Thoughts and Thanks for the Journey
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 I even researched and put together a PowerPoint about the Loop.
Having done all that, why I am sitting in a motel room in Memphis with my boat sitting over 100 miles away, waiting to be trucked away to be sold?
I think part of the answer is that I was so focused on the boat and the logistics of the journey, that I did not really think about the emotional side of things. I did not realize how daunting, and lonely, the prospect of being responsible for all aspects of the journey would be.
I also did not understand the constant work and responsibility that running a boat entails when you are doing this solo. Boats require constant upkeep, whether just trying to keep the decks clean, clearing off the debris from bugs, keeping up with the maintenance for the engine, fresh water, sewer system, electrical, etc. There is always something that needs attention. With only one of you that burden all falls to you. Also, there is the planning for the next day(s) destinations, from making marina reservations to figuring out the lock schedule, the radio frequencies, etc., etc.
When you do all of this solo there is no one to bounce ideas off of, or to double check your assumptions or your plans. It makes for a lonely experience.
There is also a space issue on boats. It seems like every time you want to get to something you have to move at least one other thing, or to be on your hands and knees to access it.
Of course, all of the above are self-imposed problems. No one forced me to buy a boat , or to do the Great Loop.
Another aspect was safety. I have been having some quite severe back spasms, and if one of those occurred while I was trying to negotiate a lock that would have been quite problematic. Talking of locks; I was still finding those very challenging, even with two of us on board, and did not think I could safely navigate those by myself.
The truth is, it is a relief to be off the boat. Having said that, there were some great moments both on board and ashore. I've made some new friends and had a chance to get closer to existing ones.
I would recommend the Loop to others, but not as a single-handed adventure unless you are very comfortable with your boat and with operating that way.
Finally, a big thank you to everyone who has helped out along the way and to all my friends who have been so supportive as I prepared for, started, and now have left, the Great Loop.
Written in honor of Sunny Troup, who lives on in our hearts
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 I even researched and put together a PowerPoint about the Loop.
Having done all that, why I am sitting in a motel room in Memphis with my boat sitting over 100 miles away, waiting to be trucked away to be sold?
I think part of the answer is that I was so focused on the boat and the logistics of the journey, that I did not really think about the emotional side of things. I did not realize how daunting, and lonely, the prospect of being responsible for all aspects of the journey would be.
I also did not understand the constant work and responsibility that running a boat entails when you are doing this solo. Boats require constant upkeep, whether just trying to keep the decks clean, clearing off the debris from bugs, keeping up with the maintenance for the engine, fresh water, sewer system, electrical, etc. There is always something that needs attention. With only one of you that burden all falls to you. Also, there is the planning for the next day(s) destinations, from making marina reservations to figuring out the lock schedule, the radio frequencies, etc., etc.
When you do all of this solo there is no one to bounce ideas off of, or to double check your assumptions or your plans. It makes for a lonely experience.
There is also a space issue on boats. It seems like every time you want to get to something you have to move at least one other thing, or to be on your hands and knees to access it.
Of course, all of the above are self-imposed problems. No one forced me to buy a boat , or to do the Great Loop.
Another aspect was safety. I have been having some quite severe back spasms, and if one of those occurred while I was trying to negotiate a lock that would have been quite problematic. Talking of locks; I was still finding those very challenging, even with two of us on board, and did not think I could safely navigate those by myself.
The truth is, it is a relief to be off the boat. Having said that, there were some great moments both on board and ashore. I've made some new friends and had a chance to get closer to existing ones.
I would recommend the Loop to others, but not as a single-handed adventure unless you are very comfortable with your boat and with operating that way.
Finally, a big thank you to everyone who has helped out along the way and to all my friends who have been so supportive as I prepared for, started, and now have left, the Great Loop.
Written in honor of Sunny Troup, who lives on in our hearts
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