August 20, 2002, Tuesday- 375 miles today from Ohio to Clayton, NY, on the Canadian border, in the Thousand Islands Region. Easy drive along the interstate. Not too many places to get lost. Nice to leave the states of Illinois, Indiana and Ohio where the big rigs, like us, were limited to 55 MPH. The pits. Too slow. Although 65 isn't like the 75 out west, it felt like we were at least moving forward.

August 21, 2002, Wednesday- cleanup day. I worked the outside and Susan the inside of the coach. It felt good to get some of the last 2 months junk off. One thing we discovered was a leak somewhere in the washer/dryer, so when things calm down, I'll pull the unit, open it up and see if I can find where it's coming from.

David and Paula didn't make dinner tonight. They were delayed in leaving Ithaca after helping Jordan moving into Law School. So, our playing will have to start later. They arrived at 11:30 and it was 1 AM until we hit the sack.

August 22, 2002, Thursday- we headed into Clayton for an hour power walk with David and Paula. David, with his new exercise program and diet, looks great. No more "deer gut". Our timing was great because as we finished, the predicted rains came for the next 6 hours. For fun, we then headed westward for 10 miles to Cape Vincent. Lunch along the water, then the little 9 vehicle ferry to Canada. Crossing customs took about 30 seconds. 11 miles across a little island and another ferry, this one 30 or 40 vehicles, over to Kingston. Following the local roads we headed eastward and crossed back into the US along I-81.

WOODEN BOAT CAPITAL- ALL WITH LEFT HAND DRIVE	A GREAT DAY FOR A CAR RIDE- OUR 7 CAR FERRY

We took a detour onto Wellesley Island and discovered two unique and different communities. On the west end of the island was a town filled with old homes, large in size, stuck in time. At the east end of the island, at least 2 new golf courses, a marina with large boats and another one with huge boats, filled with new homes in an ideal setting.

MAIL BOX ROW ON WELLESLEY ISLAND

Dinner was at Alexandria Bay (Alex Bay to the locals), another summer oriented community filled with tourist.

August 23, 2002, Friday- today's walk was in a NY State Park, Cedar Point. This place was primarily a camping park with hundreds of sites ranging from tent areas, to RV sites with full hookups. The space between each site was enormous. Next time we'd stay at the park instead of the semi tacky campground that we're at now. It's too bad that the RV site books don't rate the public camping facilities.

OUR TOUR BOAT	MANY "OLD MONEY" ESTATES

Next, over to the Clayton boat dock to pickup our 1000 Island Boat Tour. It's the first time for David and Paula to get a real feel for the area, and a refresher course for us. We learned that the water is so pure in this area of the St. Lawrence Seaway that it can be drunk directly from the waterway. Thus, all 1793 islands in the "1000 Islands" can have fresh water. The downside, is that each needs an above ground holding tank for the sewer disposal. Naturally the cost of building a house on an island without ferry service or bridges is more then very expensive. Imagine all materials and equipment having to be delivered by special landing craft, and all builders and tradesmen having to arrive by boat.

ANY VOLUNTEERS TO HELP THE WORKERS ON THE WIRES	DAVID AND PAULA CATCHING THE RAYS

This evening we did a 4 Diamond restaurant over in Alexander Bay. A perfect finish to a wonderful day. One thing that we did learn, was the chefs have to bring their own tools. We watched one of the gentlemen load over $4000 worth of knives into his custom made leather carry bag. Who would have thought about these tools of the trade?

PAULA, DAVID, LARRY AND SUSAN

August 24, 2002, Saturday- first off to another juried crafts fare in Clayton. Except for a great wooden toy for the Jake Man, the booths were disappointing. Over next to Alexandria Bay for lunch and then the shuttle boat over to the Bolt Castle on Heart Island. This 125 room castle with 365 different window sets and 53 fireplaces was 80% finished in 1904 when Mrs. Bolt died. Her husband stopped all work on the island and for the next 70 years, weather and vandals took their toll on the property. In the 1970's the property was donated to the NY park system. It will take many years to bring it to the 80% completion level (the maximum permitted in the deed restriction).

JURIED CRAFT SHOW	THE BOLT CASTLE KIDS PLAYHOUSE WITH BOWLING ALLEYS

BOLT CASTLE- 125 ROOMS	ABOUT 300 COUPLES PER YEAR TIE THE KNOT AT THE WEDDING PAVILLION

One interesting observation, was that the skylight seen from below is bright and clean. Everybody assumes that it's outside on the roof. No way…..it's illuminated and supported in an interior room at the top of the castle.

SKYLIGHT FROM BELOW	SKYLIGHT FROM ABOVE

Additional buildings on the island include the power plant building which could have provided enough power for the entire island and the town of Alexandria Bay across the shipping lane channel. Also, a the children's playhouse was finished and included a 2 lane bowling alley. Across the water the main boat house was constructed to hold over 50 boats, including a 95' sailboat and a huge houseboat. Touring the boat house revealed incredible vintage wooden craft from the 1880's to the turn of the century. The collection ranged from racing power boats to "sailing" canoes.

PAULA, DAVID AND SUSAN IN THE CASTLE	POWER BOAT REGATTA

THE BOLT CASTLE BOAT HOUSE	ONE OF MANY BOATS FROM THE TURN OF THE CENTURY

ANTIQUE OUTBOARDS	SAILING CANOE FROM 1880

After dinner we returned to the coach and taught David and Paul how to play "hand and foot". They're fast learners and did super. Lots of laughs.

August 25, 2002, Sunday- we pulled up the jacks and left the Clayton Campground. We felt it was highly overrated but the part that we liked least was a neighbor 2 spots away that had a smoky fire going all weekend. For us it was the pits having to keep the windows closed for most of the day and night, and not running the a/c.

We did a 280 mile ride from Clayton, NY to Hope, NJ where we put the coach into storage for 2 weeks. Hopefully the little four legged creatures won't enter the coach this time.

Finally back to David and Paula's house, our base facility for the next 2 weeks.

August 26, 2002, Monday- 350 mile schlep from David's house in Randolph, NJ to Pittsburgh, PA. Over half the distance was on local highways and roads, filled with traffic lights, road construction and stop and go traffic. It took from 10 am to 5 pm with a short lunch stop. Too long! The return trip will be with another route, longer miles but hopefully shorter time.

August 27, 2002, Tuesday- first class treatment when I met Ken. Introduced to all of his staff and other business associates like the returning hero. Special presentations made to me by the heads of each cost containment business. Dinner with Ken and his lovely wife Ann at their country club, then a few innings at the new PNC ball park to watch the Pittsburgh Pirates play the Atlanta Braves. Seats right behind the third base dugout. Perfect! Afterwards, a tour of the city showed the civic pride that Ken has for his city. Back to his house to overnight, and meet two of his 5 kids. Wonderful girls, Annie and Sue, 8th and 9th graders.

LARRY OUTSIDE OF PNC PARK	SEATS RIGHT BEHIND THE 3RD BASE DUGOUT

August 28, 2002, Wednesday- after a first class breakfast prepared by Ann, I headed back to NJ, this time using the PA Turnpike, about 30 miles longer, but, without traffic, shorter in time. Unfortunately, on I-78 I lost about 90 minutes due to some tractor trailer entanglements, so it was 7.5 hours on the return, mostly through rain and showers.

ONE OF SEVERAL DESTROYED BIG RIGS

Dinner with David and Paula, Costco lamb chops on the grill, always a winner!