Cruising the Great Loop

[...] starboard propeller. I noticed a slight vibration while we were underway. I took the helm and Captain Bob went below to check it out. He discovered that the drive shaft to the propeller is ever-so- [...]

[...] keep their 42-footer in Bradenton, FL having spent some time in the Keys. They helped us dock. Captain Bob told them about my radio show. They took a tour of Yesterday. They joked that if I'd been a [...]

[...] to our stern. I sat on the bow for the first hour or so and enjoyed the beautiful evening. Captain Bob asked me to take the helm at hour 2306. He went below to get some much-needed rest. Within [...]

[...] failed to fix our generator after waiting a frickin' week for the part, but I'm not bitter. Captain Bob was right, of course. We lose the 12-volt system and we lose the nav system and that would be [...]

[...] July, 2014; Hour: 1450 We left Apalachicola, FL this morning with hopes of making it to Panama City in time to do the show. We hope to be on the air by the top of the hour. The worst is [...]

[...] Captain's Log: 11 July, 2014; Hour: 1933 We made good time today from Panama City and docked at Legendary Marina. Apparently they aren't legendary for helping big boats dock. We [...]

[...] point at which many loopers set out across the Gulf of Mexico for Carrabelle, FL. That's SE of Panama City. We're going to check the distance but we may set out across the gulf tonight for a straight [...]

[...] and very nice people. We saw a couple of baby alligators. I'm sure Mama was not too far away. First Mate Alex fed the baby some french fries. Don't tell Michelle Obama. Baby alligator at Indiantown [...]

[...] the grocery store. My son, Carr, also boarded for the remainder of the trip. Captain Bob and First Mate Alex will dispense their wisdom to him. Midway Marina in Fulton, MS at dawn Had dinner with my [...]

[...] in front of us. For the next 5 hours I fought the seas and the wind to keep us on course as first mate Alex took the watch shift. Water was breaking over the bow every few seconds. When we weren't [...]

[...] companionway. Both screws holding the coupling in place were stripped. Captain Bob and first mate Alex used a scrap piece of wood as a dowel and drove the screws into the dowel. I checked moments [...]

[...] in the water. Little cabins literally on the water for rent at Hales Bar Marina Once we hit Nickajack Lake, Carr and I both turned to each other and said how much it looked like Switzerland. I had [...]

[...] 's Log: 20 July, 2014; Hour: 0740 So much for the all-nighter. We traveled all night from Nickajack Lake through Chattanooga all the way to Watts Bar Lock only to be told by the lock guy that it [...]

[...] the journey was finally over. I was told that some of the most beautiful scenery was from Nickajack Lake on and they weren't lying. As I stated in a previous blog, the scenery is very Swiss. The [...]

[...] , which takes about an hour, then we'll go as far as we can until dark. I've only crossed over Nickajack Lake but I understand it's the most beautiful part of the trip. Looking forward to it. [...]

[...] Captain's Log: 4 July, 2014; Hour: 1550 We finally got underway from Fort Pierce at 1255 today. After an hour or so we ran into a hellacious thunderstorm. Thank goodness for [...]

[...] jumper cables from the generator's battery to the 12-volt system. If only the folks in Fort Pierce had fixed the generator we wouldn't have been in this fix. The 12-volt system consists of [...]

[...] and he reminded me that our 12-volt system needs to be charged nightly since the fine folks in Fort Pierce failed to fix our generator after waiting a frickin' week for the part, but I'm not bitter. [...]

[...] restored and enlisted in the Vol Navy. From start to finish, including the massive delay in Fort Pierce, it was a 33-day journey — 17 days of it on the water — that took us over the equivalent of [...]

[...] Had a meeting with the crew tonight and it is decided. We will make the 30-mile run up to Tarpon Springs tomorrow. We'll dock, top off the fuel, do some laundry, and I'll do the radio show. Right [...]

[...] guys! Sunrise in Venice, FL I've been in discussions with Captain Bob about our next move. Tarpon Springs is just north of Tampa. That's usually the point at which many loopers set out across the [...]

[...] . Each predicted gusts of 7mph and relatively calm seas. When we left Turtle Cove Marina in Tarpon Springs, FL for the 16-hour trek across the gulf at hour 2045 it was a gorgeous night. There was a [...]

[...] hit Lake Okeechobee by nightfall. The plan is to run until around hour 2100 then dock at a marina overnight. Pictures and video coming tonight. Happy Independence Day, everyone! Yesterday is flying [...]

[...] all night for absolutely nothing! We would've been much better off to stay at a marina overnight and leave this morning. There's no way we make Knoxville by nightfall so we'll have to [...]

[...] Captain's Log: 5 July, 2014; Hour: 1332 We left Indiantown Marina in Indiantown, FL, in the midst of the Everglades, this morning. Very nice marina and very [...]

[...] from Guntersville Lake As soon as we're through this confounded lock we'll fuel up at Nickajack Marina, which takes about an hour, then we'll go as far as we can until dark. I've only crossed [...]

[...] Captain's Log: 18 July, 2014; Hour: 0503 We're in Florence, AL at the Florence Marina. Making good time and hope to be in Knoxville by Sunday. Allow me to backtrack just a moment. [...]