We reached the big city in Montreal and wasted no time in getting around. We decided to keep Nahanni V across the river in Longueuil which was easier for navigation. We used various modes of transportation to cross the river to Montreal; one day across the river by boat, another day taking the Metro under the river.
On shuttle boat across the St. Lawrence River
As noted in the last blog Welcome to Bomeschool, we had an educational binge at the Biodome, Planetarium, and Botanical Gardens. The next day, we went to explore the sights of the big city. I had grand plans of poking through art galleries, reading historical plaques and being immersed in the French language.
Crossing the river
Upon reaching the shore, it quickly became apparent that my agenda needed revision. We walked right into the YULEAT food festival. Hundreds of food trucks offered a plethora of delights and many companies had free sample booths. There were so many freebies in fact, that we did not have to buy lunch (except that I had to buy a pain au chocolat and croissant from a gluten-free baker.)
As we munched along, we could hear screams overhead from the zipline crossing the waterfront. Wavey decided she felt zippy, so we went to investigate. There, we happened upon an aerial adventure course called Voiles en Voiles (http://www.voilesenvoiles.com/en). The kids both suited up with harnesses and helmets and went aloft for an adrenaline rush. Phys ed: check.
After all this excitement, we still had a wee bit of time to explore. We ate a snack outside the Notre Dame Basilica (instead of waiting in line to see the cathedral), watched four wedding parties take photos, fed little sparrows, and visited an art gallery. (I got to read at least one historical plaque.)
Watching street performers is always a priority for us in big cities. Wavey got her moment onstage with a street magician before our hunger led to fine dining on Place Jacques-Cartier.
Wavey assisting with a street magician's show
After our dose of city life, we left Montreal for Sorel. We planned to have school underway which would have been possible if it had not been the Sunday of the long weekend. There were more power boats on the St. Lawrence than we have seen this entire trip so far. The wakes from some of these boats were so huge, it was impossible to keep the books on the table! We rocked and rolled and motored down river past Sorel to a quiet anchorage just off the river. We spent two nights here decompressing, reading and schooling before moving on to Trois-Rivieres. When John and I were in Trois-Rivieres almost exactly 16 years ago, it was cold, rainy, and miserable. This time, we arrived in balmy weather to a much refurbished marina. The kids enjoyed the beach and park close-by.
After Trois-Rivieres, it is important to pay attention to tides and currents when travelling. There is a formula you need to follow so you get the benefit of the tidal current as it ebbs back down the river. If you ignore this local wisdom, you could end up fighting the current and wasting time and fuel. We left for Quebec City seven hours before high tide in Quebec City to catch the maximum ebbing tide, and arrived on schedule around suppertime. We stayed one night at the lovely Yacht-Club de Quebec before moving on to the Port of Quebec Marina. This marina in Old Quebec is one of my favourite marinas in the world. You can only access it by transiting a lock at the entrance. The people are friendly and the facilities are immaculate. The best part is that you are nestled in the old city with a fresh market two minutes away.
Coming into Quebec City in the rain with Chateau Frontenac in view
On our sailing vacation last year, the kids were having trouble differentiating the location of "home." When we said "home", did it mean our house or boat? Wavey solved our dilemma by creating a new word for where we are when we are living aboard: Bome. A combo of boat and home. Clever girl. So, when we started making plans for homeschooling, it made sense that we would call our floating school Bomeschool.
On August 29, 2016, we started formal school. We started out with "Breakfast Club" (cooked by of course, the volunteer Mom) followed by an orientation to the new teacher, and new classroom (our salon table, Mom and Dad's aft cabin, cockpit). School supplies were provided (once they were extracted from hard-to-access lockers), the class rules were established (e.g. be respectful, sit at the table, no swearing), and the work began. First Language, next Math, and followed by Social Studies, French and whatever else we could throw in.
First day = Success. No yelling and no tears. I seem to recall hearing,"Hey Mom, this is fun."
The second day was more interesting. We began travelling from Cornwall to Salaberry-de-Valleyfield as we cracked open the books. John navigated down the river for several hours while we read, multiplied and contemplated the routes of early settlers. John yelled warnings as freighters, with their rollercoaster wakes passed by. We hung onto our books as the classroom momentarily lurched around. We intended to study the third day, but the conditions were not favourable. John and I both needed to be available for transiting locks and passing under lift bridges as we travelled to Montreal. With news of a "travel day" Simon and Wavey happily disappeared into a pile of Lego. Occasionally, they surfaced when we required their assistance, or when they were hungry.
There was great anticipation the following day. The kids flew through their lessons, packed up the books, and waited for the El-Hassan family to visit on their way back home from vacation in Quebec City. It was wonderful to see friends from home and catch up on news.
