As luck would have it, we lost the tree trunk on the way. So, we went right into the small town of Squirrel Cove for a short walk and a trip to their grocery store.

Most of these grocery stores are the same; some have more, some have less. It’s interesting and makes me wonder about the selections they have and who they cater to, boaters for sure, and local townspeople. Most of them have the absolute essentials, along with some questionable items, and usually a very limited supply of fresh fruit and vegetables. I picked up some white cooking wine (did not think I was gonna find that for a while, so pleasant surprise), one grapefruit, and some green peppers. Every bit helps me prepare healthy, tasty meals while on the boat.

The post Squirrel Cove Dock – Just for a visit! appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Squirrel Cove is on the East Side of Cortez Island –

The anchorage is a mile or two past the little town of Squirrel Cove. We went right to the anchorage; we decided we’d visit the town on the way out. We stayed for two days.

Traveling every day is very tiring, especially when the days are long. We’ve had a couple of days on fairly open water, and it was very choppy. I told Jim after a couple of hours of banging around that I felt like I had spent the day on a horse. So, arriving in a calm cove or bay was such a relief.

A two-day stay was needed. Squirrel Cove was the perfect spot. Jim even had time to get the drone out and take some shots.

We had a little excitement as we tried to pull up the anchor to leave. The chain of the anchor had somehow wrapped around what we first thought was a rock, but upon further inspection, Jim said it actually was a 5-6 foot tree, root and all. We couldn’t get it off in the anchorage and dragged it over to the town dock and tried to wrestle it off there, with our boat securely tied to the dock.

The post Squirrel Cove Is On Cortez Island appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Stopping in Lund for a Fuel Stop –

Time to refuel while we can, and we stopped in Lund. Lund is at Mile 0 (often called the northern starting or ending point) of Highway 101, which stretches over 15,000 kilometers to Chile. On the Sunshine Coast.

As we were tying up to the fuel dock, we noticed a sign on the fuel pump, Sorry, power is out. No FUEL! Jim went to investigate, and I still needed a few items from a grocery store, so, after tying up to the fuel dock, I jumped off the boat and headed to the grocery store. They also had a sign that the power was out and that they were closed. I hung around for a few minutes, glad I did, cause in less than 5 minutes, the store owner was coming back to open the store because the power was back on.

I got my few items and headed back to the fuel dock. Jim was just settling up with the attendant, and in a few minutes, we were off. Headed to Squirrel Cove to anchor for a couple of nights.

The post Stopping in Lund for a Fuel Stop appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Hornby Island features one of the biggest beaches we’ve seen in the Strait of Georgia –

As we pulled into the anchorage, we could see and hear the beachgoers on shore as they enjoyed the sun and water. Swimmers, kayakers, float-boards, and dinghies zipped around Tribune Bay until the sun gently set behind the island.

I have to mention that we have had the most beautiful weather ever since we launched our boat in Anacortes (5 days so far). Warm during the day, hot in the late afternoon, and welcoming cool in the evenings, so good for sleeping.

The post Hornby Island Has the Biggest Beach Cruising Here appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Saysutshun Marine Park – Newcastle Island is just a short mile or two across from Nanaimo –

We have anchored just outside the mooring field in Mark Bay many times when traversing the Newcastle Island Passage. Before anchoring, though, we pulled up to the day-dock so we could stretch our legs by hiking through the island’s woods. Saysutshun is a beautiful Newcastle Island Marine Park. Lots of campers and boaters are taking advantage of the beautiful day.

After leaving Newcastle Island Passage, we headed into Departure Bay, then the Strait of Georgia.

The post Saysutshun Newcastle Island Marine Park – A Short Hop Across from Nanaimo appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

On Our Way to Nanaimo, We Sheltered in Pirate’s Cove for One Night –

After Wallace Cove, we spent one night anchored in Pirate’s Cove. Thankfully, we had protection because it was very windy that night. It was a rocky night, but somehow we slept through most of it and woke to a calm morning on the hook. Our plan that morning was to get up early to navigate through Dodd Narrows, tidal rapids, on our way to Nanaimo.

No problems getting through the narrows, and we had a beautiful day to arrive at the Nanaimo Municipal Marina, right downtown. It was a busy day for us. Jim needed to wash the boat while we had access to water, and this would be the first opportunity to provision at a regular-sized store since we entered Canada. We had made a run to Costco while in Anacortes, but there were many things we were careful not to bring into the country, mostly fruits and vegetables. We had not had proper showers in several days, so after doing chores on the boat, we hit the showers, and boy, did it feel good.

Last time we were here, we visited a Greek restaurant. We remember it because it was so good. We couldn’t find that one again, probably closed during Covid. However, it seems Nanaimo has quite a few Greek restaurants to choose from, and as luck would have it, we found one within a 1/4 of a mile from the marina. We have to say this restaurant blew us away. They were so accommodating in helping us get a reservation; the food was top-notch, but most impressive was the atmosphere. It has been a long time since we had that experience. Diners and staff alike experienced the fun vibe. Asteras Greek Taverna, just up the hill from the marina.

The post Nanaimo – Shopping, Hot Showers and a Night Out appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Wallace Island’s  Conover Cove –

Seems like our stay at Wallace Island was the first chance we got to relax and take a breath. The last month has been a flurry of preparation and packing for our trip, along with a grinding 8-day road trip from Michigan to the Pacific Northwest (PNW). Lots of things to remember and take care of before leaving home. We were exhausted! It takes a long time to relax your brain and your body from that kind of stress. No one had to twist our arms to get us to sit back and smell the roses after we tied Kismet up to the dock at Conover Cove. We finally had a minute to remember why we are doing this boat trip. Easy to lose sight of that desire when faced with all the details to get there.

Wallace Island Was Once a private Island in the Southern Gulf Islands

Last time we visited there (2017), we anchored in Princess Cove. It is a short hike over from there to Conover Cove. So, we had seen the dock in that cove during our last visit to the PNW, and this time we decided, if there was room, we would try to get a spot at the dock. It would be our first night in Canada and the Gulf Islands. Because we stayed at the dock this time, we did more hikes in the woods during our two-night stay.

