Gordon's Great Loop Adventure

Tuesday, October 15 2019 Final Thoughts and Thanks for the Journey As I sit here in a motel in Memphis, with Sunny Tug sitting at the dock in Iuka, MS, I wanted to capture some thoughts, feelings, and lessons learned, from the journey. It is strange to look back on something I started dreaming of, and planning for, over seven years ago and to realize that it is, for all intensive purposes, over with.  The journey started over seven years ago when I helped my friend Alan move his sailboat from the Sacramento (California) Delta to San Francisco Bay, and saw a Ranger Tug at a nearby slip and was intrigued.  That led me to read about them, to go to "Trawlerfest" boat shows and to the Seattle Boat Show, to join the AGCLA (America's Great Loop Cruisers Association) and to go to two of their Rendezvous.  I also chartered, with friends, two boats (American Tug 365 in 2016 and Ranger 29 Tug in 2017).   I read about the Loop, I talked with people who had done the Loop, and

Tuesday, October 15 2019 The morning was gray and gloomy when I got up.   Since I had started packing last night the cabin already had that look as if I was moving out.  It was a bit of a tough morning, but I know this is the right decision and kept myself busy packing and organizing.  It is interesting to look back at what I bought and did not use.  Into that category goes a coverlet for the bed.  I had bought a custom made mattress topper and sheets that fitted the unique shape of the bed.  Those were very worthwhile.   The coverlet does look good on top of the bed, but was never used, so I have put it on for the purpose of selling the boat.  It also looks rumpled, but I don't have an iron on board!  :) I started a final load of laundry and then had breakfast and continued packing while that was going.  I had decided to leave today (Tuesday) so I could spend a day in Memphis, and then catch a flight home on Thursday. It took two loads on the dock cart to get the boxe

Monday, October 14 2019 First thing in the morning there was thick fog, and I wondered if that would burn off in time to give Duncan a ride aboard Sunny Tug.  Luckily, it did and it turned out to be a lovely fall day. The morning was spent doing a load of laundry (which is quite a walk back and forth in this marina) as well as setting up arrangements for my trip home. Duncan arrived later in the morning and we went out for a boat ride.   I took him out on to the Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway and we went down that for a couple of miles.   Conditions were great (i.e. calm) and it was fun to run Sunny Tug up to full speed (over 18 knots) for a last time, as well as cruising back at a more leisurely 8 knots. The final run from Aqua Marine to Pickwick Lake and and back.... Running over 18 knots on the way down.   Sunny Tug at Wide Open Throttle (WOT)! Final Ride - Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway - At a more sedate 7 knots on the way back Docking Sunny Tug for the last time

Sunday, October 13 2019 I said I was going to sign off from this blog, but there have been some interesting other adventures, so I thought I would share those. On Friday Vicki left the boat.  I took drove her back to Green Turtle Bay Marina where she had left her truck/camper.   On our way there we stopped at a country diner.  This was a real taste of the south with chicken livers as one of the items on the menu and everyone seemed to know everyone else.   I felt like a real tourist, being the only guy there in a blue and white striped polo shirt and blue shorts.  Jeans were the order of the day for everyone else.  We sat at a communal table with about six other people and everyone in the place seemed to know each other.  It was a bit difficult to understand what everyone was saying, given the accents, but the crowd was friendly. At the end of the meal, the waitress rung up my bill and it came to $10,91.57  We all had a good laugh about that and took pictures.  :) Lunches in

Friday, October 11, 2019 Days 56 on the Loop – Aqua Yacht Harbor Marina - Iuka, MS (0 Miles) If all goes as anticipated, this will be my last post for this blog.   Sunny Tug is now in Aqua Yacht Harbor in Iuka, MS and this will most likely be the last port of call for my Great Loop journey.      The general plan is to have Sunny Tug trucked from here to a yacht yard in the Orange Beach, AL area (on the Gulf Coast).  There she will have some work done in preparation for being put up for sale.   Ideally, I would not need to go down there to oversee that, but we will see how things go. The journey has been quite different from what I expected and, of course, there is some sadness and disappointment that this has not worked out as I had planned.    Thankfully, I still have my home to return to and will spend some time deciding on my future path. I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has been so supportive, both while I was planning and doing the Great Loop, and also now

