It has almost been a year since we completed the "Great Loop" trip. It doesn't seem like it could be that long ago. Sometimes it feels like we never did the trip. Here is a brief summary of some of the different things about the Rhody Ray and our loop experience.

The total mileage is about 6,200 miles
We used about 9,500 gal. of diesel
The most we paid per gal. for diesel was $6.35 in Miami Beach and the least we pd. was $3.80
Bob had the oil changed twice during our trip
We spent 132 days on the water
After a few modifications our boat did clear the lowest bridge at 19'1"
The longest open water we crossed was from Carrabelle,FL to Clearwater, FL
We went through 96 locks
The highest lift was 85' and the least amt. of lift was 1'
The most locks in a day was 12
We stayed at 75 different marinas
The most we paid per foot in a marina was $6.50 in Miami Beach and the least was FREE!
We stayed on the hook only 4 nights
We spent about $2,100 for charts and guide books
The longest time we spent anywhere in a marina was Chicago and that was 8 days
Along the way we stayed in marinas, on the hook, tied up to walls on the river, and even tied up to a barge You learn to be flexible
The least miles traveled in a day was 12, from Grafton, Ill. to Alton, Ill. and the most was 200 statue miles


We had others with us along the way:
John & Sharon Holt
John & Joanie Anderson (2x)
John Grafelman
Ivar & Diane Peterson
Reenie Hardaway
Also we met my brother Bruce in Charleston, Erik & Alison in New York City and Mark Hardaway in Grafton, Ill.

It was a great trip and one experience we will never forget!

Burnt Store Marina, Punta Gorda,FL

The sun was just coming up when we were going under the Clearwater bridge headed into the Gulf of Mexico.

We're having coffee on Monday as we leave Clearwater!

We left Clearwater at 7:00 a.m. on Monday, December 8th and arrived at Burnt Store Marina at about 2:00 p.m. Bob and I had left here May 5th and it was a great feeling to be back here again.






















I will have one more post after I have compiled all our information.

Clearwater, FL

Saturday, December 6th we were all up at 5:30 to get ready for our crossing. We needed to leave as soon as we could see the buoys to leave the marina. At 7:00 it was light enough and we left along with 2 other boats that were also making the trip. We decided to take the longer route closer to shore because the harbor master suggested the seas might be calmer. The seas were about 2-3 ft. and the wind at 8 to 10 knots. When we were out of East Pass and cruising about 17.9 knots the water was coming over the flybridge and a good time to move the pilothouse for the rest of the trip.















You can never have too many pairs of eyes watching!!!







We arrived in Clearwater, FL at 4:15, a little over 9 hours after traveling about 180 miles. The time seemed to fly by as we're pretty good at entertaining ourselves while cruising!

We stayed in Clearwater on Sunday also due to the windy weather. Bob and I are anxious to get back to Burnt Store marina but we still need to have low seas to travel from here out in the gulf to home!

Apalachicola & Carrabelle, FL

Wednesday, Dec. 3rd Bob and I left Panama City about 7:30 central time or 8:30 eastern time. We changed time zones today. This must be a sign we're getting close to home!! The temperature was 39 degrees and it was windy and cold. Most of today was in a sheltered part of the river and a lot of it was very shallow. We arrived in Apalachicola, FL about 3:00 and tied up to the dock right in front of the restaurant. When people are eating they look right out at our boat!





We didn't have far to walk to eat tonight!!!











Sunrise in Apalachicola







Carrabelle is our last stop on the panhandle of Florida. We left Apalachicola about 9:00 on Thursday and now we are in open water in the Gulf of Mexico but it is well marked. We were at "The Moorings at Carrabelle" marina by 1:00, having traveled only about 35 miles. This time we are tied up to the dock right by their office. It sure is nice not having to walk very far to places. The IGA grocery store was right across the street. There weren't any restaurants close by so the marina provides a service to provide a ride to and from any place you want to go.