We had a fun two days! There was a lot of activity: boats coming and going, family campers bringing gear to camp in the open, grassy area near the dock. Many boats coming and going all day. What especially surprised us were several adventurous people with decked-out kayaks, some with two little sails, one with pedal power, anchoring or tying up to the dock, one sleeping in her kayak at anchor, believe it or not. She arrived in the middle of the night, at 2:00 in the morning. She said the paddling was so good the night before that she just kept going. As she filled her water jugs up at our boat (there is no water available to boaters on the island), she shared with us that her end-goal was Alaska.

A Fun Story…

The island features a popular driftwood shack well-known to local and visiting mariners. Last time we were at Wallace Island, we did not have any tools or paints to carve a personalized plaque to hang on the shack, so we picked up a nice piece of driftwood from the shoreline and thought we would take it with us and bring it back with us when we returned. We thought it would be on the way back from that trip, but we never made it back that year.

We took that driftwood back home with us, and it sat on a shelf in our garage for eight years. In the craziness of departing, we totally forgot that piece of wood. After locating an appropriate piece of driftwood, Jim put on his McGyver hat and used a mallet, screwdriver, and a punch tool to fashion a rustic plaque for the crew of Kismet to leave behind. He did a great job. We took it over to the shack the night before we left and proudly hung it on the outside near the door.

The leaves of the madrona trees are turning yellow and floating to the ground like butterfly wings (above-left). The old-growth forest is an absolute delight to hike through. We can’t get enough of it.

The post Wallace Island’s Conover Cove – A Hub of Activity appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

On our way, with our bow pointed towards Canada

Prevost Harbor is a great stop before crossing the border to Poet’s Cove, on Pender Island. We have passed customs several times there. Last time we enjoyed time there, we stayed at the dock and could get off the boat easily to hike up to Lover’s Leap, or shorter hikes around the woods nearby. Also, more of an opportunity to meet and chat with other boaters.

This time, we were too excited to get into Canada and make our way to the Broughton Islands, so we anchored out. We have had excellent weather since we launched in Anacortes.

The post On Our Way – One Night in Prevost Harbor – Stuart Island appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

What a welcome sight that Anacortes sign was. After eight days on the road, we were ready to finally float on water. Right after we launched Kismet, the work began. No rest for the weary! We still had to load more stuff from the truck into the boat, clean her, do laundry, and do some major provisioning.

We spent four days in Anacortes. It is a huge marina, close to the town of Anacortes, and the grocery store is practically across the street. We didn’t have much time to check out the town or sights as we were eager to push off the dock and head to Canada.

The post After Eight Days We Launched Kismet – Anacortes, Washington appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Boaterhoming – Michigan to Washington State

After saying our goodbyes at home, we were off on an eight-day cross-country trek, boaterhoming our way to Anacortes, WA. It is a pretty heady feeling to close the door on our house and jump into the truck for a three-month adventure.

It took us eight days to reach our destination of Anacortes, Washington. We’ve done this route before, so we knew what we were in for. Our chosen path for this trip is the northern Route 2, which took us the whole way across country, just short of Anacortes. This simplified navigation. The first part of the trip will be through lush forests and small towns, with Lake Superior showing up on and off for some way. By day three or four, we saw the landscape change and get more interesting, first rolling hills turn to rocky mountain ranges, and rapid rivers wind by and under the road.

This was a surprise for us (photo-top right). Jim and I play Mah Jongg all the time, especially while cruising. It was fun to see the RV folks in the middle of a game when we checked in.

We try to go for a walk around the RV parks as soon as we arrive. Helps to stretch our legs and see the surroundings. Riley Creek Recreation Area, near Sandpoint, Idaho, was one of the most beautiful campgrounds we have experienced.

The post Boaterhoming – Michigan to Washington State appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

The Long Goodbye! –

Last summer, Jim and I were brainstorming future travel plans, an exercise we engage in once or twice a year as we look forward to new adventures. After ruling out foreign travel, because we had different ideas about where that might be, or the logistics did not feel right, Jim offered up an idea we both immediately liked. As happens occasionally during this process, our picks usually veer back toward where we can “cruise” next.

Jim’s suggestion was for us to tow the boat out to the Pacific Northwest to cruise the Broughton Islands, British Columbia, Canada, again. Not sure why I did not think of this myself; it is one of my favorite cruises. I guess it was because I was thinking another trip out west was not in the cards for us. Towing the boat for at least five days to reach Anacortes (and back to Michigan again months later) is grueling and hard on our bodies. However, I have to say, having Jim offer one of our favorite cruising destinations as a future adventure was intriguing.

What we had to give up…

After hashing out the pros and cons of such an endeavour, we both jumped on the idea and set the plan in motion. One thing we had to give up to do this trip was the three months we usually spend in Florida during the winter, January to April. We would have to stay home during the winter of 2025/26, taking that time to plan and prepare for our trip. Unfortunately, last winter in Traverse City was a bad one weather-wise. It seemed unusually long and harsh, with major snowstorms almost into April. We would also give up our cherished time boating on the Great Lakes during the summer of 2026. The beautiful summer months are the reward for suffering through a northern Michigan winter.

The last time we cruised the Broughton Islands was in the summer of 2016. It is, by far, the most remote cruising we have ever experienced. It challenged us as trailerable boaters! New things to learn about provisioning and existing on the small-scale capacity of our tug, Kismet. There are no garbage services, few spots to provision, and no pump-out locations. Finding reliable fresh water in this area is difficult and takes careful planning and additional storage options.

Our Route…

In addition, as we make our way to the Broughtons, we’ll pass along Vancouver Island, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the Strait of Georgia, the Gulf Islands, the Salish Sea, the Discovery Islands, and Desolation Sound. On the way back, we’ll head down the eastern side of BC’s mainland Malaspina Strait, visiting the Sunshine Coast’s Princess Louisa Inlet and Chatterbox Falls.

Many of the marinas in the Broughtons and local points of interest exist in places you can only reach by boat or floatplane. Most marinas were unlike any we had ever experienced before, each one different from the others with a natural, unique charm reflecting the owner’s personality, paired with interesting aspects of remote boating.

