Almost 6,000 Miles: Cruising America's Great Loop with Tricia & Mike Aboard Darlin' Lea (2023-2024)
Cruising along America's Great Loop is a life voyage for which we are grateful beyond words! We appreciated every day anew, always traveling new routes, learning new things, meeting genuinely nice people, and sharing our stories and ourselves with family and friends. We planned some destinations and experiences but really enjoyed allowing our hearts and eyes to be opened to wherever and whatever God led us. That didn't mean it was all rainbows and unicorns, nor sweet cocktails and dreamy sunsets. There were many hard days, not fun, not pretty. We developed a great respect for the explorers and mariners who charted the way, including other loopers! We began with no significant boating experience but learned, adapted, prayed, laughed and, once or twice, cried our way through. We believe this looping live-aboard lifestyle still has a lot to offer us so, after a few boat projects this summer, we plan to continue cruising and proudly fly our AGLCA gold burgee!
6/21/20242 min read
Our Great Loop 2023-2024
1 country
19 states
Started and ended on Kent Island, MD (specifically, Crab Alley Bay)
153 boat cards collected
180 social media posts
5/4/2023 - 6/16/2024
307 looping days total
153 daily voyages
788 hours underway
15 weeks "off"
42% nights at anchorages and free docks
58% nights in paid docks/mooring balls/marinas
5,753 statute miles
93 locks
160 miles, most distance in one day, 19 hours overnight, Gulf of Mexico
1.5 miles, least distance in one day, just because
14 mph top speed, achieved one time with a 4+ kt current in the Mississippi River
4' biggest waves
618' deepest water, Seneca Lake, NY
9 log bumps, Dismal Swamp, NC/VA
2 groundings, soft!
840 engine hours
2.44 gallons per hour, including 589 generator hours
2,052 gallons of diesel purchased, $8,859 ($3.46 low, $5.32 high, $4.32 avg)
3 propane tank refills
No ice purchased
5 DIY engine oil changes
3 DIY fuel filter changes
2 DIY generator oil changes
2 DIY transmission fluid changes
29 pump outs (most were DIY!)
More than last year, generally...
More walking
More bike riding
More swimming
More cities visited
More small towns visited
More museums
More art centers
More people met
And, best of all, more friendships!
Happy Cruising!
Days 302-306. Solomons and St Michaels, MD. One on the western side of the Chesapeake Bay, one on the eastern side. Almost-final stops of our Great Loop! Good fun! Beautiful flowers! Enchanting and magical museums - inside and outdoors! Antique & classic boat festival! Yummy food! More looper friends! Fair winds and seas!!!
"There are good ships and wood ships, ships that sail the sea, but the best ships are friendships, and may they always be.” - Irish Proverb