Friday morning Bob went to a meeting at 6:30 a.m. that the harbor master schedules to give information to boaters waiting to do "the crossing". The crossing is the trip from Carrabelle to some city along the west coast of Florida-usually about 180 miles. This takes place across the Gulf of Mexico and for most boaters should be done in only good weather!!! We are going to Clearwater. Saturday looks like a good day and John & Joanie will be back by Friday afternoon to go with us across.

Panama City, FL

Bob, John, Joanie and I left Sandestin on Tuesday, Dec. 2nd for Panama City, FL. We didn't leave until about 8:30 because we only had 50 miles to go today. Most of the trip was on the Gulf Intercoastal Waterway so it was on protected water. The weather was cold and windy, so again we were in the pilothouse most of the way. We were there by 1:00 so Joanie and I had a lot of time to go to the airport and get their rental car. They left us here to go to Orlando and meet Joanie's son and family at Disney World.






Our wake when just cruising slow and easy!











Joanie is watching the lines when fueling in Panama City.

Sandestin, FL

Saturday we left for Sandestin, FL. It is great to at least be in the state again!!!! The weather was questionable but we stayed ahead of the rain all day. We traveled 75 miles and arrived at Baytowne Marina about 1:30. We had just enough time to check out the resort complex, do a little shopping and get back to the boat before the rain. We didn't want to walk back to the restaurants in the rain so we did what always seems like a good idea-order pizza to be delivered!!!!

John and Joanie are looking at some of our maps and information about the route.

We ended up staying at Sandestin until Tuesday. The windy, rainy weather discouraged travel. Plus, this is a very nice resort complex with amenities close by so we found things to do. John, Joanie and I went to a restaurant and watched a few football games in the afternoon, when we weren't shopping!! Monday we all took the tram and went to check out an area with shops and restaurants. I guess if there are shops and restaurants around Joanie and I are content!!


Our boat at the dock at Baytowne Marina.

Orange Beach, AL

Bob, John, Joanie and I left Mobile about 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday for Orange Beach, AL. We traveled about 60 miles and stayed at a marina further off the Intercoastal Waterway than we usually do because we needed to have the CAT guys back again and this marina was convenient for them. One of the marine power display units wasn't working on the flybridge so Bob wanted to have that fixed. It turned out we needed both of them replaced. Joanie got the "warm" job today watching the display from the pilothouse just to make sure everything was ok with both engines. John, Bob and I were "enjoying" the weather from the flybridge!!


John has been waiting for something to do and when we were settled in at Orange Beach Marina he got to wash the boat.




















The Caterpillar man came right to the boat later on Tuesday afternoon. He couldn't fix the problem. Two guys came on Wednesday and tried to fix it. They had to order parts which we could get on Friday (Thursday is Thanksgiving). Friday brought the same 2 guys and they were there until 3:00 but finally the displays are fixed.


We were lucky to be in such a nice marina for 4 days. It has some extremely large fishing boats and a great restaurant. We basically had the marina to ourselves for the whole time. The ship's store closed on Wed. afternoon and they didn't open up again until Monday. Business is down and with Thanksgiving they didn't think it was worth being open. They gave us the keys to their courtesy car so Joanie and I could go shopping and the four of us just drove around to check out the area.




















Thanksgiving was the usual relaxing day. We all enjoyed the nice weather by taking a walk or napping, went for a drive around the area and found a restaurant that served a turkey dinner. Bob and John were very disappointed they didn't serve cranberries with the turkey and didn't let the waiter forget it!!

THANKSGIVING

David's Lake & Mobile, AL

LAST LOCK!!!!!!!

