Great Loop Begins for Real 2019

-
Our route begins in Lake Champlain, heading down the Champlain Canal to Waterford, NY where we will make a left turn into the Erie Canal. The Great Lakes will include Lake Erie, Lake Huron, and Lake Michigan. We enter the rivers in Chicago, IL and arrive in Mobile, AL in mid-late November. We follow the coast of Florida to the Keys and then up the ICW up the east coast to New York and back into the Hudson River in late spring 2020.

As we prepare Selah Way to begin cruising the Great Loop in June 2019, we'd like to show you a map of a the route we most likely will take over the course of approximately one year. Basically, we will be circumnavigating the eastern US counter-clockwise following the 70+ degree weather. First priority is to get our home in Moretown, VT listed to sell. Second priority is to celebrate a "Bon Voyage/Retirement" party on Sunday, June 2 (1-6pm). Third priority is to cast off from Donovan's Shady Harbor Marina near Albany, NY. The rest is all up to the weather, wind, and our whim!

June 4, 2019:  David's first day of retirement! Well, the house is under contract - fingers crossed, right? We had a wonderful Bon Voyage gathering at the house yesterday with both our kids and their children here, neighbors, friends (new and old...some who we've known for 40 years!) all made it a very joyous, fun, and emotional time. Add to that, about 5 house showings before and after the party which meant ending it 30 minutes early - thanks to those who helped clean up in record time! And our apologies to a few people who showed up and found the party had already ended - whoops.

Two out of three accomplished - now to splash the boat and get moving!

In order to get to the Albany area without leaving our car there involved driving to Amtrak station in Rutland, VT where we boarded a train and arrived in Albany, NY where my sister, Judy, picked us up and delivered us to the marina - after a trip to the grocery story to provision for our trip back to Vermont. Brian's crew at Shady Harbor Marina had successfully launched Selah Way and tied her to one of the transient docks. We loaded her up and made plans to leave the next morning, June 15, 2019. Day 1 of our Great Loop Adventure!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

COLLISION!!!

-
Image
Two Journeys Collide What I haven't mentioned yet, is that I was diagnosed with Urethelial Carcinoma (bladder cancer) just after we made the decision to make the journey of the Great Loop back in August of 2018. I underwent surgery for a radical nephrectomy including the removal of my left kidney and ureter in October 2018.  The amazing part is that other than recovery from surgery, I have felt extremely healthy and the side-effects of the immunotherapy are mild to none.  This must have been pre-surgery ;-) because I don't remember feeling THAT good afterwards. My dear friend, Deb, who was also in the hospital at the same time (we facetimed) with colon cancer. I lost my friend in June 2019, just as we were headed out on the Great Loop. She would have joined us for part of the trip along the Erie Canal and who knows where else. She is with us in spirit, but tremendously missed.  The bad news is that after one clear scan in February, the cancer returned showin...
Read more

Shake Down Cruise

-
Image
Selah is a Hebrew term with MANY meanings. We're using "pause and consider".  David, our captain, doing some engine repairs before casting off.  Martin Dudley (Uncle Fud) re-setting the flag stantion so it won't fall off enroute! David & Amy, Captain & First Mate showing off our AGLCA burghee which means we are in progress of cruising the Great Loop. Brother extraordinairre, Tom Briggs, inflating the fenders before heading out. Of course, DOG is helping! Typically, a shake down cruise wouldn't be a three day journey, but it seemed to be the best option for us. For insurance (other than our insurance policy) we invited my brother, Tom Briggs and his buddy since childhood, Martin Dudley (affectionately known as Uncle Fud) for their boating experience and wisdom of all things nautical. Also, we know a good amount of humor is always needed for serious undertakings! This is an impeller. It's missing some "fins" ...
Read more