1st 400 Miles of The Great Loop: Lessons Learned

After just over 400 miles on The Great Loop, our learning curve has SKYROCKETED & this is only the beginning.  We have so much to learn!  But I’m glad we didn’t let that scare us off from starting.  “When was the last time, you did something for the first time?” … Darius Rucker’s current song lyrics were an inspiration!  A few lessons learned so far…

#1.  Make it FUN and make it your own Loop!  We said before we started that we want to visit as many national parks as possible. Cumberland Island National Park is coming up at the Florida/Georgia line, but literally no Looper friends we know are stopping there. Hopefully the weather will let us anchor, take our bikes ashore and explore the national park.  We’ve never had a problem with being independent but it’s interesting to see how quickly the Loop experience can suck you in to wanting to be with friends!

#2. Slow down!  Other Loopers tell us it took them the entire 6,000 mile loop to learn how to slow down – so now their 2nd time around (Gold Loopers going for Platinum), they’re lingering and enjoying the places they enjoy.  So far, we’re just over 400 miles in, most days have been travel days and we’re worn out.  Our longest day was 64 + miles — way way way too long. We need to learn that “linger” thing.  The flip side is the reality of wanting to spend as much time in Ontario’s Trent Severn Canal, Georgian Bay & North Channel as we can … so we really need to be 1000 miles north to Albany, New York by the time of our family’s vacation in Gulf Shores … everyone will be there, kids, my brother & his kids & grandkids…  how could we say no?

#3.  Feelings of being overwhelmed when starting a Loop adventure are normal.  We’ve been cruising for 15,000+ miles from Annapolis to Cartagena, Colombia, but the Loop experience is totally different.  Learning the boat, learning the systems, learning coastal navigation – which is substantially more difficult than crossing an ocean, especially when you factor in tides & currents.  So much to learn and much of it is  OJT … on the job training.  We practiced & practiced, but nothing can compare to starting your own adventure.

#4.  Don’t expect too much of yourselves. Not every docking or anchoring experience will go perfectly.  According to Gold Loopers & others far more experienced than us, everyone has docking issues.  We’re not confident — yet — in maneuvering our new to us trawler.  But every day that goes by we gain a bit of confidence and David promises me that it IS getting better and less nerve wracking… I’m still not so sure, but time will tell….

#5. Weather now dictates life…..  We’ve noticed it’s easier to travel in the trawler in more weather conditions.  We left in a Small Craft Warning (ending mid-day) and yesterday there was a Small Craft Warning for the Indian River – luckily the gusty winds were behind us and didn’t affect us as much as they would have had we been headed the other direction.  Since alot of the trip is in sheltered waters, weather is a wee bit less of a factor.  On the other hand, neither of us like being COLD.  We have yet to steer from downstairs which is one way alot of Loopers cope with chilly or wet weather.  Another learning curve!

#6. Weekends are a BAD idea on the ICW. Crazy boaters that know how to go FAST and very little else when it comes to the rules of the road and basic seamanship. We started on a Friday, crossed Lake Okeechobee on a Sunday and emerged into the Atlantic ICW on Monday.  I am continually amazed at the difference in attitude with “weekday” cruisers versus “weekend warriors”.  We were regularly waked and rolled on the weekend, but come Monday, everyone is civil, calling on the VHF for a slow pass and even thanking boats after the fact.  What a difference in attitude. 

#7.  Nothing beats local knowledge so ask!  Locals know what you need to know to more fully enjoy your visit.  We were looking for a bike route close to Cocoa Village Marina.  The young man in S.F.Travis & Co. hardware store told us about the Indian River Drive bike ride that was a great afternoon ride.  Today was a great farmer’s market and food truck in the park across the street. We also found out that there’s a space launch coming up … and we just happen to be close, so hopefully we’ll get to watch on Monday at 4:35 PM.

So chat up the locals, you never know what you might be missing!

#8.   Lockmasters wait on no boat. If a Lock closes at 5 PM, often the last locking is 4:30 PM – 30 minutes ahead of the closing time.  Showing up at 5 PM won’t guarantee you a lock through – best to be ready by 4:30 and know you’ll make it sure.

#9.  Learn to make reservations.  We learned the hard way that areas we most want to visit require reservations.  So we’re trying to learn to make reservations – how in the heck do we make reservations when we never know what the weather is going to be?  This is tougher than it seems, believe me. Or maybe it’s just me. Others don’t seem to have an issue. It’s a mental thing … but most marinas will work with you if there’s truly bad weather – not forcing you to leave.  But it’s not guaranteed.

#10.  Prepare to be amazed as your Great Loop adventure unfolds!  As I write this, pelicans are diving into the water just off our swim platform, making such loud splashes that I wonder if David fell in.  Dolphins cavort, swimming a bit farther out.  Other boaters laugh and enjoy friends’ camaraderie. Kids shriek with delight catching their first fish, a bit further up the dock. It’s almost time for sunset, a favorite time of day since I don’t always see sunrise.  🙂

All is well & come Monday, we’ll be off for the next leg of our Great Loop!  And we should see the NASA rocket launch at 4:35 PM!  Hope to see you “out there”!  Cheers!  Jan