Great Loop Dedication

5,000 plus miles later, "Whatever It Takes" is right back where we started, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Here are the stats:

 

• The trip was taken in 3 legs.
• Leg 1- Hilton Head, S.C. to Cleveland OH. - (May 4th - June 6th, 2012)
• Leg 2- Cleveland, OH. to Fulton MS. - (September -14th - October 10th 2012)
• Leg 3- Fulton MS. to Hilton Head, S.C.  (March 16th - April 15th 2013)
• 103 days on the water, roughly 900 hours of cruising time
• Just under 6,000 gallons of diesel fuel and 60 gallons of 40 weight motor oil
• Destinations- OH, MI, IL, MO, KY, TN, MS, AL, FL, GA, SC, NC, VA, NY, PA, & Canada.
• 22 crew hands and 3 dogs travelled at different times.
• Hospital trips required - 0, veterinarian trips- 1.
• Times hit bottom- 5,  (props damaged- 2, hull damage- 0).
• # of times we were lost, multiple.
• # of times we said "where's the next marker" (undetermined, but at least 10,000).
• Memories created for all aboard and those that followed the blog- immeasurable.

  The last day on our trip started out late due to fog. We got underway at 9:00 and arrived at Harbour Town Marina, Hilton Head at 3:30, I didn't realize the PGA Heritage Classic golf tournament is this week at Harbour Town. What a crowd. We got lucky to find an opening at the marina. Starting tomorrow the dockage rate goes to $10.00 per foot/per day (normally $3.00) and there is a minimum 5 day charge. We are departing in the morning.

  My Great Loop adventure is dedicated to my late wife Kathy and my twin grandchildren Kate and Charlie.

  To Kathy, thank you for insisting I buy "Whatever It Takes" even though you knew it would delay the remodelling of our home and for being with me in spirit throughout the trip.

  To Kate and Charlie, chase your dreams but find a safe harbor when things are getting bad.

 

 

 

 

 

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http://youtu.be/mVT4EsQtId4

 

Click on the link above to see a video of two LMBND (Lake Michigan Bottle Nosed Dolphins) hitching a ride with us on their migration north. Brian captured this video in the panhandle of Florida. At one point the dolphins actually turn to look up at us.

 

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Our destination and the end of our Great Loop adventure.

Nearly 6,000 miles and right back where we started.

We were delayed leaving port this morning. It was tough enough navigating this unmarked river without the fog. The fog burned off around 9:00.

Sunset on Hilton Head.

Kathy and I  aboard "Whatever It Takes" on Lake Erie.

Charlie                                                              Kate

The crew: Dad, Laura & Chuck, Dave Bragg, Valerie, Jeff Smith, Chris West, Denny West, Mike West, Rick West, Tom & Donna Dechant (West), Jack Moore, Kenny Rodick, Bill Skaryd, Danette lavish, Mo Oldham, Skip Kline, Ed Smith, Brian Chavalia, Jeff Johnson, Greg Butchko & the dogs - Bruti, Clark, and Tucker.

Florida or Georgia, tough call...

     We left Florida today for the coastal waters of Georgia. It was a dark, cold, nasty day which seemed to fit the area we sailed into. I have included photos of homes, marinas, and the water of both Florida and Georgia in this blog. My mind is made up as to which coastal area I would prefer to spend my vacation, but to each his own. Maybe viewing these pictures will help you decide.  

 

   We travelled 100 miles today. Our plan was to travel 80 but the Captain marked the chart incorrectly and we sailed past our Marina and had to find a different home for the night. What we found was "Half Moon Marina" situated 6 miles off the ICW in a river with no channel markers, alligators, snakes, and god only knows what else.

 

The highlight of our day was seeing some wild horses.

 

 

 

Ominous sky to start the day.

One of three wild horses we spotted.

This was the best weather of the day.

Typical Florida home on the ICW.

One of the nicer homes on the Georgia ICW.

Pretty much an average Florida Marina.

Half Moon Marina on the Georgia ICW.