So, in the middle of winter, we began getting organized. Jim concentrated on the trip routes out west, both road and water travel. He also started several lists of spare boat parts to purchase and what needed fixing on the boat to get it ready. I started my list of what we would need to purchase and pack to survive in the wilderness. We both also had lists of what we needed to do to our house to get it ready for our absence. We tried to look forward while remembering what the challenges were the last time we cruised the Broughton Islands. That process helped us prepare for a successful trip.

The Long Goodbye…

Spring arrived, and we got the boat out of storage and started loading supplies onto it. Then, the long goodbye started! We arranged extra time with our adult sons, daughter-in-law, our grandchildren, and friends. As I have said before, when you embark on an adventure, there is always someone/thing you leave behind. We had a lot of support from them all, but saying goodbye is never easy for me.

The post The Long Goodbye! appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Many Thanks!

The post Great Lakes Area Ranger Tugs/Cutwater Boats 2025 Rendezvous – Mackinaw City, Michigan appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Trailer Tales – Overland Boating

Jim and I have been trailering our boat, Kismet (we are on our third Ranger Tug, an R25) to cruising areas around the United States and Canada, ever since we completed our second Great Loop adventure in 2010 (we did those two Loops on two 40-foot boats). After experiencing the joys of Looping, many boaters gain a thirst to explore new cruising territory. That’s what happened to us. Once we took to the road, trailering our boat, there was no going back.

Early on, we coined the term “boaterhoming” for this type of land/water recreation. If we head out to explore on the other side of the country, we use our boat as an RV, staying at campgrounds as we trailer it across the country. We took this photo (above) of our first Ranger Tug (an R27) in Zion National Park. We had stayed at a campground just outside the park for one night, then drove through the park the next day. It was a shortcut to our destination of Lake Powell, otherwise, we would have had to go a couple of hundred miles out of our way.

The opportunity to take part in an interview with POWER & MOTORYACHT magazine (May 2025 issue) was exciting for us. Any chance to share a different way of boating with others has been our goal since we realized how much fun trailerable boating is.

Trailerable boats are lower on maintenance and ongoing expenses, due to their size.
They are more affordable and lower cost on, storage, dockage, and insurance.

Our trailerable boats may not be big and roomy, like most that cruise on America’s waterways, but in our way of thinking, they are big on possibilities for exploration and ease of use. There is a growing community of boaters who have discovered the benefits of this type of overland boating, we have met many on our travels. Jim and I feel that we have not compromised our thirst for adventure by owning a smaller, trailerable boat. In fact, we have taken that enthusiasm to another level to expand our cruising horizons.

The post Trailer Tales – Overland Boating – Power & MotorYacht appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Many Thanks!

Jared Dunning (above and below), a customer Service Field Technician from Ranger Tugs, brought us all up to date on new things happening at Ranger Tugs.

Ben Belyea, from Global Marine Insurance, gave a presentation on the current state of boat insurance.

Mark Derene, from Reed Yacht Sales gave a presentation and answered questions on the first day.

On the second night, we always play “Last Person Standing” a card game to win boating-related prizes. The last person standing got a $250 logo wear apparel from Fluid Motion. Pam Stave (below-left), on “Shenanigans” won that prize this time.

Lisa & Gary Vidor of America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association (AGLCA) gave an informative presentation about the Great Loop Adventure.

The post Great Lakes Area Ranger Tugs 2024 Rendezvous – Traverse City, Michigan appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Blackfin Resort and Marina, Marathon, Florida, is an island paradise and a welcome slice of old Florida. Jim and I have been wintering at this marina since 2013. Because of its old Florida character and its relaxed atmosphere, we keep coming back. In our minds, when we leave Traverse City, Michigan, for Florida, after the holidays each year, we head to a warm, friendly place where our friends are also returning. We look forward to soaking up the sun and ending each day with beautiful daily sunsets over Florida Bay. Blackfin is not a high-end, fancy place, and that’s what we love most about it. The energy and friendliness of everyone, staff, and boaters are palpable. Many of the same boaters come back every winter, making it a home away from home for most of us.

From the perspective of being trailerable boaters, we find Blackfin satisfies all our winter, boating needs. We switched to a trailerable boat 13 years ago. One of our objectives was to lengthen our boating season and get more use out of our boats (we’ve had three trailerable boats since 2011), by towing them south, to escape Michigan’s harsh winters. At best, we might get only 4-5 months of boating in the Great Lakes.

For the first few years, as trailerable boaters,
we explored both coasts of Florida, especially the Gulf Coast.
It is a little less built up and we feel it has more natural areas to enjoy. So, after driving south, for 3-4 days, we typically would launch the boat in Tarpon Springs and spend a few weeks cruising down the Intracoastal Waterway. We would anchor or stay at little marinas along the way. It was fun to explore the little towns we could walk to, stroll the beaches, and talk with other boaters along the way. From Tarpon Springs, we would cruise down to Fort Myers, to our other favorite marina in Florida, Legacy Harbor Marina. We might stay there a few weeks, or a month before we continued on to the Florida Keys. Our route would take us around the Everglades in Florida Bay, or by crossing the state on the Caloosahatchee River. Either way, we would cruise south to the Keys. After a while, we switched that route around by launching in Marathon and cruising north, the same route but south to north, to Fort Myers. Our thinking is that it is a little warmer in the Keys, in January. So why not start there?

At the beginning of our Florida cruising, we stayed on Stock Island (one island up from Key West) at Key West Marina. We had docked there before, while doing the Great Loop, in our bigger boats. When dockage anywhere near Key West became almost prohibitive, we looked for other options and landed at Blackfin Resort & Marina. Key West is only an hour’s drive from Marathon. Since we towed the boat with our truck, we had transportation to drive down to Key West when desired. Occasionally, we’d cruise the boat down to Key West for a few days of fun.

The last few years we have spent most of our time between Fort Myers and Marathon, with shorter side trips, away from the marina, during those stays, and one to two weeks in between marinas to anchor our way to the next.

