Grandkids Cruise-Buckhorn—Trent Severn Waterway-Part-2

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 on. 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