How Did Dianne and I Select This Adventure

For those of you who know us we do a lot weird and adventurous trips.  They basically got started after I had Cancer and had a limited time left.  I started a Bucket list and worked on doing things that I had time to do.  I then lucked out and Dianne and I started doing things together on the list that we enjoyed.  Usually on an impulse inspired, by a book or other idea.  For example paddling Mississippi was inspired by Huckleberry Finn, and hiking Appalachian Trail (AT) by the book A Walk in the Woods.  This trip was a little different.

 

Some time in August 2021 we were at happy hour in the neighborhood and someone mentioned their boat in Florida.  (just for the record the group gathers 3 times a week for an hour at 5 for drinks).  During that time we discuss football, best drinks to have and seldom politics.  (This is good as being the only non-Trump supporter they view be as a liberal socialist that is tolerated because of Canadian heritage)  The discussion was around could you live on a boat the owners said yes people who did the Great Loop did it all the time.  

A couple of people asked what the Great Loop was and were told it is a loop around the eastern USA.  

So for people who have not ever heard of the Great Loop here is an outline

  • Up the Intercostal water way into New York
  • Up the Hudson to Erie Canal 
  • Follow the Erie Canal to Lake Ontario.  (note there are options here but we are planning this one
  • Across Lake Ontario into Trenton and pick up the Trent Canal
  • Out of the Trent into Georgian Bay and Lake Huron
  • Lake Huron into Lake Michigan to Chicago
  • Pick up the Illinois River and Canal system 
  • The Canal dumps you into the Mississippi
  • Follow Mississippi to Ohio River
  • Ohio River to Tennessee River and TenTom Canal
  • That then empties into Mobile  and Mobile Bay
  • Exit the Bay to the Gulf of Mexico
  • Intercostal waterway to Florida and back to the Intercostal where we started North,

Total it will be about 6000 mile and take 4-6 months


Dianne made the mistake of saying she would like to do that trip.  

I said we would need a boat and she said we could afford one.  I asked what budget she would be willing spend and she indicated up to $100,000.  We ended the conversation agreeing to get a book and thinking about it more.


When the guide arrived it was clear to us the boat types and power we would need.  It also was clear how to budget it.  So it started.  Me looking at used boats and Dianne reading condition on the trip and making some plans.  


We rejoined the conversation comparing notes it became clear this was something we both would enjoy and we could budget the funds.  And off we went to find the boat.

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