Since we tow our boat around the country, and it is only a 25-footer, we don’t have room to host visitors overnight. Another thing we like about Blackfin Resort and Marina is that it has a motel as well. We like to take advantage of the proximity of the motel to the marina when friends come to visit. They can rent a room, but hang out with us on the dock, join us for a day trip, on the boat, around the islands, or a drive to Key West, or the point where everyone gathers at night, to watch the sunset.

We like to be outside!
Blackfin encourages people to not only make their boat and dock their home but the surrounding area as well. All the boats have a picnic table at the end of the dock. Boaters encourage each other to top their nautical, beachy-themed outdoor decor. Competition is fierce! Socialization is key to a great marina stay. If Chris, the manager, does not make a special main dish for an occasional potluck, plenty of food, shared musical talents, fun, and conversations occur around our picnic tables. Plenty of walkable access to nearby grocery stores, a drug store, Home Depot, and many outstanding restaurants.

Blackfin’s boat ramp offers guests easy access to the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Boat slips can accommodate vessels up to 40 feet. Slips are available on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. Electric (30 amp), water, wireless internet, and pump-out service included. Fishing, swimming, throwing cast nets, etc., are all allowed and encouraged on the lighthouse side of the beach area. Call for current rates and availability.

BLACKFIN RESORT AND MARINA
(305)-743-2393

As we left, in March, spring flowers were popping up all over the island resort.

Lots of dedicated places to grill and have a meal in the shade.

This fella (above) jumped into the pool while were there. In January, the iguanas are still used to roaming around the resort, but as it gets busy, they are hard to find.

Lighthouse Point (above and below). A relaxing spot to have happy hour, a meal, or to watch the sunset over Florida Bay.

There’s Kismet (above, on the right).

Blackfin is a small marina channel cut out of the coral the island is made of, when that was allowed many years ago.

The is the owner of the beautiful blue boat, Fishtales (above and below). We asked how many fish he caught that day. We ended up with several bags of freshly caught Spanish Mackerel and a lesson on how to easily clean and cut up fish. We don’t fish — so, it is a very interesting process for us.

Our family Scott and Denna came to visit us at Blackfin. They rented a room at the motel and we got to watch many sunsets together.

A typical evening at Blackfin Marina and Resort. Drinks, music, lots of food, and fun!

This year Kismet was joined by seven other trailerable trawlers. The photos (above and below) show three of them, our Ranger Tug, a C-Dory, and a Rosborough.

One of the many potlucks we enjoyed at the resort. The manager, Chris, and his wife, Ruthie, can sure cook up a storm.

Potlucks we attended included beef brisket, roasted pig, BBQ chicken and fish boil.

Chris is at it again, a fish boil this time.

Our friends, from Traverse City, Lisa, and Fred are staying on their sailboat at a nearby marina. They were headed to the Bahamas after we saw them.

Meals are often a group effort at Blackfin, shared onshore near our boats.

Manatees frequent the marina. We had many delightful encounters with these gentle giants.

We also had two Nimble Nomads with us at the marina. They each pulled their boats out by the ramp at the marina.

The post Blackfin Resort & Marina – Marathon, Florida appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

The Big Chute Marine Railway—One of the unique locks on the Trent Severn Waterway —

Last leg of the Grandkids Cruise on the Trent Severn Waterway. Shortly after we pulled the boat out of the water and left Orillia, we arrived at the Big Chute Marine Railway, in Coldwater, Ontario. Had we stayed with our initial PLAN A, we would have started our trip in Severn, Ontario. The Big Chute would have been the first lock on our trip with that plan. However, in the summer of 2022, this lock was closed on and off all summer. The day before we would have arrived in Severn, we heard it was closed. So, with the help of our friend, Mark, we came up with PLAN B.

We continued to drive south to the end of our originally planned destination and worked our way from Peterborough, northwest, to Orillia. One way or the other, we wanted the kids to at least see the Big Chute in operation. We figured our chances would be better if we waited to see it at the end of our trip. We were right in that thinking, but we did not have time left on our trip to continue by boat, from Orillia to Severn. After we pulled the boat out, in Orillia, we soon arrived in Coldwater. The rain stopped and the sun broke out of the clouds. Within a few minutes, the operations for the day began with a few boats being carried over the railway.

The red line on the map (below) shows the portion of the TSW we traveled to this year with the grandkids.

Big Chute—Constructed: 1917; 1923; 1978
“In 1914, contracts were awarded to build locks to connect the Severn River to Georgian Bay, with one lock being #44. Wartime shortages stalled the start of construction, but they built the first marine railway in 1917 and then replaced it in 1923. The current marine railway opened to the public in 1978 and has helped to halt the spread of sea lamprey to inland lakes.” —Parks Canada

Big Chute Marine Railway is a patent slip at Lock 44. It works on an inclined plane to carry boats in individual cradles over land and a change of height of about 60 feet.

A few takeaways from doing this trip, with grandkids
To have a more enjoyable experience, try to get to your destination on the first day, or at the very least, the first part of the next day. We found ourselves in the truck with the kids for two and a half days, five days total. Too much! As I noted a few posts ago, kids need to burn off all their excess energy. On the trip back to Michigan, we fired up the iPad, where I had loaded a bunch of kid’s movies the day before. The kids were tired, and the movies helped them relax. Next time we will plan better on that, but we are all happy we did the trip. It was very successful and will be something we will all remember.

Before we left home, we got written permission from the parents to let us take the kids out of the country to Canada. They did not have passports, so we took copies of their birth certificates with us. Jim filed those documents along with our paperwork and passports in a binder, kept in the truck.

We asked the parents to pack one bag each with enough clothes to wear for two weeks. They wore most for two days. We did not want to find or use laundry facilities while on the trip. Jim and I followed suit.

One of the first things we did when we got settled in Peterborough was to sit down with the kids and talk about safety on and around boats. We wanted to make sure they knew who was in charge — the captain of the boat, always. We discussed when they would wear lifejackets and what to do, and not do while underway and going through locks. During this talk, Jim also shared an overview of the history and why the Trent Severn Waterway was created.

Take lots of games, drawing materials, and activity starters. We did not allow any tablets, except for the one we always carry to watch movies while anchored out.

