Taylor's Journal

Tuesday, July 2, 2002

It was a good day, the sun, the sky, the water, everything. We saw dolphins in the water a few hours ago. We saw other boats in the water. There was a Navy ship firing cannons at something.

Well, we are now docking at Tangier Island.

Wednesday, July 3, 2002

Me and my family went bike riding today. We saw crabs with one big claw and one small claw. They were in a dried up lake. They were walking sideways.

There is a cemetery in the front yard of a house.

There were crab boats passing crabs.

Tangier Island has a bunch of crabs and jellyfish.

Friday, July 5, 2002

We left Tangier Island yesterday. We went to the Potomac River to see fireworks. Me and my Mom made a deal. If I get 10 flies I get 1 dollar. I am a fly swatter champion.

My friend Sam caught an eel in his minnow trap. Me and my dogs went swimming off the swim platform.

Monday, July 8, 2002

This is our 7th day of cruising. Me and my mom and dad went in the dinghy and me and my dad rowed because the motor was broken.

I saw jellyfish and minnows when we were in the dinghy. We walked to a video store. I saw bees, flies, ants, and cars. Then we went to a boat store. We got a cart and went to the grocery store.

Sunday, July 14, 2002

Today is our 13th day. In Baltimore we went to the Aquarium. The next day me and my mom went to the Science Museum. Me and my mom saw lots of things at the museum. I got a rock with crystals and a gemstone ring.

Author: Patricia Relly Giff

Book: Lily’s Crossing

The book is about a war in 1944 and a girl going to Rockaway. Lily wants to be a writer when she grows up. She is going to Rockaway. Albert is from Europe. He can play the violin. I like the book because there are a lot of friends.

We left NYC on Thursday. We are at Waterford, NY. We got here Saturday. I met some kids while we were here. We are leaving tomorrow. We went through a lock on Saturday.

We saw Ms. Liberty and Ellis Island. She was tall, and there were a lot of people. The Ellis Island Museum was great. The show at Ellis Island was great, too. The show was about immigrants.

Today we went through the locks. I am pretty good at that. We went to the pool yesterday. We left today from Waterford, NY. We are going to ten locks today. We saw a mouse swimming at a lock today.

Report: The Erie Canal

The Erie Canal was begun in July 4, 1817. It took 8 years to finish. Five men were allowed to vote. At that time they thought the United States was going to war. Judge Kent had a swing vote.

The work began in Rome because the land was flat. It was 363 ft. long and 4 ft. deep. The workers were from U.S. and Ľ of them were from Ireland. Mules and horses moved the canal boats down the Erie.

The people that built the canal celebrated. The canal made money with the guns, needles, and cloth brought by the people who went down the canal.

We went bike riding on Fri., Sat., and Sun. Yesterday I went to a group of other children. We had a casting contest. I won sunglasses for farthest casting.

Also me and my Mom and Dad went to the Wall Mart. I got a Skaners, Fusion of Mugin Buu, Pokeman Mewtwo Reters.

We did two locks today. I did one of them. My mom and dad did the other one.

We pulled into Phoenix NY on the 7th. A group of kids called the Bridge House Brats helped us dock. I made friends with three of them, Dalton, Dillon, and Josh. Dalton and me dueled which I don’t do very often. Josh liked to play video games, and Dillon helped me with my yellow version.

I beat Brock with Pidgy and on my way to Mt. Moon where I had to face the famous Team Rocket. My pidgey evolved into a pigeoto at level 18. After I got out of Mt. Moon I went on to Curelun City. When I got the Gym 3 times I lost but the 4th time I won. I beat Gary Oak and nuggut bridge. I’m going to Vermileon City.

We saw Niagra Falls the day before yesterday. We also saw Canada. I got some rocks, gold, silver, green, light blue, multicolor, and dark blue. The Niagra Falls had steam rising from the bottom. There were boats from Canada and U.S. There were caves where you could touch the falls, souvenier pennies, places where you could take pictures.

