History of the Great Loop

THE GREAT LOOP

The Great Loop became possible with the completion of U.S. and Canadian canals: Erie Canal (1827), Rideau (1826), Trent Severn Waterway (1850-1920) and the Welland Canal (1824). These land-cut channels connected the Eastern Seaboard with the Great Lakes. The completion of the Illinois and Michigan Canal (1848) connected Lake Michigan to the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers to the Gulf of Mexico.
In 1900 congress funded the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway from Boston to the Florida Keys, completed in 1935. In 1985 the Tenn-Tom Waterway allowed for a more regulated, short-cut route to Mobile Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.
An early account of a circumnavigation is A Year in a Yawl, the tale of four boys from St. Joseph, MI, who slid a homemade sailboat through the Illinois and Michigan Canal, then the Mississippi to the Gulf and around the Keys. At the Erie Canal they bought an old gray mare that pulled them through the Canal.

Heading to Seabrook Texas

We left on the 16th early in the morning from my sister's.  The plan is to spend the first day going to Tucson, then to El Paso, San Antonio, and finally Seabrook.  Since we had Chloe with us we stayed at only pet friendly hotels.  Did you know the speed limit in parts of Texas is 80mph?  We really did enjoy San Antonio, we probably could have spent an extra day there.  The riverwalk and Alamo was very cool.  We arrived in Seabrook on the 19th and got to see Panacea up on blocks with a new bottom job and buffed out hull.  The next day she is going to get her bottom wet and we can move back on board. So here we are back on board trying to get everything cleaned up and put back together.  First thing is to get the canvas and windshield back on because they're talking about a cold front coming in with rain on Friday.  Today is Thursday and it is 80 degrees with 100% humidity.  Welcome to Texas!

See you in Texas

Entering Arizona

Leaving New Mexico

This one is for you Gary

Texas

Remember the Alamo

The Alamo

San Antonia Riverwalk

New bottom and shiny hull

Let the fun begin

Our Last Hurrah with Family and Friends Before Leaving

I know it's been a while since our last post.  We spent time with family in Southern Calif. and drove to Northern Calif. to see more of our family and unfortunately not all of our friends, just not enough time. We had fun in San Diego and loved Cabrillo Isle Marina.  Our first weekend in San Diego our friends David and Susan stayed with us and we took Panacea out for a harbor cruise.  We also went downtown the next day and had breakfast at Croce's.  For all you senior citizens, like me, Jim Croce was a talented singer, ( Time in a Bottle, Bad Bad Leroy Brown, etc.) that had his life cut short in a plane crash.  His wife opened the restaurant some 30 years ago in homage to his legacy.  Much of our time was spent organizing with boat yards and truck transports for preparing the boat for its long journey over the asphalt roads to Texas.  We did buy an inverter and installed everything for it except the AC wiring to the electrical panel.  We just ran out of time and will have that done in Seabrook.  My sister drove Mike down and dropped him off to spend the last five days with us to help get the boat ready for transport.  We had to take all antenna, radar, windshield, canvas top and anything higher than highest point with the windshield removed.  Then we had to take the boat over to San Diego Boat Repair so they could use the crane to remove the radar arch.  Then back to the marina to start taping all the windows and doors.  The way the boat yard put it is, image your boat going backwards at 70mph so make sure you tape every crack and cranny so no water can get in.  We also had to store all breakables, chairs, tables, and on and on.  Thank you Mike for all your help.  Not sure we could have done it without you.  After the boat was loaded on the truck we drove to my sister's and the next day went to NorCal and stayed with our son Michael, Jess and Carter and Dylan, our Grandsons.  We also got to see our Granddaughter, Ashley, play in her last volleyball game.  Gary, Tiffany, and Ashley joined us at Michael and Jess's to celebrate Jan's birthday and the next day we went to Gary and Tiffany's to watch the 49er game and have dinner.   Two of the days I got to play golf with the Boys and my friend Mike D.   After four days we packed up and headed back down to my sisters.   We're going to miss ya all.  Leaving for Seabrook on the 16th.

Cabrillo Isle Marina

Susan, Jan, and Chloe on bay cruise

USS Midway

San Diego

Captain Larry

De Radar Arched

Strapped to the bow for transport

Ready for haul out

We'll see her in Texas

Do you see the 49er pillow?

Our Family

Here's to you...Pat, Linda, Jan, and Me

Linda and Jan

Jess, Carter, Dylan and Jan

My sister Lu-Lu and Mike