The Circle is Unbroken…Our Loop Favorites, Statistics & Afterthoughts

It’s been almost 8 weeks since we returned to California from our “America’s Great Loop” adventure and we’re gradually getting into a new groove. We both miss the wondrously slow and nourishing “boating lifestyle”…and Gary misses being on the boat even more than he expected. I think he would have liked to do the Loop again. Me? Not so much, but I am VERY grateful that we did it and that together we created so many wonderful memories.

The most frequently asked question we’ve been asked both during and after this “adventure of a lifetime,” is, “What was your favorite part?” Our first thought has always been, “There are so many—it’s hard to choose just one.” So we’d like to share some of our favorites with you…like I said, there are a lot of them!!

SHORT VERSION:
* The rivers, especially the Tennessee, St. Johns (FL), Dismal Swamp (NC), the Sassafras (MD), the Hudson (NY), the Richelieu (Quebec) & the Rideau (Ontario)
* The small towns
* The unspoiled places of natural beauty and the wildlife
* The friendly, helpful people we met along the way—both locals and fellow Loopers.

LONGER VERSION, STATE BY STATE, FROM START TO FINISH:

MICHIGAN: Spring Lake, Manistee (best steak @Blue Fish), Leland, Charlevoix and Mackinac Island (where we officially began and ended).

Mackinac Island – August 2021 Mackinac Island – September 2022

WISCONSIN: Menominee, Egg Harbor, Manitowoc and the Milwaukee Art Museum.

ILLINOIS:  Chicago River through downtown, barges (and their friendly, amazing “tow captains”), Heritage Harbor @Ottawa (best briefing), Ivy Club @Peoria, Logsdon Tug @Beardstown and Grafton (best marina gift shop).

MISSOURI: Alton, Kimmswick (Hoppie’s & Blue Owl restaurant).

KENTUCKY: Paducah with its amazing murals & National Quilt Museum (especially the stunning and moving 9/11 tribute wall, below right. And yes, the middle photo below is one of many exquisite contemporary quilts).

TENNESSEE: Our first Fried Green Tomatoes, Pickwick Landing State Park.

ALABAMA: Joe Wheeler State Park, Fairhope (& Eastern Shore Art Center), daughter Carolyn & granddaughter Maya overnight visit.

MISSISSIPPI: Aqua Yacht @Luka (top of Tenn-Tom-best full-service marina), Looper fun at Columbus, White Cliffs at Demopolis Lake.

FLORIDA-WESTERN: Thanksgiving @Niceville/Bluewater Bay Marina, Crystal Springs (swam with manatees), Sarasota (Jack’s Marina, Ringling Museum), Captiva (South Seas Island Resort and the Mucky Duck), dolphins, variety of birds.

FLORIDA-EASTERN & CENTRAL: National Navy UDT-Seal Museum (Fort Pierce), Kennedy Space Center (Cape Canaveral), New Smyrna Museum of History, lower St. John’s River & Hontoon State Park.

           

GEORGIA: Grandson Eldon cruises with us for a week-Jacksonville FL to Savannah, Midway (Sunbury Crab Company); Carolyn & Drew visit.

SOUTH CAROLINA: Beaufort, McClellanville, Georgetown (Rice Museum).

NORTH CAROLINA: Shrimp Boats, Oriental (friends visit), Dismal Swamp.

VIRGINIA: U.S. Navy ships tour (Norfolk), Colonial Beach (Oomboom-best restaurant), Reedville, Yorktown, Tangier Island.

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  The view from the harbor, flowers, visits with college friends and family.

MARYLAND: Solomons Island, St. Michaels, Sassafras River, Chestertown.

DELAWARE:  Kathy’s Crab House honoring all veterans, Delaware City.
NEW JERSEY: Liberty Landing, Statue of Liberty, visits with NAPO buddies.

NEW YORK:, NY Skyline, tours of Culinary Institute of America & West Point, daughter Laurie & her 5 kids overnight visit, Upper Hudson River,

            Laurie, Campbell (12), Drew (10), Avery (17), Ty (19), Emerson (15)

VERMONT:  Otter Creek & Vergennes, Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream

QUEBEC, CANADA: Chambly Canal (Richelieu River), Hotel Frontenac (Quebec City), Beluga Whales (Saguenay River), Notre Dame Cathedral (Montreal),

           

ONTARIO, CANADA: Parliament Building & Canadian Museum of History (Ottawa), Rideau Canal, Trent-Severn’s Kawartha Lock & Big Chute, Island Homes & Killarney Lodge (Georgian Bay), Kagawong & Spanish (North Channel).

           

STATISTICS:
We went 7,500 statute miles, spending 350 days on the water (622 engine hours), with 168 stops (151 marinas, 9 walls and 8 anchorages). We averaged 10 mph while visiting 19 states and 2 provinces, cruising 25 major rivers and waterways, plus parts of Lake Michigan, the Gulf of Mexico, Chesapeake Bay, the Atlantic Ocean (New Jersey Coast), Lake Ontario and Lake Huron. Wow! And yippee!! The map below shows our route, passing the Erie Canal entrance and going north through Lake Champlain to the St. Lawrence River (top left), except for our side trip on the St. Lawrence River to the Saguenay River about 50 miles east of Quebec City.

(Photo taken in Wisconsin at the Manitowoc Maritime Museum – September 2021)

We continue to pat ourselves on the back and reflect on what we accomplished. It really was quite amazing…and definitely an “Adventure of a Lifetime!” We give thanks every day for the whole experience. We are grateful that we had such a reliable and comfortable boat, that we worked so well together as Captain and First Mate throughout the trip (and we still like and love each other very much!!!) and that we met so many wonderful people along the way.

We are also very grateful that you chose to cruise along with us. Thank you for cheering us on…that meant a lot to us!

We have several ideas for our next adventure(s) and perhaps we’ll share some of those experiences with you down the road. In the meantime, blessings always!

For all of us, may every season be a season of giving thanks and special memories!