Salty Completes America's Great Loop

I

irlboater

New member
Rosa and I have completed our platinum-flagged Great Loop adventure after 6,891 miles in 200 days. Our unconventional route took us across Lake Superior to Duluth. With the help of AGLCA member Randy Swanstrom and Harbor Host Ken G, Salty was transported to the navigational headwaters of the Mississippi River and we cruised from Minneapolis to New Orleans on the Big Muddy.

Thanks to Ottawa River Harbor Hosts, Francis Lavigne and Helene Lapointe who allowed us to keep our boat on their dock and transported us to and from Ottawa airport so Rosa and I could enjoy a side trip to Nova Scotia.

We flew home for a week to prepare for, ride out and clean up after Hurricane Irma. Thankfully, Irma was less destructive than Matthew was the year previous. We dodged Hurricane Nate while visiting a friend on the Atchafalaya River.

We were impressed with the raw beauty of Lake Superior and would encourage Loopers to consider a side trip along the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

Here are a few statistics of our journey...

163 - Locks Transited
465 - Engine Hours
1,390 - Gallons of Gas
$4,193 - Cost of Gas
114 - Days Underway
45 - Nights in Marinas
33 - Nights Using Parks Canada Mooring Pass
5 - Average Miles Per Gallon
15 - Average Miles Per Hour
100 - Boat Cards Received
 
Congrats, Jonathan and Rosa! Your unconventional Loop is really inspiring! We will long remember our days at Honest John's Fish Camp, and I have the hat to prove it! It is my daily Loop hat! I enjoyed each and every time, however brief, we crossed paths you and Rosa! on our Loop!
 
Congrats Again!! Still many variations of "The Loop" to try!!

"Raw beauty" certainly is an appropriate description for Lake Superior. I have never boated on it but have enjoyed its beauty from shore both while travelling by rail and on the Trans Canada Highway.

How many miles are on Salty's hull now?

Regards, Rob
 
Inspiring...one day. Although the spousal unit is not quite on board (literally) yet.

Going to start small...Tampa to somewhere for a day or so. I'll post a separate thread on that. I suspect there's already a thread in here somewhere discussing that.
 
Impressive Report. Good numbers, and what an accomplishment. Inspiring. I like the part about Superior and might have to make that a destination.

What is it that drew you to repeat the Loop (2 times). Really curious about that?

Jason, "Boat Cards" are like a business card. Usually a picture of the boat, and contact info. Some folks make collections, -- Think baseball cards.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

JC_Lately_SleepyC_Flat_Blue_070.thumb.jpg
 
Thank you all for the positive comments. Many friends have asked me why I would want to do the loop for a second or third time. They ask if there are other adventures that I would like to do. Yes, I have other adventures on my mind but the logistics of doing the grand adventure called America's Great Loop have become almost frivolous to me.
My second and third loops were much easier for me. I didn't even have a packing list the third time. I loaded the boat, put it in the water and was off in a matter of hours. I don't have the anxiety that I had for my first trip. I'm not worried how I will get gas. I'm not worried if I will enjoy the adventure. I'm not worried if my boat is too small. All of those questions that I had on my first trip.
I like to say that this trip is a good balance between comfort and adventure. We stopped at towns that we missed on previous trips and revisited some towns that we enjoyed. There are places along the route that I could visit every year. I feel free traveling the waterways. That's why I'm planning my fourth trip in 2019.
Our route will take us up through Lake Champlain to Montreal. Down the Rideau Canal, across Lake Ontario and the western Erie Canal. I'm hoping to portage from Lake Erie to the Ohio River then down the Tenn-Tom Waterway. It should take six months or less. Say hello if you see Salty on the water!
 
Congrats to you and your crew! This past March Linda and I attended a presentation including slides, given by a couple who finished the great loop. It was amazing! The dream of many, the experience of a few!
 
Congratulations on completing the "Loop" again. We enjoyed meeting you two in Clinton, Iowa, and giving you a short driving tour of Clinton. Glad that you rode out the hurricane with little damage.
 
irlboater":115pga9r said:
Thank you all for the positive comments. Many friends have asked me why I would want to do the loop for a second or third time. They ask if there are other adventures that I would like to do. Yes, I have other adventures on my mind but the logistics of doing the grand adventure called America's Great Loop have become almost frivolous to me.
My second and third loops were much easier for me. I didn't even have a packing list the third time. I loaded the boat, put it in the water and was off in a matter of hours. I don't have the anxiety that I had for my first trip. I'm not worried how I will get gas. I'm not worried if I will enjoy the adventure. I'm not worried if my boat is too small. All of those questions that I had on my first trip.
I like to say that this trip is a good balance between comfort and adventure. We stopped at towns that we missed on previous trips and revisited some towns that we enjoyed. There are places along the route that I could visit every year. I feel free traveling the waterways. That's why I'm planning my fourth trip in 2019.
Our route will take us up through Lake Champlain to Montreal. Down the Rideau Canal, across Lake Ontario and the western Erie Canal. I'm hoping to portage from Lake Erie to the Ohio River then down the Tenn-Tom Waterway. It should take six months or less. Say hello if you see Salty on the water!
Click to expand...

"Good balance between comfort and adventure" & "I Feel free traveling the waterways" That is beautiful! Enjoy!!
 
Jonathon,
Several of us are interested on where and how you got fuel on the Mississippi River below the confluence with the Ohio this year?

Thanks.
 
Back
Top