This August, Friends of the St. Clair River (Ontario) was proud to sponsor Theodore TOO Tugboat’s visit to Mooretown and Sarnia. We had lots of questions for the captain and the crew! Over the next few months, we will be releasing a series of articles to share some “fun facts” and nostalgia with our readers.
We asked the Captain what is it like living on a tiny tug for weeks at a stretch. Her response sounds similar to living in the space station.
“My experience aboard Theodore has been great and the crew is a real pleasure to work with. Everyone has their strengths and we all pull together to keep the ship running smoothly. So far, no one has gotten sea sick. However, we have had some uncomfortable days where you can’t put down your drink without it getting tossed across the table due to rough seas. Theodore has not complained once; the boat can handle more than the crew can.
For those who have experience on a Caribbean cruise and being pampered….this ain’t it!!!
Meals and housekeeping duties are split between the 2 deckhands. The engine room is the sole responsibility of the engineer and who does all the cleaning and tidying in the engine room.
One of the realities of being a mariner is the reliance on weather and importance of safety. Theo TOO was unable to sail to Grand Bend this August due to high winds. This was a disappointment to everyone, especially the crew. However, Captain Caitlyn was able to visit with children at a summer camp in Grand Bend where she was able to show them how to make knots and do a “Theo Talk”
“I was sad that Theodore couldn’t be there, but seeing the kids having a blast playing with ropes helped soften the blow. Thanks to everyone at River Adventures and Grand Bend for welcoming me without my friend Theodore.”
On a final note, FOSCR want to extend thanks to the McKeil family for their wonderful vision. We hope to continue our Theo Talks next year.