We went on a boat tour on the 1000 Islands. We went to Hart Island. I got to pilot the boat. I got a bouncy ball for answering questions about the 1000 Islands. We learned the difference between an island and a shoal. An island has to have one or more trees. A shoal has no trees.

Into the Blue by Ben M. Baglio

The book is about a family on a boat. They are studying dolphins. One of the dolphins made friends with them.

The two main characters are Jody and Apollo. Jody made friends with Apollo. Apollo is a dolphin that was separated from his group.

I like the book because there are good friends. Also I like dolphins. And I like sailboats.

Trent-Severn Waterway, Hastings, Ontario

Note: 11-year-old Dimitri and his family are cruising the Great Loop on their boat “Sawdust.”

I made a new friend. His name is Dimitri. He likes Legos because he has the Legos and CDs. He also has a lot of pets, a dog, 3 turtles, and a lot of crawfish. He has a small bedroom. He has a laptop in his room. He is being home schooled like me. His parents are nice. He likes Dragonball Z.

I almost won the Pokemon League again. I lost.

Trent-Severn Waterway, Fenelon Falls, Ontario

We went on our first lift lock. I lift lock weighs 130 lb. There is a tray that lifts your boat.

I thought the lift lock was fun. I can’t wiat to try out the Railroad Lock. I bet it is fun.

I am good with the ropes. I can tie the boat good. I got my own boat hook. It is a long boat hook.

Trent-Severn Waterway, Orillia

We went on another lift lock. It was really tall about 43 ft. It was a sunny day. The lock is white. It was really fun. There was small and big boats coming through the lock.

This boat is one of them. We are going through locks today. There is a lot of cement. There was a family eating lunch.

Trent-Severn Waterway, Midland, Ontario

Two days ago we went on our first railroad lock. It lifts your boat out of the water. Then it carries your boat. After that it lowers your boat into the water. Finally you can dock your boat or keep going.

It was really fun. It opened in 1917. Me and my dad handled the boat by ourselves.

By Marilyn D. Anderson

The book is about a kid, his dog named Spud, and a bubble gum monster.

Sam liked baseball cards. He did not like bubble gum. His is the only child.

I like the book because I like bubble gum, and I like monsters, and I like dogs.

Beausoleil Island, Ontario

We went hiking Wednesday. We hiked to get firewood. We saw a cemetary and a good view. We climbed a tall hill and I never complained into the end.

We made a campfire and we made hot dogs off the fire.

Then the fun started. We lit off sparklers from the fire.

Note: We met Dewy, Tyler (Tippy), and their family in Killarney, Ontario.

You have a home in the water.

Just like birds, loons, ducks, and others.

As I’m sure you noticed

So I’m writing this rhyme.

We went in your home which rocks and sways.

I’m sure I’ll remember you guys

For the rest of my days!

P.S. I still think your dogs are cute.

I had a very good time. I hope we meet again.

I made two new friends Tipy and Dewy. Went swimming yesterday two times in a row. They they left.

We went to Portage Cove. I jumped off the sundeck for the first time. When I jumped off the sundeck my stomach felt like I was on a roller coaster because my stomach felt funny.

I felt happy when I met them. I felt sad when they left. It was a quiet place where we anchored last night.

Little Current, Ontario

My dad and I went on a hike yesterday. We saw Baie Fine from the top. We collected rocks at a beach.

My dad and I saw someone’s ashes at the top. His ashes were sprinkled at the top. The trees looked like toys.

I felt happy when we did the hike. I was tired at the top. If felt better at the bottom.

The Forests of Silence

The book has 7 magic gems. Each gem has a power. The first gem can bring contact with the dead. The main characters are Barda and Leif. Leif is a good studyer. Barda is a good fighter.

I like the book because there is magic. There are monsters. I like it because of the castle.

Mackinaw Island, Michigan

I finally met Dimitri. He has two butterflies. We played with each other.

There is a lot of cannon fires. There was no cars.

My mom and dad and I went to the butterfly house. There are a lot of butterflies. I felt happy when we got there. There were not very many people. Some of them landed on me.

Beaver Island, Michigan

The day was sunny. The waves were hard. They hit at the boat.