Before the trip, ask the kids and their parents what their current food preferences are. Then, come up with a provisioning plan that works for everyone. We took a case of flavored soda water, ones which the kids love, but we limited it to one each, per day. We discussed this ahead of time, so they knew this was part of conserving resources while cruising.

The kids learned what it’s like to go through USA/CANADIAN Customs.

First through customs and soon after, we cross the Mackinac Bridge.

Closer to home and the end of a successful trip with the grandkids.

Grandkids Cruise-Big Chute

The post Grandkids Cruise-Big Chute—Trent Severn Waterway-Part-6 appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

The Stretch from Fenelon Falls to Orillia Was the Last Leg of Our Boat Trip.

Grandkids Cruise-Orillia. We will pull the boat out here to drive to the Big Chute to see the boats being carried over land. If we had gone with PLAN A, the Big Chute would have been our first lock, instead of our last.

On this day we had fun taking the Kirkfield Lift Lock (below). This lock is similar to the one in Peterborough.

Look what we spotted today (above).

We immediately stocked up on Butter Tarts, while exploring downtown and the big park by the marina. We also managed a visit with friends, Mark and Jodi on our last night on the boat, in the water.

Another Ranger Tug at the marina.

We talked about these butter tarts the whole trip. The kids were pretty excited to finally get some. We’ve had a lot of butter tarts when in Canada, but the ones in Orillia are by far the best! We never miss a trip to Wilkie’s Bakery to buy at least a dozen tarts.

Another Ranger Tug at the marina (above).

Another beautiful park is right by the marina. Canadians know how to create spaces for family recreation.

Our friends, Mark and Jodi, were instrumental in helping us position our truck and trailer, at the beginning of our trip.

The post Grandkids Cruise-Orillia—Trent Severn Waterway-Part-5 appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Something for Everyone! Fenelon Falls, Ontario —

Grandkids Cruise-Fenelon Falls. We have another fun stop today. Fenelon Falls has it all. The lock is right downtown and there is a magnificent park available within a short walking distance of the lock where we usually try to dock. We remembered from the last time we were here that there is a museum next to the park and they have lots of activities for kids.

Grabbing a spot on the lock wall in Fenelon Falls means a chance to have water and electricity access. Sometimes Wi-Fi access is available at the park. Today we were lucky. We got the last spot on the wall, near the park. We had access to not only water and electricity but also a picnic table.

Heading to see the lock well and the rapids. The view from both is very striking.

Maryboro Lodge Museum is a volunteer-managed community museum, offering programs for all ages, hosting special events, Teas, summer school, community events, concerts in the park, open mics, daily activities, play space, and a family program each Saturday in July, and August. They also maintain a local history archive. They had some amazing activities around the museum for kids to pass away the time.

This activity was our favorite. Kids can crank the water pump to create a working lock system.

As the day ended, we liked to just sit in the boat’s cockpit and review how our day went and to plan the next.

The post Grandkids Cruise-Fenelon Falls—Trent Severn Waterway-Part-4 appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Bobcaygeon Is A Popular Town on the Trent Severn Waterway —

Grandkids Cruise-Bobcaygeon. One of our favorite places on the Trent Severn Waterway (TSW) is the charming town of Bobcaygeon. A popular stop for Loopers, Bobcaygeon has many things boaters are looking for while cruising the TSW. We looked forward to visiting this town with the kids.

The last time we were in Bobcaygeon was when we cruised from Orillia, Ontario, on the TSW to Montreal, on the Rideau Canal.

After we went through the lock wall, we secured a spot on the park side of the lock.

I tried to do some girly stuff with Hadley during our trip, so the morning after we arrived, we took a few moments to attend to our nails.

We gave the kids specific daily chores. Silas’s task was to clean the floor, and Hadley’s was getting the garbage ready to take out.

We had a few meals on this picnic table during our 3-day stay in Bobcaygeon. It’s incredible how, when boating, things become very simplistic. Without the multiple distractions of everyday life, the ones we find on land. When boating, we have to focus on following a lifestyle and routine that concentrates on the immediate tasks at hand to get through our cruise on the TSW canal system.

After A While, the Routine Becomes Very Obvious.
Getting up in the morning, we rearrange the boat back to daytime configurations. We must put all the bedding away and reposition the table so meals and activities can begin. Personal hygiene and clothes management can be a struggle, but we usually sorted that out before or just after breakfast. Provisioning, preparations, and clean-up for meals, for four, alone take up much of my day. Thankfully, Jim would keep the kids off the boat and busy on shore while I prepared meals in the cabin.

Exercise and Activity…
I would also count exercise right up there with the other big daily regimens. Jim and I need a walk every day to keep us mobile. The kids need to run around and work off excess energy several times a day. Can’t imagine them being cooped up on a boat all day without somewhere to run around. This is one reason we chose the TSW for our grandkid’s trip. We knew firsthand that almost all the locks have park areas at or nearby the locks.

Thanks to the local grocery store, cupcakes were a special treat, especially for Hadley, she got to pick them out during our walk through town.

One thing we like about Bobcaygeon is the musical events they host in the park regularly. On one of our nights there, they had a special musical event for kids.

Good thing we brought some games. They were a good night-time activity, to wind down and end the day, for all of us.

Grandkids Cruise-Bobcaygeon

The post Grandkids Cruise-Bobcaygeon—Trent Severn Waterway-Part-3 appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Grandkids Cruise-Buckhorn, On the Trent Severn Waterway —
After leaving Peterborough, we made our way along the waterway to Buckhorn, stopping at Stoney Lake to anchor for one night. On the first two days of cruising the Trent Severn Waterway, we traversed 12 locks. That’s a lot!!!

Safety First!
Jim and I discussed how best to manage the kids while locking through. For safety reasons, we decided they had to sit still, inside or on the “Queen Seat,” while Jim and I handled the mechanics of catching lock wall ropes and securing the boat in the lock. While launching the boat, we had a minor incident where Silas, always wanting to step in to help, impeded us from securing the boat safely. I was afraid he was going to end up in the water. It was a big safety concern for us. So, we had rules about when and where to wear life jackets, and where to sit while underway (always inside). Lots of windows on the Ranger Tug for a full view around the boat. We talked to the kids often about how to keep safe when boating, while explaining why we take precautions.

