Andiamo-Ranger 29 and The Great Loop

J

j&lgray

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 28, 2008
Messages
644
Fluid Motion Model
C-28
Vessel Name
Trilogy
Greetings Tugnutters:

Five years ago, we took our beloved Laurie Ann on the western third of the Great Loop from near Chicago to Mobile Bay, Alabama. Some of you may have seen that log and photos at the Laurie Ann website, http://www.laurieann-ranger25.com

We decided a year ago to do the remainder of this great adventure. This started with finding a new-to-us Ranger 29 that we named Andiamo (pronounced om-dee-om-o, that is Italian for Lets Go!). We intend to be a looper for the next 9 months.

Today's milestone: Andiamo left Everett, Washington for Tarpon Springs, Florida. We fly in to Tampa on Sunday and the boat arrives on Tuesday, January 28.

We will post edited versions of our log and a number of photos on our Andiamo website: www.andiamo-ranger29.com

As new pages are added, we will make post a note here so you can look it up. We have received lots of nice comments about the laurieann website and we are using the those ideas and themes in creating the Andiamo website.
 
Your website is very well written as always. Congratulations! We're looking forward to seeing you at the Southwest Florida Rendezvous.
 
Hi Laurie and John:

We love your blogs and have gotten lots of great ideas.

One question about the v-berth shelves you installed on the Laurie Ann: were you still able to pull out the upholstered side cushions? (http://www.laurieann-ranger25.com/making-use-of-smaller-spaces.html) And any sage tips on making up the bed in the v-berth? Must be wonderful to walk around the bed on your R29. 🙂

Hope you have a great trip on The Loop. We look forward to seeing your posts.
 
Sweet Pea -

Thanks for the nice compliments! The shelves are just fine to get the cushions out - no problems there. We always just left the v-berth made up. This was mostly because we put a 3-4 in memory foam on top of the cushions - a "have to" - and it was just easier that way to store the memory foam. Feel free to send us a PM if you have additional detailed questions about this.

Here's to just "doing it"!

Laurie
 
Greeting Tugnutters;

Andiamo has arrived in Tarpon Springs, Florida after being in the middle of the nightmare in Atlanta and the snowstorm. Our tug was shipped by Cory Gracey and his son and co-driver Hunter, who did an amazing feat of delivering the tug without injury and they were safe and sound while avoiding 1,200 accidents.

We have fixed the problems caused by freezing, vibration and road wear and hope to be in the water Monday, February 3 to head to the Palm Island Marina for the tug rendezvous.

Read the detail and see the photos at our website: www.andiamo-ranger29.com
 
Looking forward to following your great loop experience!
 
Greetings Tugnutters;

Andiamo has left the Palm Island Marina near Cape Haze, Florida after attending the Southwest Tug Rendezvous that was a great event. Carol, Ted, Mike, Jess, Rich and Cheryll did an outstanding job in creating a memorable event and it was a wonderful size of 20 boats.

See the update pages on our website for details at www.andiamo-ranger29.com
 
Greetings Tugnutters;

Andiamo has explored the Fort Meyers area of Florida and has headed east on the Okeechobee Waterway. We have been cruising for 15 days and done over 250 miles with a wide variety of scenes and meeting great people along the way. See the edited version of our log, selected photos and maps that show the way at our website:

www.andiamo-ranger29.com

Also, thanks for the emails and the comments.
 
Greetings Tugnuts:

In the past week, Andiamo has travelled the width of Florida on the Okeechobee Waterway and headed north on the Atlantic ICW with stops in Stuart, Fort Pierce, Vero Beach and Melbourne. We had a great time with the Tom and Pam who purchased our Ranger 25.

You can see photos and read selections from our log by going to our website:

http://www.andiamo-ranger29.com

We love the email and private messages that we have received. Thank you for the encouragement to keep writing and photographing.
 
John and Laurie, thanks for your latest blog posting. Glad to see that you are having a wonderful adventure! I look forward to your next post.
 
