12/13/14: TWELVE STONES CROSSES HER WAKE IN FT. MYERS, FLORIDA.

We began our Great American Loop adventure on November 6, 2013 and crossed our wake 401 days later on December 13, 2014.

The Great Loop adventure has been described as ‘An amazing journey sprinkled with moments of sheer terror’. We would conclude this to be a true statement.

While the things you will see and experience such as; traveling by the Statute of Liberty in your very own boat, riding the Big Chute Lock in Canada, endless sunrises & sunsets that will take your breath away, the Gulf of Mexico crossing, and much more, nothing compares to the comradery with other Loopers.

We first ventured out into the big ocean waters in December 2013 when we exited Ft. Myers Beach into the Gulf of Mexico headed to the Florida Keys. We traveled with three other boats; Knot Home, Meridian, & Morning Star. God provided a smooth Gulf for an easy trip to the Florida Keys.

After leaving the Florida Keys in late February 2014 we headed to our home port, Green Cove Springs, Florida. There we visited with friends & family, restocked on supplies and then left heading north to complete the Great Loop.

We made a 2 week stop in Norfolk, Va. for the Great Loop Rendezvous then another stop in Baltimore for the Great Harbour Annual Meeting.

We were fortunate enough to have Captain Steve aboard Miss Hadley join us in Baltimore and stay with us to Panama City, Florida. Captain Joe, with Connie & Buster, aboard Chesapeake joined us at the entrance to the Erie Canal and stayed with us through Canada. The three boats stayed so long (due to weather) at the Phoenix New York Lock wall the locals started calling us the Phoenix Navy. Captain John aboard Endeavor joined our 3 boat flotilla, making us a 4 boat flotilla, at Trenton, Canada and continued with us until Ft. Myers, Florida where we crossed out wake.

Word of our 4 boat flotillas locking procedure spread from one Lockmaster to the next with one Lockmaster making a comment to his helper ‘ this is the group of boats that know what they are doing , we don’t need to tell them how to come in and tie off.’

The relationships cultivated along the loop are priceless. There have been lots of laughs and some tears (mainly Connie & Elaine when they parted in Killarney).  Gods protection over us was seen many times throughout this trip. He provided us a safe harbor/anchorage during sever weather and smooth waters during good weather as we lived out our adventure.

Although our Loop is officially complete we are still making plans with fellow Loopers to travel to the Florida Keys and the Bahamas after our scheduled month stay in Ft. Meyers, Florida.

Now for the statistics of our trip:

Our trip lasted 401 days. Of those 401 days we stayed in marinas 290 days (72 days in the Florida Keys), anchored 39 days, stayed on free walls/free marinas 61 days, and 11 days on paid walls (most no electric). Twenty-nine (29) of the days were spent in Canada.

We traveled 5375 Nautical Miles/ 6185 Statute Miles. Of those miles: 180+ NM/207 SM were in the Atlantic Ocean & 342 NM/394 SM in the Gulf of Mexico.

We boated through 17 States and parts of Canada (Trent-Severn Waterway, Georgina Bay, & Northern Channel).

Locks: After 110 locks we had a sign made up & put in the pilot house “What Happens In The Lock, Stays In The Lock”.

Our fuel consumption was great! We used 2128 gallons of fuel (2 engines) & 225 gallons for the generator.