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, August 24, 2009

Home to Knoxville

As we cruise down the River toward home....you just see it all......from the smallest of places to the palaces along the way......... Condos in Loudon Tennessee overlook the water...........................
Back in the Bible Belt......Beautiful cross in the distance.........................


The rocky rolling hills of Tennessee truly feel like home......................
The captain had slowed to a turtle pace the last 20 miles.......but eventually he had to come home.......is that a smile I see???


Approaching our last lock at Ft Loudon Dam......a mixture of emotions fill me.......glad to be back close to family and friends.........sad that the adventure is over ....(for a while)
Fort Loudon Lock.....home sweet home

Posing for the last lock........as we lock thru....................

The gates close behind us as we exit the lock....

Arrival Point welcomes us as we soon have house in sight....................
Fort Loudon Marina as we pull in to top off the fuel tank and get a pump-out...................

Albert Hayesworth's new 75' Lazzara at Ft Loudon Marina...
There it is..............HOME................how many days have we been gone...........what will it feel like to get into the tub, sleep in that king size bed, and just be on land???? Fear .....What if we hate it?
The house seems lonely..........Like your puppy when you pick him up at the vet........just excited to see you......jumping and licking......The house seemed to breath easier.....just to have us moving around inside.......as we unload the boat one trip at a time..........enough of that......lets plan a party..........a few days is enough...............that'll keep us busy.................We cannot wait to see our friends................WE'RE BACCCCCKKKKKKKK...........................
There she is .......very proud of her accomplishment.....and ready for a little rest.....a good clean up......some fiberglass repairs.......back home at last! Sea la Vie....you did us proud....we love you!

Our view of the dam from our dock, waiting for the next trip downstream......................

6,170 miles, 310 days, 10,050 gallons of diesel fuel, 107 locks, 85 different marinas, 3 countries, 16 states, thousands of photos, countless new friends, and priceless memories..........
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