Visiting with El-Hassan family
Mohammad, Yousef, Wavey, Simon and Canaan
Mohammad and Simon
On Day 4 of Bomeschool, we became saturated with science. Our grand field trip took us by bus and Metro to the Olympic Stadium which now houses the Biodome, Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium, Insectarium and Botanical Gardens. This is the place to be if you are an outdoors kid who loves everything. (Luckily, we have two them.)
The Biodome houses five ecosystems including the Laurentian Maple Forest, Gulf of St. Lawrence, Labrador Coast, Sub-Antarctic Islands, and Tropical Rainforest. The animals' habitats were well constructed and the staff were very informative. We were mesmerized by the puffins, penguins, otters, beavers and aquatic life. They also featured an exhibition throughout the Biodome focused on the poop of animals. There were "match-the-animals-with-their-poop" games and cool presentations about "crotte". Dream education for 8-11 year olds.
Beavers swimming. You could see right into their lodge!
Oh, so adorable puffins
It would have been hard to drag the kids out of the Biodome, had our next stop not been the Insectarium. One huge place filled with bugs. Bug city.Cool bugs. Big bugs. Bug poop.
Simon with a dung beetle (what else?)
Wavey with some quivering (and very cool) stick/leaf bug
I am sure we would still be there watching the leaf cutter ants if we did not have tickets to see two shows at the Planetarium on Asteroids and Mars. Comfily lying in bean bag chairs (the shapes of asteroids, of course) we were bombarded by so much cool stuff about space that I rekindled my secret desire to be an astronaut. After our space experience, it was dusk. The responsible parent in me was thinking about getting back on the Metro and finding some supper for our kids. But no, not in Bomeschool. Instead, we marched all the way back to the Botanical Gardens to see the Japanese and Chinese Lantern Festival (see http://espacepourlavie.ca/en/programming/gardens-light). As darkness fell, the lanterns took us (and many others) on magical garden walk.
On our way back to Bome,we found a Thai restaurant still serving food. Our tired scientists heartily ate their meals with their heads propped up. What devoted learners!
Our second week of Bomeschool settled into more of a routine; one that is flexible, but predictable. It is not always smooth sailing, but we all agree, we have made a good start.
Creating a historical timeline
Noise cancelling head gear to block out the sound of the engine (and her classmate)
Blocking the engine noise (and that of his classmate)
As school in Ontario has started this week, our thoughts have been with our friends and teachers. Simon and Wavey have wondered aloud how their friends are doing and how the first days of school have been. I have a crazy new appreciation and admiration for all of the teachers and teacher-friends who have supported our efforts in getting our little school afloat. My thanks to all of you!
In Brockville, we prepared for the next leg of the voyage through the locks of the St. Lawrence Seaway. John and the kids found an old piece of lumber on the street and drilled holes in it to to use as a fender board. This board is placed on the outside of our fenders to protect the boat as it slides down the lock walls in the chamber. In the the last week of August we continued on past Brockville (even got to sail!) and transited our first lock at Iroquois, Ontario.
There is a bit to do when transiting a lock. First, you approach and observe the lights which indicate if the lock is in operation or is ready for you. Most of the time, you have to tie up at docks provided for pleasure boats. You walk up a gangway to a phone to speak to the lock staff to get your instructions. For example, they will tell you if there are going to be other boats in the lock with you and how long you have to wait. There is a little ticket booth where you pay $30 for the pleasure of transiting each lock (or you can go online for $25) a lock. Our first downstream lock took us a mere 18 inches down.
Waiting at Iroquois Lock
Check in booth
Waiting for freighter to exit lock
This is as close as we ever want to be to one of these ships
Wavey handing the official our ticket and scoring some literature about the Seaway
Exiting the lock
We arrived at Crysler Park Marina just past Morrisburg and docked for a few days while we visited Upper Canada Village. The Village is a 2 km walk from the marina. First thing in the morning, we trekked off into the year 1865.
Getting into character
Practicing sewing skills
Trying out 19th Century toys
Kids kept busy while John and I had a rip-roaring game of Crokinole (sadly, not shown here)
The Village is very well-run and operates as its own small Upper Canadian entity. The experience is authentic and awe-inspiring. The setting helped us to understand a book we are currently reading from this period and highlighted all of the skills required to survive as an early settler. Some of the staff mentioned that it is hard to return to the "real world" after a day living and working here.
Walking back after a long day (don't worry the trains had stopped for the day)
After coming back to 2016, we continued on to Cornwall passing through the two American locks. This video was taken in one of the American locks.
In Cornwall, we geared up for the first day of school Monday, August 29 (more on THAT in another post). We had our second day of school afloat while motoring into the province of Quebec and wandering around the pretty town of Salaberry-de-Valleyfield. The kids did not balk when we announced that the third day of school was postponed due to a long travel day covering the last 4 locks. I guess you could call this physical education?