Saturday was our last lock, finally! If you haven't noticed I had this thing about the locks!! We couldn't leave in the morning until about 8:00 because of the fog. It was 23 degrees when we got up. We didn't use our generator that night so our boat was a little chilly in the morning- 56 degrees in the salon.
The lock was only about 1 mile down the river and the lockmaster wanted to get the pleasure boats through the lock before a barge that had also stopped near us. The lockmaster told us when we got to the lock that this particular barge always has a problem with this lock and the shallow water after the lock so instead of being held up a few hours or more he wanted to get all of us through. There was a problem with the door to the lock, it wouldn't close, so we had to wait for him to fix that also. I was just so very glad to be done with all of that!!!

The rest of the day we just cruised along a very crooked and desolate river. We hadn't decided where we were going to anchor that evening because of the shallow water until we were following a couple who knew the river and all three boats decided to anchor together. This was at a lake called David's Lake. It was just deep enough for us and a very protected anchorage. This other couple were teachers but decided to sell their house, live on a boat and travel. The name of their boat is: "What Daze It?"





















Sunday morning we left the lake at 7:30 for Mobile, AL. This city is very commercial when entering on the river. There are many ship building companies and barge facilities. We parted ways with Tom and Sheila and headed into the Mariner Marina in Dog River.



John and Joanie Anderson were there to meet us. They will be traveling with us back to Florida. We stayed 2 nights so Bob and I could recuperate and we could restock the boat. The marina had a courtesy car we took to go eat Mexican for lunch and go to West Marine. What more could you want?


Our supplies!!!!!!

Bobby's Fish Camp

We left Friday morning and it was cold! What's new!!!!! We left at 6:30 so we could get through the lock but a barge decided to call the lockmaster after we did so he got to go through first. We didn't get through until after 8:00. We had 98 miles to go so we had to tend to business. We saw a lot of barges today, many we've seen the previous days. Our destination today is Bobby's Fish Camp. It is the only place to stop before Mobile, AL and that is another 118 miles. This place is famous for their catfish dinner, it was excellent!!!
There were 5 boats tied up here for the night. Tom & Sheila had to tie up with us. During busy times they have had 17 boats rafted up together.

Demopolis, AL

Wednesday morning was 26 degrees, foggy and frosty. We left in a hurry, 6:30, to catch the lock with a barge or it would have been about 2 hours before we could have locked through. The barge was the "Minneapolis" which we had locked through with the day before. They had traveled all night and were at the same place we were in the morning. There were 3 pleasure boats and the barge. We ended up driving from the lower station a lot more today because of the south wind and we cruised faster today to go 91 miles before dark. We are traveling now everyday with the couple from Kentucky, Tom and Sheila, who did this trip twice last year and know a few more tricks to getting through the locks and they know the river quite well. They have a new 45 ft. Formula boat. It was so nice of them to help us when we had problems and they are great traveling companions.


Once we got to the Demopolis Marina we decided to spend another day to catch up on things.
This marina has a great restaurant but we didn't get any cell service so that means we didn't get any internet service. The weather was about 70 degrees, we walked downtown for lunch, and just relaxed!



2 LOCKS LEFT!!!!

Carrollton, AL

Tuesday morning, November 18th, we left the marina again with the boat "The Magic Journey."
It was 7:00 a.m. and today is 26 degrees. There was frost on the deck again. The lock is right by the marina, like the day before, and the lockmasters with these lock and dams insist all pleasure boats go through together. If anyone tries later they hear about it!


The scenery along the river changes constantly.

We only had one more lock for the day but this lock was going to take over 2 hours to wait before we could get into it. We decided to go tie up at a marina close by and wait it out. "The Magic Journey" boat picked up a guy at the marina and dropped him off on the barge "Minneapolis"
in the lock with us. Since 9-11, rules are very strict about activity in and around the locks. This all had to be approved by the tow captain, lockmaster, and Tom-the pleasure boat captain.

We followed "The Magic Journey" many miles down the river!

Aberdeen, MS

Monday, November 17th, we headed out for Aberdeen, MS with another boat. We left at 7:00, it was 36 degrees and we got through the first lock right away. The one nice change was the weather in that we finally see some sun!

