Every year, we like to dedicate the last issue of the summer to a cruising adventure that is uniquely American, that is as big a Paul Bunyon and as tall as some of Mark Twain’s tales. It is America’s Great Loop.
The 6,000-mile route around the eastern third of the American continent is made up of many parts, each with its own character, challenges and rewards for cruisers. Many cruisers sample only sections of the route, while a special few become true loopers by completing the full circuit.
The Great Loop Cruising Association provides an umbrella organization for want-to-be loopers, for those underway and for those who want the camaraderie of this unique cruising community. It has grown to over 6,000 members and now has more than 150 official business sponsors. Memberships are $85 a year.
The GLCA has an information-packed website and runs informational seminars and webinars for new cruisers, and, incidentally, many first-time folks setting off on the adventure are new to cruising and often new to boating. The GLCA is there to help.
In this week’s edition, we join a family aboard their Ranger Tug 31 Hoppy Trails as they continue making progress from the upper Midwest by making the turn from the Mississippi River into the mouth of the Ohio River.
We have an informative article by three-time Looper Maria Langer on what to look for in a good cruising boat for the loop based on many variables include the heights of fixed bridges, the depths of canals and the ease of handling while passing through the many, many locks along the way.
Then, we join Nathan and Lindsey aboard their Nordhavn 41 The 71 Percent as they cruise to and explore New York City, one of many loopers favorite destinations. It’s big and noisy and busy, but there is nothing like New York.
Finally, we take a bare boat charter on one of the Loop’s most treasured sections, Canada’s Trent-Severn Waterway. This historic route links Lake Ontario with Lake Huron’s Georgian Bay and was first conceived in the early 1800s. The combination of beautiful farmland, quaint villages and wilderness has charmed Loopers for years.
So, here’s to America’s Great Loop adventure and to the intrepid cruisers who undertake this challenging and rewarding way to experience America life.
Learn more about the GLCA here.
