Certain adventures seems to rise above the rest to take on iconic roles on American life. There is walking the Appalachian Trail or climbing Mt. Denali or biking across the country. All have been accomplished by a relatively few hearty souls yet many hanker to do something special like that in their lifetime.
Cruising America’s Great loop is certainly one of those serious bucket list achievements. The 6,000 mile loop circles the eastern portion of the country via an interconnected series of waterways, rivers and lakes that include the Intracoastal Waterway, the Erie Canal, the Great Lakes, the Mississippi River and much more.
It can take a year to make the full loop and along the way you will certainly have good days and bad days and days that are so magical they remain favorite memories forever. Most do the loop in mid-size power cruisers with an air draft low enough to fit underneath the many fixed bridges.
Loopers themselves are a band of adventurers who support each other along the way and form friendships that last a lifetime. Most belong to the American Great Loop Cruising Association which is a clearing house of information and support for all loopers.
Here’s a good article on the Great Loop for a general overview. Read more.