While safety was a top concern during this trip, we also wanted the kids to get a good idea of what the boating lifestyle entailed. So, we either talked through the life-onboard aspects of boating, or we showed and involved them in the everyday chores. Basically, when boating for long periods, we have to do all the things to maintain our health and welfare, as we would do at home. We have to provision, prepare, cook, eat, clean up, bathe, manage our clothing, and do chores.

Silas was very interested in following our movement on the chart book for the Trent Severn Waterway (TSW).

As you can see, the kids didn’t waste any time drawing and writing in their journals.

Hadley immediately wrote (above) about the time we went through a lock and the crew on the small boat in front of us lost their hold on the lock wall rope. While trying to recapture the rope, with the vessel free floating in the well, the woman passenger on the boat slipped and fell into the water, without a lifejacket. This was quite a dramatic scene, not only for the kids but also for ourselves. In all our travels, we had never seen an accident like that. All turned out well. There were only two boats in the lock, and with help from her captain, the woman was safely back on their boat. A little shaken, but happy to be out of the water.

Silas wrote about our PLAN B (below). We made a PLAN B because the Big Chute was closed. Instead of starting at the beginning, The Big Chute, we started at our previously planned end of the trip, Peterborough. It all worked out, and the kids loved the idea of having and instituting a PLAN B. He also included a nice drawing of the canoe he bought at the Canoe Museum in Peterborough.

The kids sit in the “Queen’s Seat” (above) while locking through. Since I usually man the back of the boat when going through locks, after we got situated, I would let Silas grab a line to help. Otherwise, they had to stay inside the cabin or sit on the Queen Seat.

Canada has a great Xplorers program for kids on the Trent Severn Waterway. At the first lock we went through we picked upEvery lock we went through, Silas and Hadley picked up a new colored tag to add to their collection.

They mostly sat together in the cabin while traveling, and although they love to tussle and argue and would never admit it themselves, we have good reason to believe that they love each other very much.

We brought a few of their favorite games, plus a few new ones to try.

But mostly they loved to be outside if they could. While anchored out, they always played on our inflatable floor (to our dinghy) in the surrounding water. Kids need to spend their pent-up energy throughout the day. When anchored, it was playing on the inflatable and swimming. When tied up to a lock wall, they got to run around on the grassy park near the lock, do somersaults, tag, and hide-and-go-seek. So, we developed a rhythm for our planned stops. There are many lakes in-between locks. So, before a planned stop at a lock wall, we would anchor one night so the kids could swim.

Our first over-night anchorage was at Stoney Lake.

Some nights, we would turn up the music up and Hadley and I would dance on the back deck.

Anchoring Between Towns
Anchoring out for the night also gave us an opportunity to take fresh-water baths without using our reserves. Water capacity was a genuine concern, especially with four people on board. On our Ranger Tugs R25, the water tank is only 38 gallons. When installing our composting toilet, Jim created another 14 gallons by turning the, never used, black water tank into a spare fresh water tank. It was his first project on the R25. On long trips, we also carry four 5-gallon containers to see us through to the next water hose.

We brought lots of drawing paper and pencils, kids love to draw!

Silas liked to help Papa retrieve the anchor. Sometimes Hadley would help too.

Buckhorn was a fun stop for the kids. Lots of room to run around, right by the boat. The boat traffic coming through the lock was fun to watch. We positioned Kismet to go into the lock when we leave Buckhorn.

I tried my hand at pancakes with shapes for breakfast.

After getting settled along the lock wall, we all headed into town.

Lots of smiles when we can find ice cream nearby.

After ice cream, the kids met up with some other kids on this big rock. They certainly spent some of that excess energy while we were in town.

Most locks on the TSW have picnic areas close to where people tie up their boats on either side of the lock. We really liked this spot in Buckhorn. Since the town was close by, we opted to pick up pizza for dinner.

Hadley sometimes liked to play by herself in the v-berth.

Grandkids Cruise-Buckhorn

The post Grandkids Cruise-Buckhorn—Trent Severn Waterway-Part-2 appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Grandkid’s Cruise To Peterborough—First Leg of a 12-day Adventure

The idea for the “Grandkid’s Cruise” came almost a year before we actually set out on the road trip to Ontario, Canada with the boat in tow. We wanted the cruise to be educational by visiting somewhere, by boat, which had some historical content and some boating features. The Trent Severn Waterway (TSW) immediately came to mind. The kids would learn about how early commerce transportation came to be in Canada and the historical significance of traveling a waterway with a lock system in place.

PROVISIONING AND PLANNING
Our oldest grandson, Silas, has always been interested in how mechanical things work. We knew this trip would pique his interest—all the different types of locks we would encounter. Our granddaughter, Hadley, at six years old, was a little young to know exactly what she’d be experiencing. However, she does love to go on an adventure and was a good sport at finding ways to amuse herself. Jim and I planned by making sure we had activities for them. We took games, drawing paper and pencils, snacks, and food they love. We had to plan a little differently for this cruise than our normal provisioning and packing procedure.

We also had to address the sleeping arrangements. Last summer, we took many overnight trips with the kids, and we came up with a workable sleeping solution to accommodate all four of us on the boat. Silas would sleep on the table, which turns into a bed when we lower the table and add a middle cushion. For the trip, we had to remove some of the stuff we usually store in the “cave” so that Hadley could fit at one end of it. We made a cushion out of foam to make it a little more comfortable.

Other than that, the trip was easy to plan.

Here we are at the start of our two-and-a-half-day road trip to Peterborough.

From Traverse City, it is about an hour’s drive to the Mackinac Bridge. The kids had never been across it.

Soon we were on the International Bridge, between Sault Ste. Marie, USA, and Sault Ste. Marie, Canada. Once over the bridge, we had the pleasure of going through customs. This is the first time the kids have been out of the United States. Also, their first time going through customs. We had an overview of the customs process with Silas and Hadley, emphasizing the importance and the seriousness of crossing into another country.

