Daydream's Great Loop Blog!

El and Bill":391mw8cn said:
And Bob and Ken -

If he turns off the blinking motor, he won't make any noise or use any stinky fuel - just a calm quiet drift along with the ducks, geese, and driftwood. Oh, and once in a while, a paddle stroke to avoid a check dam. Ah, now that's the retired life -- sipping a Snowqual. beer and drifting down the river with your girl friend. And where's the next fuel stop? My beer is getting low. 😉
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Motor has to be running to dodge the tugs and tows as required!
 
Pat Anderson":2biningr said:
El and Bill":2biningr said:
And Bob and Ken -

If he turns off the blinking motor, he won't make any noise or use any stinky fuel - just a calm quiet drift along with the ducks, geese, and driftwood. Oh, and once in a while, a paddle stroke to avoid a check dam. Ah, now that's the retired life -- sipping a Snowqual. beer and drifting down the river with your girl friend. And where's the next fuel stop? My beer is getting low. 😉
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Motor has to be running to dodge the tugs and tows as required!
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Where's your Huck Finn spirit of adventure? :wink: You can always drift for a while, then start up the motor as necessary. I don't think you're going to find the river portions of your trip will be bumper-to-bumper tugs and tows.

By keeping the boat at displacement speed, we were able to get 400 nautical miles on a tank, with some reserve. You're going to be fine on fuel, as long as you pull the throttle back now and then.
 
JamesTXSD":2cd8thgq said:
it of adventure? :wink: You can always drift for a while, then start up the motor as necessary. I don't think you're going to find the river portions of your trip will be bumper-to-bumper tugs and tows.

By keeping the boat at displacement speed, we were able to get 400 nautical miles on a tank, with some reserve. You're going to be fine on fuel, as long as you pull the throttle back now and then.
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Jim, we are mostly slow cruisers, have been for years. We calculate economy on every fill, and slow cruising it is usually between 3 and 4 NMPG, never actually 4 or over, although our Navman would lead us to expect better.

On tugs and tows, Bob and Betsy Burks, formerly Sea Pal, related some horror stories of being trapped between a tug and tow and a wing dam with nowhere to go. We will have AIS and talk to the tugs of course, so hopefully we will not be in that situation. Still, just looking at the Google Earth satelitte photos, there are a lot of tugs and tows on the Illinois, Mississippi and Ohio rivers.

Of course, the greatest fear is fear of the unknown, and this is so different from cruising from Puget Sound to Alaska that we don't know what to expect, I suppose it will all work out fine for us as it has for thousands or other Loopers!
 
Pat said:
"Jim, we are mostly slow cruisers, have been for years. We calculate economy on every fill, and slow cruising it is usually between 3 and 4 NMPG, never actually 4 or over, although our Navman would lead us to expect better."
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Pat, do you consider tide currents in your NM/Gal calculations? At slow cruise speeds those will have more affect on your fuel burn from point A to B than at a planning speed due to time allowed for the effect on your vessel.

Cruising "down hill" on the river, the current speed will be more stable and easier to calculate your fuel savings provided by the river flow assist.

You are going to love having the AIS for nav and comm assistance.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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Hey, Pat,

Not sure what speed/RPM you are considering "slow cruise," but when we kept the RPMs between 1800 and 2000, we almost always (tide/current/weight dependent) saw at least 4 nmpg, and frequently better than 5. The speed would vary, but usually 5 to 6 knots. Any increase in RPM beyond that resulted in a significant increase in fuel burn.

As I recall, you are running a Honda 150, we had the 135 - same engine output below about 4600 RPM. Slowing down will pay off when you need to maximize your range.
 
Left Birch Bay this morning on the Great Adventure! Got 430 miles down the road to LeGrande (Island City right next door actually). Enjoying our sundowners, Lucy is in the vee-berth (she is a good traveler!), Baxter is on the dinette seat next to Patty, Webasto heater is blasting, all is good!
 
Pat & Patty, I did see Daydream at Bitter End Boat Works while checking on Wigeon & knew you must be getting close to leaving the Pacific Northwest on your latest grand adventure. Many of us are following along and appreciate your frequent observations and updates as you initially travel east. I wish you safe & happy travels. Bon Voyage. Larry
 
HI Friends, Wow, You made good time. Glad you are nested for the night. Thanks again for the storage spot. Stay warm and safe, sleep well.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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I'm very excited for you Pat & Patty. I look forward to following your blog very closely.