Thanks Herb and Willy,

Marinetraffic.com tracks Andiamo's AIS system when we are moving and they have coverage where we are. Until now, marinetraffic.com has had very spotty coverage on Florida's west coast, none on the Okeechobee Waterway, but good since Vero Beach. Very soon, we are heading north and at Jacksonville, we will turn onto the St. John's River and spend some time there. This spotty coverage is a good reminder that all of these web-based tracking options are advisory and provide interesting information but do not make decisions based on the information.
 
John and Laurie, you are so right about AIS internet services. There can be a considerable delay in reports and lag time with the internet. So do not depend on these as more than an advisory or entertainment ashore. I would not recommend using them on your boat. It is fun for us boatless in Texas to see what our friends are doing. We are considering following your wake about 6 months or so behind you. So we are watching you closely.
 
Greetings Tugnutters;

Andiamo has been cruising for just over 4 weeks and has covered over 660 miles after leaving Tarpon Springs Florida, attending the tug rendezvous, going across Florida on the Okeechobee Waterway, and going up the east coast. Since our last post, Andiamo has been to Daytona Beach, the Kennedy Space Center, and is waiting out the weather in St. Augustine.

You can see photos and portions of Andiamo's log at:
http://www.andiamo-ranger29.com

Soon, we will be turning west to explore the St. John's River that includes Jacksonville and the interior of this part of northern Florida. As the temperature rises into the 70's, the journey will continue north.
 
Great photo's and copy John and Laurie, brings back fond memories.....keep the cards, letters and photo posts coming.
 
Greetings Tugnutters;

Andiamo is 7 weeks into the Great Loop adventure and is now in Georgia after spending two weeks on the St. John's River that included Jacksonville. Now at Cumberland Island National Seashore, then Jekyll Island, Brunswick and Savannah. You can photos and journal entries at our website:

www.andiamo-ranger29.com

Thanks so much for the emails, posts and comments.
 
Greetings Tugnutters!

9 Weeks and nearly 1,300 miles, Andiamo is in South Carolina. We have been in Beaufort for two days, tomorrow we head towards Charleston.

Andiamo spent 10 days in Savannah. A great place as spring was unfolding. Family came to visit and helped celebrate a birthday and the weather kept us in port for a couple of days.

Fuel wise, the tug is averaging 2.0 gallons per hour, 3.7 miles per gallon and is doing great. The tug crossed the 500 hour mark and we changed out the coolant, oil and filter and fuel filters. The BMW engine (sold by Yanmar and has their engine cover on it) is really easy to work on.

The website has pages added for Georgia and now the Carolinas plus a page on Living at 8 MPH.

Here is the website: www.andiamo-ranger29.com
for our journal and selected photos.

Thanks for the "fan mail" that we are receiving!
 
Great to see things are going well! In my opinion you are on the best part of the southern east coast loop. Definitely get to Elizabeth City. They just put in new bathrooms and showers and the people there are very welcoming. From there a trip up the Dismal Swamp is a must.
Keep us informed and smell the roses along the way!

Mike Rizzo
 
Greetings Tugnutters:

Andiamo is in Beaufort, North Carolina (pronounced BOH-fort) and "How y'all doin?" waiting out the severe weather warnings that will ease on Friday morning. We celebrated our 35 wedding anniversary here. There have been tornados, 70 plus winds and huge hail; all to the north of us. Many of the loopers are now ahead of us as we took the week off to go back to Seattle.

This is the beginning of the "Outter Banks" of Cape Lookout and Cape Hattaras, neither of which Andiamo is going to. Those are on the Atlantic shore and the tug is staying inland on the protected inshore route of the ICW (Intracoastal Waterway). In the past week, we left Charleston, South Carolina and headed north and east through the small towns of Georgetown, the wealthy resort community of Myrtle Beach, Southport, Carolina Beach, anchored at Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base and now in Beaufort. The next leg will take us across Pamlico Sound, through the Dismal Swamp and into Virginia and the Chesapeake Bay

Andiamo has travelled just over 1,600 miles since leaving Tarpon Springs, Florida on February 3 and has treated us well. Lots of photos and the log can be seen at the website:

www.andiamo-ranger29.com
 
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