In reflecting on our decision to do the Loop in 2017, the major factor was my diminishing physical abilities as I got older. And none of us is getting any younger!. I was starting to have a tough time lifting the Alaska Series dinghy on top of the roof over the bow rail. It was difficult to lug the Honda 2000i from the cabin to the cockpit. Not impossible, but just starting to get more difficult. We decided we needed to do our Loop, if we ever were going to, sooner rather than later. We got a lighter dinghy and generator and decided to go before things went from difficult to impossible. We are not done boating by a long shot but the Loop does impose some demands that shorter cruises do not. Keep this in mind if you are thinking about doing the Loop!