Having crossed our wake at Grafton, Illinois back in September we put the final exclamation point on our loop adventure when we pulled into Legacy Harbour in Ft. Myers, Florida in November. Since arriving back in Florida many have asked what our favorite part of the trip was. Simple answer, All of it. Perhaps a more appropriate question might be what part we liked the least since we liked almost all of the places we visited.
Occupying that low spot would be Carolina Beach, NC. Probably because we were stuck at the marina there for over a week with no loaner car or transportation while we waited on the plotter/transducer debacle to get resolved. Customer service is somewhere below the waterline at Joyner Marina. Now that I've got that out of the way on to more positive things.
Some of our favorite places/things are listed below.
- Favorite City New York
- Favorite Marinas Green Turtle Bay in Grand Rivers, Ky. & Grand Harbor in Counce, Tn.
- Favorite Anchorage Behind the Statue of Liberty on Memorial Day
- Favorite Waterway All of them
- Favorite Meal Curry Original in Kingston, Ont.
- Favorite Drink Chubby Mary at Ricks in Leland, MI.
- Favorite Watering Hole Commodore Yacht Club @ Green Turtle Bay
- Favorite Laundry Facility Demopolis Yacht Basin (new marina section)
- Favorite Grocery Wal-Mart (who would have guessed!)
- Favorite Buddy Boats Coconuts & Tumbleweed
- Favorite Unusual Boat S/V Lollygag (homemade)
Places we want to go back to explore further:
Chesapeake Bay
North Channel
Tennessee River
Would we do it again? In a heart beat. As much as anything I love the logistical challenges that you face every day. Weather, tides, bridge openings, finding an anchorage or marina, harbor traffic, etc. If you've done any distance traveling in a boat you know firsthand that it's not like driving your car along the interstate. There aren't facilities at every exit. Planning is the key and having 2 or 3 plans for each day is insurance that should keep you out of trouble. On the flip side planning can get you into trouble if you set deadlines to be somewhere by a certain date. Mother nature will always have a say in what you do.
We're often asked how we manage in such a small area. "Don't you get on each others nerves?" The answer is not often. (Except when we're picking out a movie to watch.) Since we started cruising on a more full-time basis in 2008 we have developed our own habits and spaces that we occupy. Additionally Tourist at 48' and two levels (3counting the engine room) offers us enough area to get away from each other if needed. However, I'm happy to say that I couldn't ask for a better cruising companion/deckhand/chef/friend/lover than Pam. We've heard stories of boats pulling into marinas and the wife saying to the marina operator,"Take me to the airport!" Fortunately neither of us has ever felt that way.
Another question is "Do you ever get homesick?" For me coming from a travel background the answer is rarely. For Pam the answer is yes. We try to get home every 3 months for a brief visit with family and friends. So far that seems to be keeping everyone happy.
Many asked if we "Buddy Boated" while on the Loop. The answer to that is only a couple of times. Once through Canada where we had a great time traveling with Coconuts and made a lasting friendship. And with Tumbleweed on the Tennessee. Pam & I enjoy people but are very content to travel by ourselves. Too many chefs spoil the stew and the same can be said of too many boats traveling together. Maybe it's just because I'm an only child but I don't like the idea of stopping quick and having 3 bow pulpits climbing over my stern. That doesn't mean that we didn't meet some great people along the way because we did. Many however failed to recognize us as "Loopers". Perhaps because we were in a Sea Ray and not a trawler?
Now what? After walking the docks of Legacy for a week checking out every boat that came in and watching with envy those that went past we/I have settled into a more sedentary life. It's now time to take care of all those little things that have been put off while on the move. We'll spend the Holidays at home and get back to Tourist in January and prepare for our next adventure. Bahamas anyone?
Have a great Christmas everyone and a prosperous New Year!
A few pictorial highlights;
Fernandina Sunset
Charleston Carriage Tour
Annapolis.
New York
Hudson River Valley
Erie Canal
St. Lawrence Seaway
Canada, eh!
Trent-Severn Waterway
Peterborough Lift Lock
Big Chute Railway
Campfire along the Trent-Severn Waterway
Topaz Lake
Baie Fine
Canadian Bugs (not a highlight, just a reality)
Leland, Michigan
Crossing Lake Michigan
Chicago
The Inland Rivers
Crossing our wake
Catching up to Floyd & Linda (M/V Tumbleweed)
Tennessee River
Sunsets
Apalachicola Oysters
Tarpon Springs
Legacy Harbour
