Starting points for the great loop

[Annie Time]

Hey all,

We are thinking of doing the Great Loop in 3 or 4 segments. Does anyone have suggestions on start and stop points? I know it’s very seasonal-dependent The first leg we think we would do is northern east coast and around to or past Chicag😵f course we would need transportation back to the start point from the end point.

Perry and Annie

 

[knotflying]

Time of year and time allotted are key. I would say you want to be off the great lakes by the beginning of October to head south. From Great Lakes to Florida from October through April. Best to cross the big bend before December as the winds can get strong from the north after that and weather windows get scarce. Florida to New York Figure April to June. I would say you want to be in the New Your area by June to be heading north.

Those are the basic windows of time. So it all depends on what you want to see and how long you want to stay places. Don't rush it, there is a lot to see and do. We have had our boat for eight years and have done most of the loop. Probably only the ugly parts are left. When I say ugly I mean the ones that require more endurance than sightseeing, i.e. The Big Bend and the Mississippi. The Big Bend can be done by going around it rather than crossing diagonally and it can be more interesting that way.

Enjoy!

 

[BB marine]

Perry and Annie
We are Segment Loopers. We started 2016 just chipping away at it. The ability to trailer the boat was our reason for purchasing the Cutwater. Our first shake down trip was in the fall 2 weeks launched near Huntsville AL. and attended the AGLCA Rendezvous. This was a great start to find out what the loop is all about and meet people that were in progress. This first trip gave us knowledge of what to expect and as Mike described the proper seasonal moves we should plan.

Up to this point our Loop segments have only been comprised of 4 weeks max including logistics of launching, moving our truck and trailer to ending point and returning home. Full retirement for both of us starts next spring so this will allow for our Loop segment chunks to be larger. We are not in a hurry!
2016 towed to Huntsville Ditto landing marina. Joe wheeler lake and Guntersville lake (just a tease)

2017, Racine Wisconsin to Grand Rivers Ky. 60 miles of Lake Michigan, 320 miles of rivers Chicago sanitary canal, Des Plaines river and Illinois River, 216 miles of the Mississippi River, 58 miles of the Ohio, and 32 miles of the Cumberland river. We spent 3 weeks on the water and 1 week with logistics and remnants of a Hurricane that traveled up the Tennessee valley dumping a lot of rain. This segment was done at the last week of August and first 3 weeks of September. Great weather except for 3 days of heavy rain. We used these days for retrieving our truck and trailer.

2018, Side trip of the Loop. Knoxville Tennessee to the Ohio river. Towed to Knoxville launched and started our trip at the head waters of the Tennessee River and ended at the Ohio. Pulled the boat out at Kentucky lake and Dam Marina. This is an October trip. Traveling though the foothills of Tennessee, then Alabama, Mississippi and Kentucky. This was a bucket list trip for me and lived up to its expectations. 652 miles of Tennessee River.

2019 Trip is coming up in a month. Racine Wis to the North Channel. Leaving last week of July. 75 miles up the west side of Lake Michigan, Crossing lake Michigan float plan of 63 miles, then 130 miles north to Charlevoix Mi for a Ranger Tug/Cutwater Rendezvous. After the rendezvous head north to the North Channel with an ending Location of De Tour Mi. Truck and trailer staged there and head home.

Our starting points in the future trips will be ( fully retired) 😎
Florence Al. to the Florida Panhandle Mid October to mid November.
Panhandle to Florida west coast. January to March
East coast Florida to Chesapeake Bay Area April and May.
Delaware Bay to New York Hudson River May and June
New York Northern water ways and Canada to the north Channel June and July.
Cross our Wake ! We are on the 6 year plan!

 

[tlkenyon]

Perry and Annie,

We did most of the Loop in 2018/19, starting in Ottawa, Illinois (not Ontario) at Heritage Harbor on September 11. Ended in Parry Sound, Ontario on July 15. Still gotta finish.

I would encourage you to join the AGLCA. It is a great organization. The information available to members is comprehensive and will answer pretty much all your questions, as well as your specific question on when/where to start. A daily forum is sent out (only if you sign up for that) which is an incredible information resource.

When we first considered the Loop, we went to the Spring Rendezvous in Norfolk in 2015. That sold us on the idea and we gained a lot of nearly priceless information...and it was a great vacation.

TK

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

The suggestions for joining AGLCA are well worth the price of admission. By being members not only do you receive the daily forum posts to learn from but you have instant recognition while cruising by flying an AGLCA burgee. The fall AGLCA Rendezvous at Joe Wheeler was just recently posted for signing up. If you are remotely interested in attending you should check it out and sign up sooner then later, as this event sells out every year. At the Rendezvous you’ll gain countless good loop cruising information from the presentations, meet fellow Loopers, share stories and more.

Jim F

 

[Annie Time]

Thanks all. We are a year from retirement we will join the Great loop organization as we get closer. First on the bucket list is the Alaska trip


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[ALICE J]

By all means, do Alaska! I started in June 2016 from Florida, towed my Ranger across the US and national parks to Prince Rupert, BC, then by water to Sitka, AK. Returned via the national parks down the west coast to Big Bend, TX, and back to Florida. Quite an adventure of 14,000 miles with a few minor hiccups, but major memories. I have paper charts of Alaska, books, and Garmin chips for sale if interested. Did the Canadian Canals last year, and North Channel this summer, and planning the Down East Loop for next year.

 

[CaspersCruiser]

We are a year from retirement we will join the Great loop organization as we get closer

I am looping in sections as well. I suggest joining the AGLCA at least a year ahead of starting the loop and read the forum. I take a few minutes daily to read it and make note of members’ comments about what to see, where to eat and where to stay/anchor as they make their way around the loop. It has come in handy on my first couple sections. Reading the forum is also a nice way to see how folks in smaller boats cope with issues specific to those vessels. It will also give you a feel of where you may want to start your loop.

 

[Toki]

Thanks all. We are a year from retirement we will join the Great loop organization as we get closer. First on the bucket list is the Alaska trip
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You're on about the same schedule as my wife and I:

This year: Bought the R27, several weekend trips, 2 week trip to Desolation Sound

Next year: 2 month trip to Alaska and back

Following year: Boaterhome across US, start the Great Loop

 

[Annie Time]

Alice J I sent you PM about your offer



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[ALICE J]

Annie Time, I sent a reply to the address on your PM, I copied and pasted, but perhaps the electrons have been skewed? I will resend on Saturday.