Meet the new La Rea!

LaRea · May 24

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!

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020499/uploads/editor/23/k1sh4krfc4wc.jpg

LaRea · May 24

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!

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020499/uploads/editor/hs/wbwoy7bun35k.jpg

LaRea · May 24

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.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020499/uploads/editor/pw/p2efudqnarcy.jpg

YYZRC · May 24

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 · May 24

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 · May 25

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

Liberty44140 · May 27

Wow! congrats on the big finish..... and start of the next loop! Very cool that your friends drove up for your triumphant arrival. Great pics!

TonyG13 · May 27

rasbury said:

What's next!

He's just going to do it again - like a ride at Disneyland!

aero3113 · May 27

LoL!!
😂 ⚓️

Ian · May 27

With more upgrades

LaRea · June 2

Some before-and-after eye candy of the swim platform hydraulic pump system. Last week I scraped off all the rust and applied gloss white POR. Looks good from a distance. Don't look too close or you'll see the brush marks. I also cleaned the hydraulic check valves, and now the platform will hold position for 1-2 hours without the locks -- bonus!!

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020499/uploads/editor/wp/j5fcj2dr9cgq.jpg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020499/uploads/editor/dn/3ep5gmeztzlr.jpg

I did not WANT to learn about hydraulic systems, but now I know the basics. My friend asked why I didn't just retrofit a new lift instead of going to all this trouble. I told him it would cost $40k and he said "ohhhh, now I get it!"

LaRea · July 2

(cross-post from yesterday's blog on LaRea.net)

After a lovely five weeks living in a "dirt home," we're underway for another year of adventures!

We stayed in the same small waterfront home that we rented before we left last year. And you know what? We enjoyed it! The king-size bed, endless hot showers, real toilet paper ... these are the little things that helped us tolerate life ashore.

In the shower is where I feel it most ... that feeling boaters get when they go ashore. The floor is definitely moving, though I know it really isn't. That feeling went away after about a week of sleeping on land. I want to get it back.

Our time here was hectic. Lots of boat projects and maintenance, as I've already shared. Lots of medical appointments, because LaRea's crew also needs routine maintenance. Lots of visiting with our neighborhood friends, and especially our long-time boating buddies!

Back in the day, most of us had "express cruiser" boats made for overnighting and weekending -- which we did often. On any given Sunday morning, you'd likely find us waking up with the boats all tied together, anchored after a long Saturday of floating, music, eating and drinking. These "raft-ups" took place mostly at Gunston Cove, just a quick four miles from home. Fun times!

When Diane and I moved up to a motor yacht, most of our friends did the opposite. They downsized to center-console boats and ski boats, and they love them! Over the past couple of weeks, they treated us to boat rides when our yacht was landlocked by the Potomac River's shallow water at low tide. It was refreshing and great fun. They don't care when the next low tide will happen, because their boats can go out any time. So easy, so carefree.

We've known most of those friends for decades. For them, I suppose it felt like we went away for a year, then returned home. To us, it felt different. Now the boat is home, and we were only visiting our old stomping grounds. Today we're home again -- back on the water. Sorry to be leaving, but so very happy to be underway!

Dream_Inn · July 4

I had so much fun tied with crew of LaRea that the only pic I got was when he was tying up to us. We sure enjoyed a great day/night. And fireworks to add to the day was great! I only wish I took one pic of the two boats together. The admiral did get one pic of us that just had to do a little cleaning on LaRea.

The other couple in the pic is the only ones that have been to all 18 Rinkervous with us, so that made the day even more special.

LaRea · July 5

That was a blast! I appreciate that you let us invite ourselves to your party, and that fireworks show at Rock Hall was top-notch. We had perfect weather, just like last night anchored near Lewes DE to watch more fireworks!

rasbury · July 7

Since you have made the trip once, create a you tube channel- is there a way to monetize your trip with followers? I'm sure the experience of the first trip would allow more time to do video? You'd have it forever.

LaRea · July 8

We thought about publishing some videos, but not for the money. I'm still doing engineering work a few hours a day, and it pays a lot better than YouTube.

rasbury · July 8

LaRea said:

We thought about publishing some videos, but not for the money. I'm still doing engineering work a few hours a day, and it pays a lot better than YouTube.

I was thinking more of recording the adventure than making money- memories last much longer than money. But, I'll take it!

LaRea · July 10

First Rinker sighting of our second Great Loop! @Ian and his lovely bride at Donovan's Shady Harbor on the Hudson River. We had a great time catching up and sharing stories about our home yacht clubs. Good times!

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020499/uploads/editor/9u/62j2p5c6lwdo.jpg

Ian · July 10

Great to catch up again Chris and Diane, Tania and I will see you again before you turn west.

rasbury · July 22

Wow, it would be so awesome to travel like this!

aero3113 · July 25

@LaRea , you should try this the third time around!⚓️

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMdXkfnsuZj/?igsh=MXdvdjBsbmhteWVvdA==

LaRea · July 25

I met that guy in Brewerton! He came to Ess-Kay Yards during our visit. The yard owner, Kim, had three of her techs perform an oil change faster than a NASCAR pit crew. Quick photo op with her and Kim Russo (Director of AGLCA). Then sent him on his way with an entourage of well-wishers.

AGLCA doesn't encourage speed records because they lead to unsafe and/or rude boating. But this guy seems to have attracted a fair amount of social media attention.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020499/uploads/editor/9w/ny43deqsde40.jpg

aero3113 · July 25

Very cool!😎⚓️

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