Stuff broke in the galley. I got seasick. Molly got seasick.

I felt like it would never end. My mom felt scared. Brandy felt fine.

Delta Quest: The Shifting Sands

The book is about 7 magic gems of power. Lapis Lazuli is a heavenly stone with a powerful friendship with the spell. It is hidden in the Shifting Sands.

Our friends must travel to find the shifting sands. Leif, Barda, and Jasmine are going to this dangerous place. They get captured by Gray Gurdis.

I like the book because a bad guy beat a bad guy. I like it because of the gems. It like it because of the monster.

The water is rough. I’m able to play Pokemon without getting seasick. I have been doing well.

On Silver Version I beat the Pokemon League. I got the other 8 badges. I got Ho-oh one of the legendary birds.

I felt unstoppable. I felt happy. I felt like it was begeners luck.

I met Dimitri again. We played Lego, Chess, and Creator. Two days later we played Lego Island. We did jet sky race and tried to capter the Brickster but we never got him though.

My dad and I went to the lighthouse where the waves were hitting it every minit. It looked cool. I felt happy.

The water was very calm. It was smooth as glass. I wish Sawdust was there.

We came into Chicago yesterday. I would like to go the Sears Tower, aquarium, Science Museum, Field Museum, Planetarium. The two I would like to see most are Planetarium and Aquarium.

I felt very fine. I felt happy. I felt good that we got to Chicago.

I met Dimitri for the 3rd time. We beat the Brickster, a bad guy. We played with Lego people.

My Mom and Dad and me were going to leave today. But the Weatherman changed their minds. So we are staying one more day.

I am so happy. I was very excited. The best part of this trip is the museum.

I am going to write about the exebits in Chicago. In Chicago the museums have a lot of good exebits. The Science Museum has a lot of cool stuff.

The History museum has cool stuff too. Do not forget the Aquarium has good exhibits. At Field Museum we went to the Underground Adventure. And we saw gem stones.

At the Science Museum I saw a Switzerland exhibit. I also saw some chicks hatch. My two favorite things at the Aquarium were the dolphins. I also like the whales.

I am going to write about how I got a day off because we got the satellite TV after two months. It has been a long time since I watched TV. I watched Cartoon Network.

On my Silver Version Fraligator is on Level 99. My Ho-oh at Level 77. And my red Garados at Level 35.

I am very happy. A little bored. I am very fine right now.

I am going to write about what I watched for TV. I watched Cartoon Network, Boomerang, and Dinseny. On Boomerang I watched Scooby-Doo. On Disney I watched scary movies.

My Mom and Dad and I went shopping. We went to Lowes, Radio Shack, and Wallmart. At Wallmart I go three Yu-Gi-Oh toys.

I felt very happy. I felt very fine. I felt very calm.

I am going to write about my dream last night. My dream was about Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh. Some of the cards of Yu-Gi-Oh were used as Pokemon and the Pokemon.

My Pokemon were Red Eyes Black Dragon, Dark Michen, Time Wizard, Pacachu, Ridon, Blue Eyes White Dragon. My strongest one is Picachu. My second one is Blue Eyes White Dragon.

After I got my Pokemon I saw a Jigglypuff. I was going to use Red Eyes Black Dragon. I don’t know if my dragon won because I dreamed of something else.

I am going to write about going to the St. Louis Arch. Going to the Arch was fun. It was very tall.

My mom and I saw a Lewis and Clark movie. It was very long. When we got to the gift store I got a telescope. With it I got a map.

It was fun. I felt happy. I was excited.

I am going to write about when I piloted the boat. When I piloted the boat it was my first time. My dad helped me do it.

He told me where the bouys are and where the channel markers are. He told me I have to slow down when there are other boats.

It was fun. I was happy. I felt grown up.

I am going to write about home school. What I do not like about home school is Journal. History I am not too crazy about either.

What I do like about home school is read one chapter. I also like math. Also I like introduce Spelling words.

Home school is different from regular school because there is less stuff to do. There is less time. I have to do Journal every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

I am going to write about I worked steadily last week. I did Math quickly. Also Journal got done fast too. Science got done good too.