Thursday, October 10, 2019 Days 55 on the Loop – Double Island Anchorage to Aqua Harbor Marina - Tennessee River to Tenn-Tom Waterway (58.89 Miles). We had a quiet night at anchor in the spur of the river off of Double Island.  Alonsi  was up the river from us, but we had lots of room to ourselves.  The current was practically nil, but the river did go up by a foot or so overnight, which did not affect us.  In the morning it was nice to see the anchor come up clean.  This is because we had been anchored in sand and so did not have a huge clump of mud on the anchor when it came up.   My raw water wash down is not working, since the fuse holder has melted, so it was nice to not have to clean the anchor off! The ritual of morning engine checks! We rejoined the Tennessee River below the island and continued south.   On the way up the river (remember, we are still progressing up river, against the current) we passed some beautiful homes. We also passed by Shiloh National B

Wednesday, October 9, 2019 Days 54 on the Loop – Pebble Isle Marina - Tennessee River to Double Island Anchorage (46.54 Miles). Pebble Island Marina was nice.    It was nice having shore power (electricity) to turn on the heat in the morning, since it was quite chilly.   I am supposed to have a diesel powered heater on board, but that has never worked and I have not been able to find anywhere to fix it. Vicki returning to the boat at Pebble Isle Marina On the dock at Pebble Island Marina In the morning many Loopers went to the office to pick up cinnamon rolls that the marina provides to guests.  :)  We skipped on that, but other said they liked them. Before leaving the marina I spent some time on the phone making calls to ask for quotes for having Sunny Tug trucked from Iuka MS (Aqua Yacht Harbor) to Orange Beach, AL (Saunders Yacht Services).  Lady Finger Promontory on the Tennessee River The ride up the Tennessee River was very pleasant, with

Tuesday, October 8, 2019 Days 53 on the Loop – Ginger Bay to Pebble Island Marina (Tennessee River) (43.1 miles) After our experience running aground yesterday on the way into Ginger Bay, we knew to be cautious when leaving and watched the depth gauge carefully, and had no problems. It was a nice day on the Tennessee River, with pleasant temperatures and a nice wide river with gentle currents.  Vicki's turn at the helm We took turns at the helm, and the auto-pilot was a great help.  You can set it to steer in a straight line and it does a good job at it.  It does not know when the river curves, or how the wind and current affect you, so you must make corrections every few minutes, but not having to have your hands on the wheel every minute is a great benefit. We arrived at Pebble Island Marina about 4:30 pm and joined many Looper boats that we had seen at Green Turtle Bay.   The marina had a loaner car and we got that after Scott and Donna from Aleka  returned

Monday, October 7, 2019 Days 52 on the Loop – Grand Rivers, KY (Green Turtle Bay Marina to Ginger Bay (Tennessee River) (35.57 miles) Here is a recap for Sunday and Monday. Vicki Pelton arrived on Saturday evening.  Sunday was a quiet day.  We had thought about taking the boat out for a "shakedown," but the weather was rainy and we decided not to.  Instead, we went into town for a final dinner at T Lawson's Grill (very good!) and did some food shopping and other chores. Other Loopers were having a get together at the Commonwealth Yacht Club, but since I have decided not to continue with the journey it seemed like it would be strange to be at the gathering. We had decided to leave on Monday, and got underway about mid-morning.  The Garmin GPS5215 had gone out of alignment and was showing us a "crabbing" down the river.  The shoreline, as shown by the radar, did not align with the shoreline as shown on the chartplotter (the radar was showing the correc

