Skip to main content

Day One of The Great Loop.



At long last, we are on our way!  Originally, this great adventure was to start on 10/05/2019.  A month beforehand, the boat was pulled out of the water for maintenance.  The boat hauler made a mistake and ended up bending the props.  EEK! Pretty important, props.  They are also pretty heavy and really large.  So Todd sent them off as stowaways on a semi to be repaired downstate.  In the meantime, it was also discovered that someone may or may not have flushed marbles down the toilet at some unknown point in time.  The toilet on our boat runs via vacuum and pistons (don't think about it too much - it's gross).  ANYWAY, when there are marbles in there, vacuums don't seal and pistons can't move.   Also pretty important?  Toilets.  Especially when you're heading off on an 8 month excursion.  Et voila - our new departure date was 10/10.  Well, wouldn't you know it, but we have had the most bizarre and tenacious winds here in Northern Michigan.  There was no way we were going to subject ourselves to crashing waves as we crossed that wicked Lake Michigan to get to Chicago.  So here we are today, 10/18/19.  I think folks started to doubt if we would ever leave.  I certainly doubted that the wind would ever stop blowing.  It really seemed like a lot longer of a delay as it was several versions of "I'll leave tomorrow and you can drive with kids and meet me in Chicago", or "I'll leave in two days and you can drive with kids to Muskegon".  And that's the plan.  And it starts today!

Endurance leaving Harbor West before dawn.
Our handsome Captain.  💖
Surprisingly, the boat is NOT packed to the gills.  Yet.  With the weather delays, I've been doing some last-minute "one-click" shopping.  I have read that many others who have done "The Loop" have regretted taking too many clothes, too much food.  So I really have attempted to keep it simple.  As we will be homeschooling the Littles on this adventure, most of my over-packing is in the form of books and craft supplies.  I wasn't willing to give up my herb garden either; I ripped the plants out of the garden and transplanted into pots that are somewhat stylish but that I was also willing to ditch along the way should the plants not thrive.   I have to give a shout-out to Todd;  I'm really proud of how he streamlined all of his tools and such;  super handy that he can make repairs on the fly, but glad we don't have quite so many tools on board now.  


I've got to go finish packing and get ready to meet the love of my life tomorrow - thanks for reading!  Let us know of adventures you've undertaken in the comments below!

Comments

  1. Thinking of you guys...keep us posted and safe sailing...hugs my friends

    ReplyDelete
  2. Such an amazing adventure, love to hear so much more from you all! Keep the pictures coming. BTW, you have the dogs too right? How do they do their business? :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi! We will typically be "somewhere" inside four or five hours, so the dogs don't have to hold it together that long. They are typically the last ones on the boat and the first ones off when we do get to land. When we get to the ocean we might have to add one of those "grass pads" on the back. Getting them (and the kids!) enough exercise is typically our main focus. A tired dog is a good dog!

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

YOU get new props, and YOU get new props!

In light of the flooding on the rivers, they should consider placing Oprah in the middle of Mobile Bay. "You get new props, YOU get new props, and YOU get new props!!" I know of scant few boaters who have eluded the obstacles and ended their journey down the rivers without needing at least some repairs. Remember, I'm traveling with a very handsome (sorry Tammy) and capable Captain. We hit a significant something in a well marked channel. Totally pissed and bummed us out, to be truthful. An "are you kidding me???" Sort of moment. But I digress. I've left you out of so much! We found a lovely Anchorage called Kelly's landing where the kids swam with abandon in waters that were for all intents and purposes "cold".  We were almost eaten alive by coyotes. Really. It was one of  those stories where the minute the sun set, we heard "scrambling" in the woods.... And we went silent. "Uhm, honey? Let's get in the dinghy,. Like NOW....

Wait...where are we?

There was scant internet available for much of the remaining stretch of the Mississippi River or as we made out way onto the Tombigbee River, so many of the memories we created are going to be a blur.  I'll try to capture the highlights here. We left Hoppie's Marina as early as the Coffeeville Dam said they didn't have a back-up of barges waiting.  Other than Dresden locks where we had to overnight, we have really been lucky with Dams as far as I can remember.  We haven't had to wait much at all, despite war stories from other boaters of four to six hour waits at some locks.  The river really looked a lot alike as we traveled down, and there wasn't much that was remarkable.  We had a couple of anchorage nights before Paducah-  nothing spectacular, but we always make the most of  the "ground time" we have!  The Handsome Captain is always good for a fire, a steady hand as the Littles climb fallen trees of dubious stability, and adult beverages to ...