Meet the new La Rea!

LaRea

Thanks guys!  It has been an amazing trip that surpassed anything we could have imagined.  

6992 Miles traveled
322 Days since leaving
3 Foreign countries visited (Canada, Bahamas, Conch Republic of Key West)
17 States visited
150 Marinas and anchorages visited
109 Locks transited
727 Engine hours 

More importantly, we met so many fun and interesting people that we're going to do it all over again!  We'll be here 3-4 weeks then head north.  Once is not enough!

LaRea

Don't ask me to name a favorite part of the trip ... each region is different and special in its own way!  But in our second Loop, we'll spend a little more time in the Great Lakes and Bahamas.  We want to cruise Lake Erie and visit friends in Cleveland and Detroit.  Maybe visit the Wisconsin side of Lake Michigan.  And we'll probably spend a bit less time on the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers.  

If any of you are even remotely considering it, you absolutely do not need to have a big boat.  Most Loopers are in affordable boats 35-45 feet long and 15-25 years old.  Think Mainship 390 or Bayliner 3988.  It's cheap to run them and easy to find slips for them.  

Here's a pic of our girl sporting the coveted Gold Flag (meaning the crew has made a complete Loop).  By this time next year, we hope to trade it for a Platinum Flag -- I've only seen a handful of those!

LaRea

Our two closest Looping friends are Bill and Sandi from M/V Peace & Love.  We met them in Brewerton NY and traveled with them for probably 75% of the remaining 6000 miles.  Celebrated Thanksgiving, Christmas and birthdays with them.  They drove up by car from South Carolina just to catch our lines!  It's a great example of the lifelong friendships that come from boating.  

Bill and Sandi decorated our dock with balloons and ribbons, plus an AWESOME banner of our boat.  A big crowd showed up to welcome us!  Champagne toasts at the dock followed by an even bigger potluck dinner in the clubhouse.  It was absolutely off the charts!  Really meant a lot to us having that sort of homecoming.  

YYZRC

Chris, can you be back in Midland by June 14? Butter tart festival…

https://www.midland.ca/en/community-tourism-culture/ontarios-best-butter-tart-festival.aspx

First dozen are on me. 

LaRea

Hah -- I wish!  We became huge fans of butter tarts!  For our American readers:  butter tarts are a Canadian delicacy.  Hard to explain, easy to enjoy!

Unfortunately the Erie Canal is opening late this year because of storm damage.  There are about 200 boats stacked up in the Hudson River waiting for the locks to open.  We won't hit Canada until late June or early July.

Ian

The Maritimo M55 Frankie Mo you drooled over is at Waterford now, came in a week or so ago. He’ll be waiting.