Hard to believe we’re “halfway looped”. We’ve traveled a bit over 3,000 miles. We’ve gone from being a marina hopping boat to a canal boat, to a cruising boat and now we’re poised to become a river boat!
From the first sunrise in Sarasota …
People ask “what’s the best part”? It’s all been fascinating … balanced between moments of exhilaration and a bit of terror. The highest highs and lowest lows. Some days go as planned, others are totally out of control. One of the things I love is it’s almost impossible to predict where we’ll be at the end of any given day, let alone weeks in advance!
To our 1st bridge in Anna Maria Island (which we could have cleared without asking for an opening, but we were new and didn’t know that then….)
To our first lock … Franklin Lock on the Okeechobee Waterway…
Crossing Lake Okeechobee – early dawn on the Rim Canal.
Heading up the ICW on Florida’s East Coast, it was advantage tide all the way…
The Great Loop is all about friends – new and old. We finally caught up with Blue Moon near Savannah.
Enjoying the history and beauty of colonial towns along the way… Savannah…
Charleston and Georgetown and Beaufort – we loved all the little historic towns in South Carolina!
Cypress forests lining the Waccamaw River…
Crossing from South Carolina to North Carolina… this area is SO beautiful. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by Hurricane Florence.
Taking the Dismal Swamp Canal was yet another highlight. Last time we were along this way, it was closed and the Virginia Cut was the only option. The Dismal Swamp is much better!
Up Chesapeake Bay to Annapolis, the C&D Canal and down the Delaware to Cape May, NJ.
Then a nerve wracking, but spectacular two days on the New Jersey ICW
And into New York Harbor and New York City! Another highlight!
Up the Hudson River to the historic Erie Canal, transiting 23 locks before turning north to Oswego and another 7 locks. Total of 30 locks on the Erie/Oswego route.
Crossing Lake Ontario to the Trent Severn Canal… oh, the Trent Severn – yet another 34 locks bringing us to a total so far of 88 locks. Tying to the lock walls overnight was like being in a little city park, quaint fun village after quaint fun village…. Often there were locals and tourists always curious about The Great Loop. We had our picture taken more times than I could imagine. I LOVED the Trent Severn Canal System!
Can’t have just one photo of the Trent Severn …
Then on to Georgian Bay
And the jewel of the entire Great Loop so far, at least for me … The North Channel…
Lake Michigan was a BEAR! Bad weather forced extended stays in places like Mackinaw City, Charlevoix, Ludington, Frankfort, South Haven and New Buffalo. But along the way, we had some fun…
But FINALLY we made it to Chicago! Almost speechless!
The Chicago skyline was SO welcome after a 3 week struggle with weather getting down Lake Michigan. I’m not a big city person, but it’s different visiting from the water…. and this will be AMAZING!
And the Great Loop adventure continues. How much FUN can one boat have??? Cheers! Jan
The view from high above that bay…mesmerizing! beachcombing stones, what a treat!
blessings to you both
scott