BTW, how many C-Dories are at Bitter End boatworks anyway? C-Dancer is currently getting its bottom painted, Daydream just left, Meant To Be is/was there, Widgeon and soon Sleepy-C. Wow!

Peter
 
Pat&Patty,

I don't know if this has been mentioned or not, but here goes....

As many of you know, Mary is a Very active FaceBooker. During our 2016 truck camping exploration of the Canadian Maritime Provinces she did an excellent photo documentation of the entire trip. It was quite a task, and very well done (not that I'm prejudiced or anything!)

When we returned home she went to mysocialbook.com and had her entire Facebook from May 12, 2016 thru August 9, 2016 (postings, pictures, links, etc) compiled into a hard cover book. The book is a wonderful permanent record of the Adventure, and an interesting coffee table item. Many folks seem to enjoy looking through it. I'm kind of sad we didn't do the same thing for our 2013 SEAK trip ... but that ship has 'sailed (pun intended).

As your Great Loop Adventure continues I would urge you to spend that extra time to photograph and document your experiences on FB. It would be great historical reminder for you, and your kid's will enjoy it as well!

Best,
C&M
 
Pat Anderson":2imx9trk said:
Left Birch Bay this morning on the Great Adventure! Got 430 miles down the road to LeGrande (Island City right next door actually). Enjoying our sundowners, Lucy is in the vee-berth (she is a good traveler!), Baxter is on the dinette seat next to Patty, Webasto heater is blasting, all is good!
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Lucy? Did I miss something? Baxter has a girlfriend?

Safe travels! Salty and Fritz send their regards as well.
 
Pat and Patty Just left Camp Thataway--Such great folks and wonderful members of our Family! Baxter had a "ball" playing with Angel's toys,,Angel loved having her friend to "catch up" with about his adventures. Luci stayed in her crate, in the C Dory...

Got a chance to see Pat's navigation system--pretty impressive.! Boat i looking good with this 4 new "shoes"--Truck is a beast!

Safe travels, and only a couple of days until "Splash down"..
"
 
We are in Chiefland, FL, and will be in Fort Denaud tomorrow 17 miles from the Ortona Lock Boat Ramp on the Okeechobee Waterway, primed for a Saturday morning launch! Dr. Bob and Marie are just fantastic hosts, and we had a wonderful visit, including a fabulous dinner, steak, potatoes, and the best shrimp we have ever had, royal reds from way out in the Gulf! Then a good night's sleep in a REAL BED, breakfast, and a hot shower! We said our goodbyes a bit after 10:00 a.m. We have now come 3,515 miles from Birch Bay, something like 277 to go tomorrow and then the adventure REALLY BEGINS!
 
Glad to hear you are close to launching. That is one long drive! I have been thinking about your drive while watching the bad weather going across the country.

Both times I have zoomed in on where you are (google map), I see a walmart super center in the area. Do you over night at these?

I have thought many times about doing the loop so I will be following online.

Steve
 
As my FB friends know, we are now in Fort Denaud, only a few short miles from the Ortona Lock Boat Ramp, where we will launch tomorrow. Yes, we mostly stayed at Camp Walmart, except a night with Bill and El in Lakewood, a Motel 6 in Memphis, a night at Camp Thataway with Dr. Bob and Marie, and tonight at a great Boondocker's Welcome (Google that) site in Fort Denaud, FL. We plan to take lots of pictures!
 
I just published the first blog entry for Daydream's Great Loop since the planning and preparation entries. Here is the link, enjoy, and please enter your email in the upper right corner dialog box if you would like email notifications of subsequent blog entries!

Here is the link!
 
Hi Pat,

Great Blog!

Sorry to hear about the blow outs. I had the same thing happen with a Goodyear marathon tire. Goodyear did pay for the replacement fender when I got home.

I read that you are using T-mobile for your cell service. I think it is less expensive than Verizon or AT&T but wonder about the coverage. Please let us know how it works on the trip.

I am also wondering if you have concerns about the heat and humidity? I have spent time (many years ago) in the south and don't know that I could handle that without AC after years on the west coast.

I am sure you are excited to get on the water. You are launching on the day you planned - can't get much better than that!

Steve
 
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