Handwriting I did that very good. I did good on sentences too. Maps were fun to do.

It was a fun home school day. I was done at 11 o’clock am. I had a few hours to spare.

I am going to write about how I piloted the boat. It was a foggy morning. My dad told me how to use a radar.

When I piloted the boat I drove right under my first bridge. A tow boat with a few barges all by myself. My dad did the radio.

I felt like a boat driver. I felt grown up. I felt very happy.

I am going to write about tonight. I am going to wear my costume early. I am going on a Haunted Trail sometime tonight.

I am going to be a wizard. What I mean is I am going to be Harry Potter. Harry Potter is a great wizard.

It is going to be scary. People in scary costumes. It is going to be dark.

I am going to write about how many days until Halloween. Four days until Halloween. And you believe it.

I mean like that’s four days until Charity starts. I am trick or treating for charity.

I feel proud. I am sure the kids that need money are going to be happy. It is kind.

I am going to write about my fake birthday. Do you know what I got in two of the cards? I got some money.

I also got a video. That movie was very funny. I also got a Harry Potter potion set. My dad and I made gummy leaches. We made some different potions. It was a good birthday.

I am going to write about Halloween when I was collecting for charity. I got some candy. I got money, too.

I went trick-or-treating with Hunter. I had no school yesterday. I watched TV yesterday.

It was very good. It was dark. I was up late last night.

I am going to write about yesterday. Yesterday was my birthday. And we met friends. Jack and George on River Queen.

I got Rollerscape the marble roller coaster. I also got drawing books. A card Magizer. Also two Zoids.

It was the best birthday ever. But I still feel 8. But I am nine.

I am going to write about my favorite part about this trip. It is making new friends. This year I made over 99 friends. Also keeping contact with my old friends. My buddy Heath is the top duelist in the school of Greenbrier. Also Michel M. is a good duelist too. Then there’s Blake. Now he can be good but I beat him every time. Next time I duel Heath is going to lose. I have a Black Skull Dragon. My Black Skull Dragon’s attack power is 3200. He can not be beat by a Blue Eye White Dragon or a dark Magician.

I am going to write about the duel tournament for Yu-Gi-Oh. The tournament is full duelist. The best will be there.

I will be entering the tournament. I got my deck ready. I may be a beginner but I am good at dueling.

I am the second best at the Greenbrier school. My odds of winning are 100. If there is a 3 million dollar prize for first place we can go on another trip around the world.

I am going to write about Harry Potter. The movie is only 5 more days. It comes out on Friday.

The villen is always the defens against the dark arts. Harry Potter is a good wizard. He is in Griffendor. It is going to be cool. The movie is going to be grate. There is going to be a giant.

(This entry is by Taylor’s friend Dimiti.)

I spent a night at Taylor’s boat. We are heading down to Mobile Alabama.

I am going to write about Dimitri sleeping over. Two night ago he slept over. But we were up till one a.m.

We had no problem in home school. But we had a late start. We did not want to do home school.

We played all morning. Dimitri was playing with toys. I played with my Game Boy.

I am going to write about Fare Hope. Fare Hope is a town. It has a lot of restraunts. One of the places as floats.

It also has a movie theater. I am going to see Harry Potter with a friend. The friend’s name is Dimitri.

I felt happy about this. This is the second year I got to see a movie with a friend. Harry Potter is cool.

I am going to write about last night. My dad and I went for a walk. We had the dogs with us.

We had a good walk. We saw hunt camps that looked like spooky sheds. Leaves were on the ground.

We went far last night. It was almost dark. It was very cold.

My friend Dimitri caught two lizards. He asked me to take care of them. My dad made sure the doors are locked.

Dimitri and his mom left for New Orleans. They left yesterday. They will be back Sunday.

I miss them. Marly went with them. They left their turtles.

I have some lizards. Two of them will not eat. My dad said if those lizards live I get my own.

And they lived on Sunday and today too. Now I get my own lizards. Dimitri got another lizard.

It is very cool. Lizards are cute. We are almost in Florida.

