The Great Loop

This web site is an attempt to provide a quick and easy way for our family and freinds to keep up with us on "The Loop"

The Great Loop is a 6000 mile jouney down the Tennessee River and the Tombigbee Waterway to Mobile, Alabama. From there around the coast of Florida via Key West with a side trip to the Bahamas. Back to the coast of Florida we head up the east coast to the Chesapeake Bay. From the Chesapeake we continue up the east coast through New York Harbour, up the Hudon River, and across the Erie Canal. Through a series of canals we go across Lake Ontario into Canada. We will spend a month in Canada. Back to the US, we will cross Lake Michigan to Chicago. Following the Illinois, Mississippi, Ohio, and Cumberland Rivers back to Tennesse.


LOOP CLOSED: 8/12/09: 310 days, 6170 miles, 107 locks, 3 countries, 16 states, 85 different marinas, 10,050 gallons of diesel fuel, thousands of photos, countless new friends, and priceless memories...

Monday, September 29, 2008

The Fall


Monday, September 29th I was working on the boat (my full time job). I opened the engine compartment hatch and warned the other two guys working that the hatch was open. Five minutes later I came out of the cabin and fell four feet into the open hatch. Nothing broken but some very deeply brusied ribs on my right side. I was very lucky, but will be sore for several weeks to come. Actually this is my second fall. The first time I fell into the water with minor bruised ribs on the left side. I promise to be more careful!
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Thursday, September 25, 2008

Top to Bottom


We have completely redone the boat from "top to bottom." It would not have been possible without the help of my friend Mario. Here you can see Mario on the satellite wing and down in the bilge. Thanks for all your help!
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Sunday, September 21, 2008

Shake Down




As part of getting ready we have tried to run the boat some to find the "bugs." We took the boat to Booms Day and the Florida game. About 50 miles each way from our house. These are pictures of the Volunteer Navy at the Florida game. Our friends Warren and Grace from Florida joined us for the trip. Great time other than the game.
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Monday, September 15, 2008

The House


Besides Lynn selling her house, getting married, moving Lynn, and trading boats; Lynn and I have been remodeling the house. Here you see the wall gone between the kitchen and dining room. What a dramatic difference! The project included refinishing floors, adding cabinets, extending the island, new lighting and plumbing fixtures, and of course some new furniture.
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Sunday, September 7, 2008

Departure Date

We have set our departure date for Saturday, October 18. Hopefully most of hurricane season will be behind us, although we will miss most of UT football (not all bad news). Lynn will go with me approximately 400 miles through 7 locks to Pickwick near Memphis. We will spend several days at a rendezvous with approximately 75 other boat doing the loop. This is a 3 day event at Joe Wheeler State Park in Alabama. David Jessup and Rick Strachan plan to join me at Pickwick for the 500 mile trip (12 locks) down the Tombigbee Waterway to the Gulf.
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