Perfect Day on the Great Loop

Back on the Great Loop Again

Perfect Day going back into the water

We are back on the loop again! It feels good to be here and starting the adventure again. We are beginning "leg 3" of the loop journey. It has been seven and a half months since we left the boat. Lots of "life" happened at home to keep us there for so long, Kristen's accident and surgeries, Heather's wedding, holidays, etc. Our original plan was 3 months on the boat and 3 months off for 3 years or until the loop was done. The only thing we know for sure is that we have no set schedule....
Bill arrived back at the boat a week before I did to get it ready to go. He said he could have used another week, he was working and cleaning and fixing things like a maniac. The boat looked good and the engines turned over the first time! We were very happy with Forest River Yacht Services in La Belle, and glad we chose to store it there for so long. We went there as it was so far inland upriver and we were worried about hurricanes. It turns out they hadn't had any hurricane damage there in 40 years but heavy rains and the mold were a huge problem. Wish someone would've had told us about that!

We had our canvas fixed here - we are in the sticks out here in LaBelle where the boat was stored! Lots of the zippers rotted in the sun. They did a great sewing job!

The first couple of days after I arrived we stayed in Fort Myers at a hotel and got together with friends we had made doing the loop. Our entire flotilla (Reunion, Always 5 O'clock and Blue Moon) was there. We travelled down the rivers together on and off for about 6 weeks. Pretty amazing we were all there since we all live in different states. Bill and I crashed the "Gold Loopers Reunion" (went to cocktail hour only, as only people who compete the loop are gold loopers and can attend) and saw many people we had met along the way. There were 125 people there! Out of all the people we started with we are the only ones who have not completed the loop yet. Most people did it in a year - full time. Very few went to the Bahamas.

The flotilla plus Sea Fever

Provisioning the boat for our next leg to the Bahamas was overwhelming and expensive! Trying to figure out how much food, water, alcohol, dark chocolate, paper goods, etc., etc. you need for 2 months is tough!!! Also a lot of the time we may be anchored out so we need food that doesn't require refrigeration. Three big shopping trips to Walmart in 2 days, and there are still things we forgot. Walmart made a fortune off of us.

EVERYTHING on the boat was wrapped in plastic for the mold.

So much fun in Walmart!

Bill spent alot of time today installing a water purifier on the sink. We heard you can't drink the water in the Bahamas. Water is expensive over there. To fill your water tank on the boat they are charging $.25 - $.50 gallon for water (and you still can't drink it).