Saturday, October 5, 2019 Days 50 on the Loop – Grand Rivers, KY (Green Turtle Bay Marina) (0 miles) Today I came to a decision to end my Great Loop Journey.   Truth be told, I am just not really into this, and the frustrations and stresses far outweigh the enjoyment for me.   As I look forward to the next section of the Loop it would be many long days by myself dealing with locks and other challenges, and I just am not looking forward to it.   I thought I had set myself up mentally for this, but apparently not.   Boating is a lot of work, and just because I am by myself it does not cut down on the work, but only means that I have to do what two people are doing on other boats.   It is also a lonely experience, having to make all of the decisions by myself.     Cost is another factor.   Other people, who have better mechanical skills, tools, and the knowledge and interest in those aspects, can save quite a bit of money.   It is just not my thing and so I pay for that, but then r

Friday, October 4, 2019 Days 49 on the Loop – Grand Rivers, KY (Green Turtle Bay Marina) (0 miles) Finally!!!  The heat has broken!  After days of 95+ degree heat we had a wonderfully cool (only 75 degree) day.  I was able to turn off the air conditioning last night for the first time in weeks (not kidding...).    Slept in since I was up very late last night planning out the route/stops for the next phases of the trip.  Mostly the stops will be in marinas, but there will be some anchoring out.   Started the day with a swim at the very nice indoor pool and then worked on some boat cleaning.   I had to do a run into Paducah for some more cleaning supplies. Have to take time off from cleaning to visit with the pups on the boat next door. That is Pepper on the right, and Popeye on the left.   In the evening (after changing into long pants!!!  -- Yay for cooler weather) I walked into town (about a mile) and went to a dinner/murder mystery ("Murder Country Style") at

Thursday, October 3, 2019 Days 48 on the Loop – Grand Rivers, KY (Green Turtle Bay Marina) (0 miles) Arrived at the Hampton Inn close to the Shiloh Battlefield around 6:00 pm on Wednesday evening after a three hour drive from Green Turtle Bay Marina.     My original plan had been to go to the Shiloh Visitors' Center on Wednesday and then spend Thursday touring the battlefield, but my unexpected trip to urgent care meant that I arrived too late for the visitor center.   Instead, I had dinner at a nearby Mexican restaurant and then turned in. The NPS Shiloh Battlefield National Military Park had an excellent film that gave a really good overview of the two-day battle.    You then go on a driving tour.  The Park Service provides a very good map, and there is also an  App  that you can use that provides more background, including some very good video clips.  Hint.... Download that in advance and then open it and download the map and media since the connection at the histor

Wednesday, October 2, 2019 Days 47 on the Loop – Grand Rivers, KY (Green Turtle Bay Marina) (0 miles) Yesterday when I got up from a nap I had really nasty back muscle spasms.   I've had these a number of times during the last few months and they definitely got worse.  I went to urgent care and was pleased when they accepted my Kaiser health insurance card, though I did have to provide an initial payment of $75.  The staff were very good and discussed options with me.  They said it could be just a simple muscle sprain, but if I wanted then X-rays could be done.  I chose to have those and was glad I did so.   The X-ray technician had worked as an osteo for many years and said she was seeing disk degeneration, that was confirmed by the radiologist.    They gave me a steroid shot and suggested ibuprofen as well.    They also prescribed a steriod treatment that I can take if the spasms return.  The next section of the Loop will have a number of days where I anchor out and will hav

Monday and Tuesday, September 29 and October 1, 2019 Days 45 and 26 on the Loop – Grand Rivers, KY (Green Turtle Bay Marina) (0 miles) Monday was another hot and humid day.   Laundry was done and reservations made at marinas for the next leg of the trip (from Green Turtle Bay to the Rendezvous in Rogersville, AL.).   We (Vicky and I) will visit three marinas and have one night at anchor before reaching the marina at Joe Wheeler State Park, where the Rendezvous will be held. As part of the planning process I called Joe Wheeler State Park, but was told that only person has access to the reservations information for Loopers and I would have to talk with her on Thursday. A good thing that was completed was the replacement of the sacrificial anodes on my engine.  Old V New.....  Yes..... Those needed to be replaced! Tuesday was more fun. I went for a swim in the indoor pool first thing.  My back has been bothering me, with some painful muscle spasms, and I am hoping that s