Rally Time on Lake Ontario Pulaski NY

When we decided we would not go to Alaska this year, a rally hosted by the Diesel RV Club in Pulaski NY, became our primary destination on our route to our traditional canoe trip in the Boundary Waters in Minnesota.  But NY is not on the way to MN from NC you say?  But of course it is, if you also want to visit the Adirondacks, Ottawa, Algonquin Provincial Park and the Canadian Shield north of the Great Lakes.

Welcome to New York  (photo taken with my new Garmin Dash Cam)

We departed PA and headed to Brennan Beach RV Resort on the eastern edge of Lake Ontario in Pulaski NY.  Although Pulaski is named after General Casimir Pulaski (pə-las-kee), area residents have traditionally pronounced it with a long "i" (pə-las-sky). Go figure.  Brennan Beach is huge, with over 1500 units.  Most are seasonal sites, meaning they are rented out for the whole year.  There are about 100 transient sites for gypsies like us.

Our home for 5 nights

It is significantly cooler here.  We're a bit farther north, at a higher elevation and on the shore of Lake Ontario.  Highs have been in the mid 80s, while lows have plummeted into the 60s.  A far site from the historic heat dome covering most of the country.

A nice place to park

My friend Wayne always marvels at a "sincere wood pile"

A sincere wood pile

The rally is hosted by the Diesel RV Club, a chapter of the Family Motor Coach Association.  The stated mission of the DRVC is:

The purpose of the Diesel RV Club is to serve all Family Motor Coach Association members with an interest in diesel powered motorhomes and coaches – whether Type A, B or C – in how to maintain them, how to get maximum performance, and how to keep repair costs to a minimum. The Chapter will host rallies which combine social and technical programs for the purpose of:

• Exchanging information on how to keep diesel coach repair costs to a minimum, how to maintain them and how to get maximum performance,
• Helping promote diesel engines in all RV Types and help our fellow RVrs,
• Providing opportunities for fun and fellowship, and
• Supporting FMCA activities such as rallies and engagement at international conventions.

Anyone is eligible to visit one of our events as a guest prior to joining. We look forward to making your acquaintance.

There were a number of very knowledgeable folks in attendance and 9 hours of seminars on technical topics.  There were fine meals and social hours.

On the last afternoon before the rally ended I changed the serpentine belt and the air conditioner drive belt on my engine.  I had plenty of knowledgeable help and the use of many tools.

On one of our outings we went to Old McDonalds Farm, which is a large outdoor petting zoo and a working dairy.



  We took the dairy tour and watched the automatic milking process.  They milk 16 cows on each side with automatic equipment.  They have almost 1000 heifers.  Each one is milked 3 times per day and produces about three gallons of milk per milking.   Moooooooo ....

Milking the heifers

All cows have electronic chips to keep track of them.  In the nursery, where week old calves are housed, they go to a milk feeding station whenever they are hungry, where each on is identified and given just the right amount of milk dependent on their age and when and how much they ate last.  Old man McDonald's come a long way.

Strutting his stuff

We took another outing to Boldt Castle on Heart Island in the St. Lawrence River in the Thousand Islands area of NY.

Dorcas on the boat to Boldt Castle

George C. Boldt was a self-made restaurateur and hotelier during the turn of the 20th century.  He built Boldt Castle for his beloved wife Louise.  Unfortunately Louise died in 1904, before the castle was completed.  Boldt immediately stopped construction and never returned to the island.  For 73 years, the castle and various stone structures were left to the mercy of the wind, rain, ice, snow and vandals. When the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority acquired the property in 1977, it was decided that through the use of all net revenues from the castle operation it would be preserved for the enjoyment of future generations.

The Power House

Graffiti on the 4th level

Dorcas on the rooftop

Boldt Castle on high

More graffiti 

Looking down on the main foyer

Lunch snack anyone?

This guy had a 1500 HP Packard airplane engine

The Children's Playhouse

The Yacht House

The rally theme was "The Lake & the Lighthouse".  Unfortunately we visited neither.

Next stop: The Adirondacks!