We got in the 2nd lock right away also. But..... when Bob went to start the engines the starboard engine wouldn't start!!!!! He worked on it about 15 minutes and couldn't get it started. The lockmaster was very patient with us. The other pleasure boat with us hung around to see if they could help. We found out later the lockmaster had suggested they stay with us. Finally we tied our boat to "The Magic Journey II" and Tom manuevered us out of the lock. We stayed connected to Tom's boat through the next lock and a few more miles down the river. We unhooked from the other boat and went on 1 engine to the Aberdeen Marina. The water was very low going in and a very crooked channel. Bob did an excellent job of navigating into the marina with 1 engine and bow and stern thrusters.

The Caterpillar man was at the boat right away and by 5:30 we had a new starter and ready for the next adventure!!!







We are going down the river attached to "The Magic Journey"











It was much easier going out in the
morning but still a tricky channel
to follow.

Fulton, MS

IT IS COLD!!!!!

We left on Sunday morning at 6:45 and 32 degrees. It didn't take long to decide to drive from the pilot house. I now have 6 layers on and 2 pairs of long underwear, I don't have flannel-lined jeans on like Bob.

We went through 3 locks today. The first one, Jamie L. Whitten Lock, lowered us 85'. This is the 4th highest lock in the U.S. We both have to wear life jackets, Bob can leave the engines running and he also has to tell them when we are secure to the wall. Rules seem to change in different areas of locks plus these locks are mainly catering to commercial vessels. The locks have been named for politicians or important people from Mississippi or Alabama. When we contact the lockmaster we have to use their correct name or they ignore you. We were fortunate today we didn't have to wait more than 30 or 40 minutes to get into a lock. Our third lock was the first time we locked through with a barge. If a pleasure boat fits with a smaller barge, the barge isn't carrying a hazardous load, and the tow boat captain ok's it, the lockmaster will put a pleasure boat in with a barge.


The lock is in the background and we met this barge.








Our stop tonight is Midway Marina in Fulton, MS.










Our line is looped around the floating bollard
in the lock.

Iuka, MS

We left Clifton at 6:30 and it was foggy again. After one week without locks we finally had one at Pickwick Lock and Dam. We were put right into the big lock (1000 x 110) vs the small lock (600 x 110) and raised 55 ft. into Pickwick Lake. It was a cloudy day but the scenery was great and traffic on the lake was minimal. We saw 1 barge, 2 pleasure boats and a lot of fishing boats.














Pickwick Lake was formed in 1938 with the construction of a 113' dam as part of the Tennessee Valley Authority's project. After the lake we entered the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway at mile marker 450, which means we have 450 miles to Mobile, AL. This waterway is the largest civil works project ever done. The construction started in 1972, cost 2 billion, has 10 locks and dams and was completed in 1985.


We are staying in Iuka 2 nights. The weather is cloudy and rainy and they have a great restaurant. This is the 2nd place where we have encountered a "dry" restaurant. The county prohibits alcohol being served but you can bring your own beverage if you choose. The Aqua Yacht Marina also has a courtesy car which we used to do some things.

Clifton, TN

We didn't leave New Johnsonville on Wed. as planned. The weather wasn't very nice so we stayed another day! I just got more cleaning done and odd jobs done on the boat.

Bob and I finally left at 7:15 on Thurs. to go the 63 miles to Clifton, TN. It was so foggy we almost turned back but we went slow and decided if it didn't get better after a few miles we would turn around. The sky never cleared but stayed cloudy all day. The Tennessee River is very winding here and very pretty, especially with all the color of the trees. We didn't see many other boats or barges and just cruised along.


Clifton is a very small town on the river. We used the courtesy car to go to the grocery store. They didn't have a restaurant so for the 4th night in a row we had to eat on the boat!!!! This must be a record for us!! We didn't have cell service or internet service!!