Jim thoroughly prepared for the trip with copies of the kids’ birth certificates and authorization letters from the parents. It always helps to have your information organized when going through customs.

We spent our first night boaterhoming, just southwest of Sudbury, Ontario. We found a great campground by a small lake. There was enough time before dark for the kids to run around and explore while I warmed up the goulash.

Jim and Hadley share breakfast in the cockpit of the boat before we take off on the second day on the road.

SLIGHT CHANGE OF PLANS!
We wanted to launch the boat in Severn, Ontario, at the northern end of the TSW, near Georgian Bay. That way we would start with the Big Chute Marine Railway, one of the most interesting locks on the TSW. However, the Big Chute closed down several times that summer, and as we got close, we found out it would be closed when we got there. What to do?

PLAN–B – Grandkid’s Cruise to Peterborough
With the kids involved in the discussion, we all came up with a PLAN–B. We still wanted to ride the Big Chute, so we decided to drive to the end of where we were to originally go (Peterborough) and go NW instead of SE. After picking up our friend, Mark (below-another Ranger Tug owner), in Orillia, we drove to Peterborough and launched the boat. Mark then drove our truck and trailer to Orillia, which would be closer to our departure point. Two-and-a-half days after we left home, we were finally on the water.

The blue line represents the Trent Severn Waterway route. The red line represents the portion we cruised with the kids this year. With Plan B, we drove to Peterborough and cruised northwest to Orillia and by car to the Big Chute. Our original plan would have had us starting in Orillia and cruising southeast to Peterborough.

Things We Wanted the Kids to Learn During the Trip
We were hoping for them to learn all aspects of adventure cruising, not only navigation and reading charts, but safety, and general life onboard, such as cleaning, maintenance, and individual chores. We are lucky! Our grandkids always like to take part in activities, especially ones that involve water. On the flip side, we try to get their needs met with lots of special treats like ice cream and cupcakes.

The boat is all clean, and we are ready to roll!

Meal planning was a lot different from what we would plan for ourselves. I cooked a couple of meals in advance. Goulash, a one-pot dish for the first night, with leftovers for lunch the next day. I also made two batches of meatballs that I froze ahead of the trip. It would be easy to add to some pre-made sauce during the trip and cook a batch of noodles (their favorite). Other than that, we had some frozen hamburger patties, chicken, and hot dogs on hand. We brought two big boxes of Cheerios and some milk. We told the kids that they could each have one soda a day (a flavored club soda they like).

While I organized the boat so we could take off the next day with everything in order, Jim took the kids to the Canadian Canoe Museum. It is in Peterborough, within easy walking distance from the boat.

During our first night in the water, we presented the kids with a special gift, one that they could work on during the trip. They each received a journal, pencils, and stick glue. We wanted them to have a self-made memento of their trip.

Every day we moved, we went over the charts with the kids and tried to include them in the process

We were all very excited to leave Peterborough after a two-night stay.

Heading over to the Peterborough Lock almost immediately after leaving the dock.

The last time we took the bucket ride at the Peterborough Lift Lock was in 2018 when we cruised from Orillia, Ontario to Montreal, Quebec, in Canada.

More information about the Peterborough Lift Lock.

One of our safety measures was that the kids had to wear their lifejackets when outside of the cabin of the boat while we were cruising.

Grandkid’s Cruise to Peterborough

The post Grandkid’s Cruise to Peterborough-Trent Severn Waterway-Part-1 appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Traverse City has never seen so many Ranger Tugs. All Saturday and Sunday, the boats slowly rolled in for the 2022 Ranger Tugs & Cutwater Boats Great Lakes Area Rendezvous. With 25 boats on the docks, and a total of 56 attendees, some arriving by car, this was the largest event we have hosted to date.

A Big Thank-You to Our Sponsors …

Fluid Motion, Volvo Penta, Garmin, Reed Yacht Sales, Global Marine Insurance, and Chesapeake Jewelers. This event would not have been a reality without their support. Also, a big thank-you to Kim Russo, America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association (AGLCA) for coming to speak and share information about cruising the Great Loop boating adventure.

It was fun to hang out with Brian Dickhault and Tim Bates, from Ranger Tugs, and Andrew Sweet, from Volvo Penta on Kismet during the rendezvous.

This rendezvous marked a first-ever, and very special event for us, as our son, Skyler, and his wife, Meghan, along with their son, Declan, joined us for their first rendezvous. They became Cutwater Boat owners last year.

These two (above) surprised us during the rendezvous. We normally see friends Bruce and Vicki Moore when we are in the Pacific Northwest, They have family ties in the Traverse City area and were visiting during the rendezvous. We were lucky to share a little time with them during their visit. Many know Bruce as the guy who oversees the TugNuts Forum.

Day One started with many introductions and reunions of past attendees. The day ended with a potluck with an abundance of yummy food.

Day Two began with an Ask the Factory Q&A, from Tim Bates, Ranger Tugs Customer Service Rep and
Volvo Certified Technician.

Ben Belyea, of Global Marine Insurance, presented a Marine Insurance Industry Review.

Presentations were followed by a boat crawl.

Our son, Skyler, took the Ranger Tugs crew out on West Bay to get some drone footage.

Garmin Reps, John Suleski, Garmin Field Service Manager, and Greg Richmond, Regional Sales Manager shared information on Garmin products.(Above.)

Day three of the rendezvous, Kim Russo of America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association, gave a presentation on the highlights of boating the great loop followed by a Q&A.

Volvo Penta Rep, Andrew Sweet (above), gave a presentation on Volvo Penta engines.

Winners of the Last Man Standing drawing — David Kanzler (above) won first place with a Ranger Tugs Parts Package. Second place winner, Kathy Murphy (below), won a tug pendant donated by Chesapeake Jewelers.

The post More Photos From the 2022 Ranger Tugs & Cutwater Boats Great Lakes Area Rendezvous appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Last Week was the Sixth Great Lakes Area Ranger Tugs & Cutwater Boats Rendezvous —

Our last rendezvous was in Charlevoix in 2019, Covid prevented the possibility of a get-together for some time. Thank goodness we could organize the event this year as pent-up demand showed in the number of interested attendees to be overwhelming. With limited space, we had to turn many away.

