Members only
July 2025 Great Loop Link
FROM THE EDITOR'S DECK
After several frustrating stops and starts, the Erie Canal is now open and Loopers have been heading into the Great Lakes and Canada! With the later opening of the Canal for through navigation, if you are feeling rushed, we encourage you think about spending two summers on the northern route waterways. It's the Erie Canal's Bicentennial celebration this summer and there are things to see and do all along the Canal! Hang out on the Canal this year, store the boat for the winter, and get a full summer in 2026 to explore Canada and the Great Lakes! We've got a little of the Erie Canal history for your enjoyment in this issue, along with a sampling of all the things you can enjoy on the Erie Canal.
Dock Tales returns with Platinum Loopers Eddy & Linda Johnsen. This month they provide words of wisdom to new Loopers who say they want to spend more time on the hook. Eddy & Linda share why this is often easier said than done and encourage you to work for balance.
We've updated the AGLCA Mobile App! You can now locate your fellow Looper boats on the Great Loop Interactive Map on the website and the mobile app! Just look for the burgees as you would on Nebo.
If you're looking to get more information about the Great Loop and meet other members, we've got you covered! We have two great events coming up: the July session of Virtual Docktails and our always popular Looper Lifestyle Seminar heads to Atlantic City in September.
In Atlantic City, you'll hear from Gold Loopers and industry experts to learn what the Great Loop is all about and what it takes to get underway. This is intended as an introductory seminar for those who are just getting started thinking about a Great Loop Adventure. Registration is open now!
Our monthly Virtual Docktails sessions give members the chance to join other members to discuss various topics of interest. The topics are different each month and it's free to register!
And as always, don't miss your fellow Loopers' Wake Crossing announcements.
In this issue:
Members only
Members only
Admiral Sponsors
Wake Crossings Reported in June:
Beverly Ann
Congratulations to Steve & Beverly, who completed their Loop on May 19, 2025 aboard their Beneteau Antares 27, Beverly Ann.
"It is truly America The Beautiful...and the most beautiful part is the people we met."
Camelot
Congratulations to Charles & Heather, who completed their Loop on June 3, 2025 aboard their Bayliner 4788, Camelot.
"What a great year! We have met so many wonderful people who helped us! At Shady Harbor, Carlos and Zulma (Lady Z), Tracey and Bob (Three Sons), Kim and Andy (Sweet Equity). In Canada, Sue and Rick (Oysterland), Kris and Steve (Flying Colours), Lee and crew (RedBow V). Plus all our friends and family for their encouragement."
Dances with Waves
Congratulations to Dean & Lisa, who completed their Loop on June 11, 2025 aboard their Mainship 34, Dances with Waves.
"A friend commented on one of our Loop social media updates mid-trip with these words which I told her I would steal when we completed the Loop. '…the learning & adventure, beauty & culture, collaboration & community' were the true gifts of this journey."
Eirene
Congratulations to Steve & Janet, who completed their Loop on June 19, 2025 aboard their Mainship 390, Eirene.
"This journey has been a lifetime of travel put into one Big Adventure. Visiting and seeing places from the water is a whole different world. We’ve seen such beautiful sights and met such wonderful people, it makes us love our country so much more. God’s grace and mercy traveled with us the whole way. We’re so thankful for this opportunity to do America's Great Loop.
"Also, a big thanks for the AGLCA support, especially for coordinating the flotillas traveling through Chicago, in 2023. What a great job!"
Foote Loose
Congratulations to Keith, who completed his Loop on June 22, 2025 aboard his 22' C-Dory Cruiser, Foote Loose.
"It was a great journey. There were many folks who helped me along the way; receiving and delivering a lost AGLCA flag, advice on river and lake conditions, finding a marina in Chattanooga, Tenneesee, at least 5 folks who helped get my auto pilot running, persons who lent me a car or truck to use, and the countless fellow Loopers who willingly shared their knowledge and assistance. This was a grand two-year adventure!"