New Johnsonville, TN

Sunday, November 9th, we left at 7:00 a.m and it was cold, cloudy and dreary. The temperature was 38 degrees and we both had 5 layers on of clothes. Bob had bought a stocking cap to wear so he was all set! We didn't last an hour before we went down below to drive. Our trip now takes us on the Tennessee River through Kentucky Lake. Kentucky Lake is 240 miles long and a great place to vacation and fish. It came to be when the Tennessee Valley Authority built locks and dams and created 9 mainstream lakes on the Tennessee River to develop this water resource. The colors were at a peak and would have been fantastic if it had been sunny, even so it was beautiful. We traveled about 60 miles and only saw a few fishing boats and 2 barges.




Pebble Isle Marina














Monday morning was even colder!!!!


It was 28 degrees and frost on the boat. There was also some fog over the water.






















I thought once we got further south it would
warm up-
I'm still waiting!!!







We stayed 2 more days to have the oil changed on the engines. While Bob was busy with that
I used the courtesy van to go to Camden to get a new nose piece for my glasses. I think when
I washed them one of them went down the drain! Thank goodness I had my old glasses with
me. The people managing the marina are exceptionally nice. We had homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast one morning. It is very quiet here right now so the restaurant isn't open but we get little complimentary things.
Weather permitting we are taking off in the morning. Rain threat Tuesday changed our plans and could on Wednesday. We have been very lucky on most of the trip with the weather and can't complain.

Grand Rivers, KY

We finally had an easy day! We followed the Ohio River for only about 1 mile to the Cumberland River and had the river to ourselves. We did see 2 fishing boats in the 33 miles we traveled and did 1 lock. This lock was one of the large modern ones and even though we were raised 57' it didn't take very long.

Green Turtle Bay Marina has been home for 3 nights. We arrived about 1:00 on Thursday, filled up with fuel, pumped out and found a slip. It was nice to be tied to a dock after 2 nights of anchoring. They have a great marina store and restaurant on the property. This is a "dry" county so everywhere we eat we have to bring our wine! Paducah is the closest city so we used their courtesy van and went to Walmart to get supplies.

Pattie's restaurant is close by and well known for their 2" pork chops and desserts. Of course we had to go there for supper. The dessert was great!!

There seems to be things to do while in a marina. Bob washed the lower part of the boat and laundry and cleaning always needs to be done!!! We will be on the move for a few days so that takes a lot of preparation.

Mississippi & Ohio Rivers

Just one of the many barges we saw on the river.






Now is the time to put on some miles. There aren't any marinas for 250 miles so that means we anchor someplace along the way. Tuesday morning we left at 6:35 and it was cold & windy. We are both back to putting on 5 layers. Bob tried driving from the pilot house but the glare on the window was so bad he couldn't see so we had to go back to the flybridge. We made good time going downriver and no locks to go through today. The only thing we had to watch for was the many barges on the river. We made 110 miles to an anchorage called Little River Diversion Canal. This was only the 2nd time we had used the anchor but it went pretty good. It is pitch dark at 5:00 now so we had to make sure we were set by that time.






very quiet & peaceful









Wednesday, November 5th we left at 6:40 and it was cold again. We didn't see a barge or anything for the first 2 hours. We finally got off the Mississippi River and are now on the Ohio River- going upstream. At least it was a little warmer going in a different direction. There are alot more barges though on this part of the river. We had 2 locks to go through and they are the oldest ones on the whole system of locks. They have been building a new one for about 10 years and plan to have it done in about 3 more years and this will replace the 2 old ones. Now we had to have life jackets on and both bow and stern lines tied to the wall. We were only raised 4' and 12' but it takes along time. These locks see the most tonnage go through of all the locks in the U.S. and during the summer a pleasure boat can wait 12 hours or longer to get through. We were lucky, we didn't have to wait at either one of them. We found anchorage after navigating 105 miles today just before dark by Towhead Island. We could see the barges all night waiting to get through a lock just up river from us.

All in all, we had a good day, Bob said he was only scolded once for leaving a big wake and our anchor held all night!!