It’s called the Great Lakes Area Rendezvous because we like to host it in many locations around the Great Lakes. This gives attendees an opportunity to cruise or trailer their boats to explore different ports. So far, we have had events in Little Current, Ontario Canada (2), Charlevoix, Michigan (2), Orillia, Ontario, Canada (1), and now our hometown of Traverse City, Michigan.

Fluid Motion is integral in making this rendezvous happen along with many sponsors, who also come to talk to attendees during the three days and make presentations on subjects relevant to our Ranger Tugs and Cutwater Boats. Sponsors for this year’s Great Lakes Area Ranger Tugs & Cutwater Boats Rendezvous included — Fluid Motion, Volvo Penta, Garmin, Reed Yacht Sales, and Global Marine Insurance.

So many hero red boats this year!

The post 2022 Great Lakes Area Ranger Tugs & Cutwater Boats Rendezvous — Traverse City, Michigan appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Silas was born in Portland, Oregon (his family now lives in our hometown of Traverse City. In fact, all our sons have returned to our hometown over the last few years. Since we became Ranger Tug owners in 2011, we were fortunate to travel to the Pacific Northwest many times by either driving out to buy a new tug (we’ve had three) or returning by towing our tugs westward several times. We always made sure we were available during the birth of both grandkids in Portland by staying at a marina on the Columbia River. By doing that, we could include Silas on several overnight trips and one week-long trip to South Sound (Puget Sound), when he was four years old. Hadley just recently began her boating with us. Both took their very first cruise in Portland within days of their birth. Our most recent grandson, Declan, has been with us on West Bay, in Traverse City, a few times this summer. His parents are also boaters and he is getting plenty of time on the water this summer.

As I write this, we are planning a trip, with the two oldest grandkids, in August 2022 to Canada’s historic Trent Severn Waterway.
Silas and Hadley are both old enough now to appreciate an adventure and follow instructions needed when four people occupy a limited space. We hope the trip will give them an appreciation of the cruising lifestyle and the thrill of adventure while learning the ins and outs of boating. We will frame their trip to be educational. The Trent Severn Waterway will be an interesting trip through canals, lakes, and rivers with plenty of locks. It should hold their attention as they explore the locks and learn how they work. We’ll be mostly camping before or after some locks, other times anchoring in a lake, with only a few nights in marinas.

Kids (above), on the boat in our driveway, several weeks before leaving on our trip.

The post Adventure Cruising With Kids or Grandkids — Canada’s Trent Severn Waterway appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

This was not the first time we have cruised the St. Johns River. We were living on our Fathom 40, finishing up our second Great Loop boat trip, when Kismet left Key West, Florida, heading north to the Solomon Islands. It was June 2009. Our goal was to spend the summer in the Chesapeake Bay area. That was a fun thing to do. Spending the entire summer in Maryland gave us more of an in-depth experience of another part of the country we knew little about. We made lots of side trips during our stay in the Solomon Islands, either by car or boat. We cruised up the Potomac to Washington, DC, we visited St. Michaels, Annapolis, Tangier Island, Smith Island, and many of the great anchorages close to the Solomons. When the time came to head south again, in October, we had our sights on cruising the St. Johns River. Having heard such great things from other boaters about this lazy southern river; we had to go.

Cruising With Friends —
We hooked up with our friends Louis and Diane Wade near their home, in Morehead City, North Carolina, and cruised with them down the ICW to Jacksonville, Florida. However, just days before arriving there, we received news of Jim’s father’s passing, so we flew to Ohio for the funeral. When we returned to the marina, it was Thanksgiving Day. Louis and Diane, and a few other boating friends surprised us with a very memorable dinner on one of their boats when our hearts were still so tender from our loss. It’s moments like these that define the highlights of our boating adventures.

A few days after we arrived back in Jacksonville, Kismet headed out with Bella Luna to explore the St. Johns River. We traveled from Jacksonville to Sanford, Florida. We tried to hit all the highlights small, sleepy river towns, a few natural, freshwater springs, and a few free docks. Jim and I were a little concerned about the time of year we planned to take this trip. It was the end of November, but we had good luck with the weather and during our three-day stay in Silver Glen Springs, we had to remind ourselves it was December, especially when we went swimming every day in the 72-degree crystal clear water. To two Michiganders, this seemed a miracle for this time of year. However, in December, we didn’t see many alligators moving around, although the river is home to many.

Fast forward to early spring 2022, after our two-month winter stay in Fort Myers, we pulled the boat out of the water and towed it to Deland, Florida. This time we would start our trip from the more southern end of the St. Johns River. Then we planned to explore the narrower section of the river, from Deland to Silver Glen Springs and back to Deland. We heard that section included a beautiful wildlife sanctuary we were eager to spend time in. It was a trip well-planned, as always, by Jim. We saw many alligators while cruising the off-shoots of the river. One must have been nesting and as we moved closer for a better look, she lunged off her perch and headed toward us. While anchoring overnight in the wildlife sanctuary, we saw a lot of wildlife. Alligators, manatee families, eagles, and many birds. The most beautiful thing was the wide assortment of bird songs we woke up to every morning in the wild. Occasionally, a small fishing boat would pass us. But, other than that, during our time in the sanctuary, we felt like part of the wilderness of the St Johns River.

After almost three weeks, we were ready to go home. We’d been away since last Thanksgiving this year—driving to Seattle to get our new Ranger Tug and then driving to Florida. So, we spent a little more time on the river than expected, watching for the weather to ease up a little. There were several blizzards still blowing through where we needed to drive. Not fun while towing a big boat.

Deland Marina, St. Johns River, Florida (above-below)

Two-night stay in Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge (above and below). The best!

Hontoon Island State Park (above).

Silver Glen Springs (above and below), is a favorite of ours. We found it much busier this visit, but still enjoyable.

Fellow Trailer Trawler (Facebook Group) members (above and below), found us at Silver Glen Springs. There was a C-Dory rendezvous happening, at Hontoon Landing, while we were on the river.

One of the many alligators (above) we saw while on the river.

The post St. Johns River—Deland to Silver Glen Springs, Florida appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.