Florida waters (about 15 feet deep).

Georgia waters (not sure of depth, the sounder couldn't read through the water to the bottom).

Florida or Georgia, boy it's really a toss up.

 

If it can't power a coffee pot....

 

  Our generator has been acting up since the 170 mile overnight trip across the Gulf from the Panhandle to Tarpon Springs. Today it decided to quit all together, period. No sweat, the fridge will stay cold through the day and the engines charge the batteries while we are underway. The only inconvenience is no hot breakfasts. We can live without hot breakfast's, but coffee is required. I have a small portable gas powered generator on board to charge the batteries in an emergency which we unpacked to power the coffee pot. I hoped it had enough power and Ken said, " If it won't power a coffee pot what good is it". Apparently the generator isn't any good. The safety switched kicked out each time we plugged the pot in. I even cut the wires to the safety switch and it still wouldn't get the job done. We drank "Arnold Palmer" iced tea throughout the day.

 

     We travelled 115 miles today to reach Fernandina Marina (say that three times). With only 10 miles to go we entered what we refer to as "Sandy Bend". As we rounded the bend we saw a sail boat laying on it's side in the middle of the river, a little further up there was a power boat completely out of the water on a sand bar with a tow boat working to get it back into the water. It was shortly after that the we joined the crowd when we bottomed out on a sand bar. Fortunately we were travelling at 1 MPH and we were able to back off and find a slightly deeper section of river. Never a dull moment.

 

This is Jacks last day aboard, he is flying home from Jacksonville. Kenny, Mo, and I will be in Georgia tomorrow.

 

 

 

A perfect morning.

High hopes for a hot cup of coffee.

Downtown St Augustine looks like a great place to tour.

Victim  1 at "Sandy Bend".

Victim 2 at "Sandy Bend", you can see the prop marks in the sand.

Sunset at Fernandina Marina.

Red sky at night, sailors delight.

A great crew.

Daytona is named for a snowbird from Ohio

   It seems like every third person I have spoke with while in Florida is from Ohio. It was no surprise to learn that our destination today, Daytona, was named in honor of an Ohioan.

 

In 1871, Mathias Day, Jr., from Mansfield, Ohio, purchased a 2.144.5 acre tract of the former William's Plantation, on the west bank of the tidal channel known as the Halifax River. He built a hotel around which the town arose, which is today the Daytona Beach Historic District. In 1872 due to financial troubles he lost title to his land (no surprise there), residents decided to name the city Daytona in honor of Day as its founder, and incorporated the town in 1876.

 

The city is historically known as having a beach where the hard packed sand allows motorized vehicles to drive on the beach in restricted areas. This hard packed sand made Daytona Beach a mecca for motorsports, with the old Daytona Beach Road Course having hosted races for over 50 years. This course was replaced in 1959 by the Daytona International Speedway. The city is also the headquarters for NASCAR and the Grand American Road Racing Association.

 

We had a windy but nice cruise today and are bound for Jacksonville tomorrow.

 

 

With a little training from Jack, Kenny is now qualified to become the ships hazardous waste removal expert.

Daytona Beach takes their roads and bridges seriously.

Bobby has developed some bad habits.

Hitching a ride to Daytona.

The terrain has changed quite a bit as we travel north, from sandy to more swamps and tree covered.

Docked at Daytona watching a great sunset.

Daytona Harbor at night.

The Beach boys had it right.

No doubt about it, the Beach Boys had it right.

 

We left Admirals Cove and travelled to Melbourne. Quite a let down from paradise for the other side of the tracks. Two more days in Florida and we get to boat through the Georgia swamps.

 

 

 

Brian was on board for more than 500 miles on the 2nd leg of this journey and asked why we hadn't seen any lighthouses. I told him that they seem to be more popular on the east coast. Here is your lighthouse Brian.

Need a wide channel to navigate this gal.

Where Santa spends his vacation.

"East coast girls are hip, I really dig those styles they wear"

                                             I agree with the Beach Boys !