, which is just back over the bridge on the “mainland.” It’s located on a farm that has deep history. It is said that it is the tale of the Three Captains. You see, the Winery farm was once owned and operated by Captain Massey, and his wife Ida. Captain Massey, famed Riverboat Captain in the 1930’s, owned and operated a huge Great Lakes ship which he eventually sold to the Department of Defense for the war effort during World War II. 

During the 1970’s, the farm was owned and operated by Jerry and Debbie Schaeffer. The Schaeffers raised Arabian Horses and harvested hay on the farm. Jerry Schaeffer was a Captain in the US Army reserves while he lived on the farm. The original farmhouse was built in 1881 and the Barn was later ordered and built from a kit from Sears & Roebuck catalog in 1923. An then Steve Conaway was a Captain in the US Army when he and his wife purchased the property. The Thousand Islands Region reminded him of the time he had spent in Germany along the Rhine River and he found many similarities between the St. Lawrence River and the Rhine River in Germany. Steve Conaway is originally from Pennsylvania and his wife, Erika, is from Washington. Steve and Erika were married in 1990. The Conaways have four children. In 2003, Steve retired from the United States Army as a Major.

While spending five years stationed in Germany along the Rhine and Mosel Rivers, Steve became passionate about Riesling. After the family moved to the beautiful 1000 Islands Region of New York, Steve became inspired by the mighty Saint Lawrence River and the grand castles that are located on the islands. He noticed many similarities between the two distant locations. Both areas feature scenic beauty, gorgeous stone castles, large tour boats, and many visiting international tourists. However, the St. Lawrence River lacked the vineyards and wineries that were prevalent in Europe. Seeing this as a tremendous opportunity, the Conaways set out to establish a new grape-growing region in New York State and purchased a farm in December 2002.

Thousand Islands Winery officially opened to the public in 2003 with a starting inventory of 1,100 gallons of wine. The region was new to vineyards and wine production. Many thought that the Conaways were foolish and would soon go bankrupt. However, the exact opposite was true. Not only did Thousand Islands Winery survive, it thrived! The Winery experienced rapid growth and purchased an additional thirty-acre farm on Wellesley Island in 2013 and now produces over fifty thousand gallons of wine annually. When Steve first began his winery operation, he found that the general population of Northern New York preferred beer and hard spirits. Steve had to educate his customers and specially tailor his wines to fit their taste, not his own. He started with five wines and quickly found that his customers favored sweeter style wines. After several years, the area’s taste began to evolve towards drier wines like Marquette.

Today, Thousand Islands Winery produces twenty-three different varieties of wine in five categories. The categories include Dry, Semi-Dry, Semi-Sweet, Sweet, and Fruit & Dessert Wines. The Winery also produces a fortified, port-style wine and honey mead. Thousands Islands Winery has over nineteen acres of wine grapes planted on the farm. The grapes consist primarily of Frontenac, Marquette, La Crescent, and Riesling. Thousand Islands Winery has been gaining recognition in various wine competitions across the country since 2006. From 2007-2019, 168 medals have been awarded. The Winery is still entering competitions to date and hopes to receive many more medals in the future!

Across the road from us ... we had a unique pet ... yes, that is a parrot on her shoulder. For days, we heard strange bird sounds and then we finally saw him or her out ...

We also had a mink visit us!

We enjoyed several extra days with the "Pease People." Our friends, Gary & Cindy Pease from where we raised our family in NY! It is always a pleasure to spend time with them!

On another day, we went to Clayton and visited Saint Lawrence Spirits. It is a distillery providing high quality craft spirits distilled with 100% Saint Lawrence River Water. It is family owned and operated. They take pride in their award winning spirits and diverse product line including Vodka, Gin, Absinthe, Moonshine, Whiskey and Bourbon. They are the first distillery to use St. Lawrence River water to proof down all our spirits, providing “The Spirit Of The River In Every Bottle.”

Their distillers are passionate about providing quality small batch craft spirits with local roots, which starts at Lucky Star Ranch, where they harvest native botanicals & raw materials from their family farm. Local farmers assist with their corn harvest and provide additional grains and raw ingredients to be distilled at Saint Lawrence Spirits. 100% of grains used to make their Moonshine, Whiskey, & Bourbon are sourced from New York State Farms, 90% from right here in Jefferson County!

We enjoyed lunch at the Wooden Boat Brewery. Wood Boat Brewery is a microbrewery located in Clayton along the St. Lawrence River in the Thousand Islands. It is located a few blocks from the downtown business district and next to the Antique Boat Museum. 

They create and maintain high quality full flavored craft brews. 

They also are famous for their brick oven pizza!

When the weather is warm, there’s nothing better than sipping a brew, enjoying some grub and the views of the St. Lawrence River with amazing sunsets on the outdoor decks, which is what we did. At the Wood Boat Brewery, they have a passion for crafting the finest beers, using only quality ingredients.  Currently there are four local farms growing hops and barley just for them.  The majority of our hops and a minimum of 20% of their malt is produced here in New York State.  Barely production in NY is increasing and ultimately their goal is to produce their beer entirely from New York State products.

  

We had some great campfires, for the 14-days we were there!

We went back to Clayton and visited River Rat Cheese. River Rat Cheese offers a vast array of New York State Cheddars. Their cheese ranges from mild, perfect with a glass of wine … to 16-year-old sharp, the bite that will bite back! They also offer many unique flavored cheddars. I purchased a maple cheddar, blueberry cheddar and dill cheese curds. Their cheese curds are known for their great squeak! I am excited, because you can order on-line and they will ship to Florida!

In Clayton, there is also a shop called the 1000 Islands Cruet, a gourmet olive oil and balsamic vinegar tasting room. I am not a big olive oil or vinegar person. But Rob and Sheila actually tasted and purchased some!

On our last Friday night in the area, we met our friends from Florida Gerry & Bonnie Novak. We met at The Clipper Inn. It has been in the Simpson family for over 45 years. The restaurant has an airy, comfortable, and slightly nautical interior. It was great to see Bonnie & Gerry! We all ordered from the large and varied menu. Three of us opted for the fresh seafood, Charlie went for the steak! The well versed staff at the Clipper made your dining experience a pleasure.

The Thousand Islands Bridge system extends from Collins Landing near Alexandria Bay, New York to Ivy Lea near Gananoque, Ontario covering a distance of 8.5 miles and provides direct connection between US Interstate Route 81 and Canada’s Highway 401.

The crossing over the American channel of the St. Lawrence River, from the mainland to Wellesley Island, consists of a suspension bridge of 800 feet (main span), with an under clearance of 150 feet above the river. The American span from abutment to abutment is 4,500 feet. Groundbreaking ceremonies were held at Collins Landing, New York, on April 30, 1937, with several thousand people on hand for this eventful occasion, both US and Canadian.

Rob, Karen and I walked the American Span of the Thousand Islands Bridge using the sidewalk on the west side of the bridge. Our spouses dropped us off on one side and waited for us on the other side! The walkway is about one mile in total length and provides a scenic view upriver toward Clayton and the Rock Island lighthouse.

 

 

We camped here for 14 days and I did walk every day. Most days I walked alone, but as our friends arrived I walked with them. Sometimes Charlie walked around the camping loop we were in with me, before I ventured out to the rest of the camping loops. Karen arrived first and we walked a lot. Sheila came next and she joined Karen and I. It was a productive 2-weeks of walking! Here are a few of our walks!

 

 

But, the gypsy in Charlie and I are ready to move!