- June to December – Six months / 181 days / 57 trip days / 6 states / 2724 miles *
We have now been extended cruisers for six months. We left Louisville, Kentucky and our home in Indiana mid-June, with destinations along the waterways making a loop around the Eastern third of the United States.
We knew we would spend the summer and fall on the rivers and the winter in Florida, but other than that no set agenda, no definite time frame. Some days it seems like we’ve been gone a few weeks, some days a lifetime. We’re not sure if you really can prepare for an adventure like this. We dreamed and talked about this trip for years, and when it was time to cast the lines, it was an Oh Ship! moment. Are we ready? Tasha wondered; do we have everything we’ll need, how will Remy do, will we all get use to tiny house living? David wondered; can I be on a boat with Tasha for several years without killing her? We’ve made it six months, we have had what we needed and more, Remy has done great, a real champion of a boat dog at 14, the boat does not seem too small for day to day living (the great outdoors helps with that), and Tasha is still alive, and David is not on the run from law enforcement in pirate country.
We thought we’d share our favorite parts of extended cruising and the trip from our first 6 months. All our days on the trip have been great – some better than others, some more memorable for various reason that others, but every day on the water is a good day. Six months, 181 days. 2724 miles traveled, and 57 days we cruised – so in essence 57 boat trips.
Our favorite trips include:
Day 1 Casting off the lines, leaving Jeffersonville, Indiana at dawn, with our friends in several boats cruising along to our first lock. We were so excited to be embarking on this adventure, then once in the lock, we felt so alone, and hoped we were up to a multi-year cruise. We have found ourselves surrounded by many new friends and fellow adventurers, though missing family and friends is still our least favorite part of the trip.
Day 149 Crossing the Gulf of Mexico overnight in open water– this will go down as the highlight of David’s loop. 200 miles, mostly in the dark with just the starts and moon until the moon set, then darkness like no other. No communication, no other boats in range, just a man, a boat, and his friend, Doug. This is something he has dreamed about since first learning of this adventure and all he hoped it was, was, and more!
Day 138 Entering Mobile Bay and the Gulf of Mexico – the vast body of water, our first time in salt water and the dolphins giving us a big welcome.
Days 90 – 93 Our time in the Little Tennessee River and Tellico. This has been the most beautiful part of our trip. Our dinghy ride to the Chilhowee Dam for a picnic lunch was the highlight. The scenery, the air and water temperature drop, the Smokey Mountains, and several states in eye shot. So peaceful and beautiful until the bikes on the dragon roared.
Days 120 – 124 AGLCA Fall Rendezvous – a gathering with 250+ other looper and 55+ boats. We enjoyed the camaraderie, information, and social gathering. Many of those we met, we continue to interact, cruise, and see on a regular basis. It gave us a great network that has made the trip so much more than expected. We’re a looper community that interacts with one another and offers encouragement and help when needed.
Day 169 Dunedin Boat parade and festival – another always has wanted to see for David. Celebrating the joy of the season with others and combining it with our love of boating, the boat parade and festival was terrific! We were also in shorts, Christmas time in shorts is a new thing but something we are very much enjoying the sun and fun!
Scattered throughout our 181 days Meet ups from family and friends. We always enjoy having visitors. It’s what keeps us going. The trip is all we dreamed and more but we wish we could have taken all those near and dear along with us. We miss our family and friends very much and the visits / meet ups keep us going.
The first half of our 181 days Visiting national and historic parks, scattered Civil War battlefields and camps. We have learned so much about our country and forefathers (we should have paid more attention in history class!). This was a surprise to us both the learning and significance of so much history along the Great Loop route.
Day 1 – 181 Spending it with Remy! Blessed beyond measure that our 14 1/2 year old pup gets to share in our adventure. Our pups are part of the family and our adventure always keeps Remy in mind. We have missed some adventures on the loop, but we would rather Remy be by our side through out our day and choose senior dog friendly excursions. We find a marina every night possible, rather than anchor. We plan our day around her needs, schedule, and include her at every turn. We love to see her enjoying herself along the loop too! Our trip has been enriched with the love and companionship of our pup by our side.
And the shear beauty of our country and our waterways. So much beauty in America’s heartland, pictures do not do it justice!
We are finally feeling like we are retired (Tasha officially retires 12/31/21 with the last paycheck!). David spent two years remodeling our new house, purging our old house, and getting ready for the trip, he finally is relaxing some (there are still many boat projects!). We have much to keep us busy, but we are now doing things we enjoy, traveling our great country, and experiencing so much that we have dreamed about, following warm weather, and doing it all on our own schedule on our own boat.
We have met hundreds of others embarking on the journey, many others just cruising, and many locals. Like anywhere in life, it is those you meet or share with in life that make the journey what it is. We have found the cruising community, especially the loopers to be a very tight knit group. You are welcomed at ports and never feel alone in this journey. They celebrate with you and share boating woes. They have all enriched our experience and lives in some way. And true with our friends at home too.
We also took some time away from the boat at Clearwater Beach and went home to Indiana/Illinois/Ohio for a bit. We had 12 year-end appointments (we mentioned Tasha officially retires at the end of the year – so insurance ends too), four Christmas celebrations, four trips out of state to visit, visits with friends, two breakfasts, and five dinners. We traveled 2700 miles and 7 states (family Christmas celebrations in three!) on our quick trip home, about the same number of miles and states we have traveled the past 6 months! Rental cars home were no where to be found, through the luck of a conversation with a friend, we found out her mother and brother would be traveling home from just south of us at the same time we wanted to go home. Four adults, Remy, and Lily, the cat, made the 15-hour day trip home. It went fast and the animals did great together. Thankful to Jane, David A., and Susan for making this happen. We so enjoyed Nick and Lauren’s and Susan and Kenny’s homes all decorated for Christmas. It was the first true feeling of Christmas this year – Christmas just isn’t the same in the south!
We were able to get a rental car back to Clearwater and did an all-nighter (we may be getting a little old for this!). Again, 15 hours, but no traffic to speak of. We were a bit concerned with the holiday approaching that traffic would be horrible.
It was wonderful to be with our family and friends. We didn’t realize how much we missed them all until we had been with them, and it was time to return to Clearwater Beach. The visit wasn’t long enough, and we didn’t get to see all we wanted to see. The warm weather and call of the beach helped a little bit with the melancholy of leaving.
We plan to catch up with a few friends on the dock and then head out to St. Petersburg for a week over Christmas. We will then head south and spend the month of January in Fort Myers.
From our family to yours – Merry Christmas!
Cheers! D, T & R
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You are truly living everyone’s dream. Merry Christmas to you and to Remy too! And continued good health and safe travels in 2022.
Thank you Judy – Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Great summary of the year. Thanks for the commentary and the photos. Looking forward to your travels in 2022.
Happy to have you travel along with us!
Oh my gosh I LOVE this recap!!! So so great to see you and celebrate a little Christmas cheer in December. Lots of love!!
We loved seeing you guys – can’t wait to catch up again along the way!