My mom, dad and me saw dolphins. There were so close. I was hoping that one of them were close enough I could touch. But there were lots of them. When we anchored there were more dolphins.

We saw some dolphins this morning. I saw some at the beach. I let my lizards go. It was hard to say goodbye.

I got some more Yu-Gi-Oh cards. Two packs of them. I wish I had somebody to use them on.

I mean I want an experienced dueler. It has been a long time since I had a good duel. Until the tournament I will have to live with it.

My family, my mom, dad and me with two other boat families went to the air museum. My mom and Dimitri’s mom made us go to a movie about Blue Angel jets. Then we had fun.

My mom and dad and I are in Florida. We saw River Queen yesterday. We waved to them on the bow. They are in Panama City. They live on a houseboat.

Jack and his brother George play video games. They have lots of them. My favorite is an army game. You can make a guy a tin man. My favorite level is the snow level.

They also have Bango and Kazooie. That is the best game ever. It is so fun.

We 3, our family’s boat, is in Florida. It is supposed to be warm. But it is very cold.

The water is cold, too. Florida is cold. We are cold right now.

It will be warmer farther south. The south is warmer. When it is warmer we get to swim.

We caught up with River Queen. We played video games. We played Zelda.

George got Jack and me to the second level. We got some songs. One of them is the sun song.

I forgot how it goes. But in the game in the night if you play it the sun will come out early. We also got a metal shield.

Alligator Harbor, FL

I went to River Queen yesterday. Jack and George and me pulled out the master blade in Zelda. We did it in the chamber of time.

In the chamber of time 7 years have passed. The city of Hyrule is taken over by zombies. The man in the windmill blames the kid link for the damage.

My parents and I are leaving today. So is River Queen. I hope we meet with them.

Finally no cruising today. It is also Friday. What luck.

Tomorrow is Saturday. But we are leaving on Saturday. River Queen and Sawdust left us behind. Dimitri and his Legos. Jack and his toys with his brother. Getting ready for the best time of the year.

They’re getting ready for Christmas. This is the best holiday ever. The birthday of Jesus the Son of God.

Tonight me and the folks are going to dekerate the tree.

My mom and I made dinner. We made pork chops. We also made brocly.

Also we made mashed potatoes and gravy. It was a cinch. It was really easy.

It was fun. We are going out to eat. We are going to a Greece restaurant.

There is this dog named John. This dog is no ordinary dog. No this dog is a Dixieland Dog. But not all music lovers like Dixieland. The junkyard manager kicked out of the Junkyard. He went to an ice cream truck. He put his record in the truck. The truck crashed into a building. The driver kicked him out of the truck. Then John a guy with a monkey and a box that makes soft music. You know what happens next. John puts his record in the box, the monkey starts to dance with its tongue out. The man kicked him out of the box with his record. The monkey went to him. John gave him a token and the monkey went back. John saw a carneval. He saw a mary-go-round. He put the record in it and it spun real fast. The ticket guy kicked him out. Then John broke the record by tripped over a tent rope. A bunch of fleas were playing Dixieland. That is right a group of fleas. John gets the fleas and scrams. The boss is not happy. He chases John through the city. In to a room that no dogs are allowed. The guy counted the band started playing Dixieland. Then John became famous.

My parents and I went to Virginia in a crammed car. We celebrated Christmas. It was hard to get used to.

We saw some family. We also saw a friend of mine. And we saw their friends, too.

Santa came and visited on Christmas Eve. Then New Year’s Eve I was not feeling good. I had a high temperature.

I saw my friend Michael. I visited him twice. We had a lot of fun.

We played Gameboy. We played Playstation 2. We also dueled each other.

I never won any. Michael had too many strong cards. Michael was too good.

My parents and I saw a manatee this morning. We had fun with my friend Dimitri. We went to Chuck E Cheese. We had a lot of fun. The games were great.

Before that we picked coconuts. I found one on the ground. Dimitri shook the tree and we both got two, but I gave him one of mine.

Note: Taylor wrote this report and then typed it into Word. He likes Word a lot, because it corrects spelling and grammar mistakes.