FRIDA CAT
Congratulations to Mary & Paul, who completed their Loop on June 4, 2025 aboard their 43' Leopard Power Catamaran, FRIDA CAT.
"We did it! We completed the Great American Loop and are officially Gold Loopers. After many diversions like COVID, a prop incident in Florida, a Georgian Bay granite boulder accident, a frozen heat exchanger in Tennessee, a freak ice storm resulting in a frozen engine in Mississippi, discovering and reporting two floating dead bodies a year apart, two tornadoes, another prop accident two days ago, etc. all causing delays, some of them more than a year long waiting on parts and repairs, on June 4, 2025, we completed 7,000+ miles in only 😜 5 1/2 years on our power catamaran! It was great."
Happy Giraffe
Congratulations to Randal & Michelle, who completed their Loop on June 16, 2025 aboard their Offshore 64 Voyager, Happy Giraffe.
"With our Gold Burgee flying, we returned to our departure spot by the Great Bridge Bridge in Chesapeake, Virginia at The Atlantic Yacht Basin.
"Wow, what a year it has been. We have met wonderful, kind, and generous people…some boaters, some not and some who will be lifelong friends. We have learned so much, I can’t even begin to describe it…I think the best way is…we didn’t know what we didn’t know, and we figured it out day by day. We enjoyed the scenery of our beautiful country, visited countless museums, and toured as much as we could. We had wonderful meals - trying many tasty dishes…and certainly too much pub food!
"We will always cheerish the laughs, stories, and camaraderie of Docktails. We loved having our friends and family aboard…which we did often. We loved our Tenn-Tom Giraffe Herds, our Hoppies Gang, and our Little Diversion Creek luau docktail party.
"It truly was just MORE…more of everything. More work, more fun, more adventure, more challenges, more learning, more new friends and more movement outside our box.
"Curious about stats, here they are:
- 5283 miles
- 3 countries
- 18 states
- 3 Great Lakes
- 116 locks
- 1 year + 2 weeks
- 133 travel days
- 102 nights of overnight guests
- 5343 gal of fuel
"I’m sure we will have more thoughts about our Great Loop Adventure as it settles in, but one thing is for sure…We loved it and we had a great time.
"We are very appreciative of Kimberly Russo and the Home Port Crew, as well as the many wonderful Harbor Hosts who helped us along the way. A special thank you to Jacque Bentley and Tsali Bentley for holding our hand when we needed it…And leading by example. It’s a Good Life!"
iFloat
Congratulations to Louise & Bill, who completed their Loop on June 25, 2025 aboard their Mainship 400, iFloat.
"We crossed our wake in grand Looper-style. In the middle of lake Ontario, half-way between Oswego and Kingston, our raw water pump broke (literally - the housing came apart), and we had to shut down our single engine. Luckily for us, we were buddy boating with Paul and Jill of Pelican, and they towed us the final 19 miles to Confederation Basin in Kingston, Ontario. Waiting for us were Ted of Wastin Away and Mike of Thyme Away, who escorted us into the harbour with their dingies. As Pelican entered the basin with us, the other Looper boats in the harbour saluted us with their ship’s horns, and then Ted and Mike used their dinghy tugboats to push and pull us into a slip. What an amazing group! When we tried to thank them, they thanked US for giving them another Looper adventure!
"Every day of the Loop has been fantastic, although some days were better than others. Places that stand out for us were Wisconsin, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, Washington D.C., and New York City. Crossing the Gulf in the Looper Fleet was a mystical experience.
"We have met so many fantastic people on our adventure, but our buddy-boat friends will always be in our hearts.
- Steve and Chrisie of Miss K, who we travelled Wisconsin and Illinois with
- Mike and Pam of Thyme Away, who we met in the rivers and crossed the Gulf with, and who we have loop-frogged here and there on the ICW
- Chris and Julie of Stulie, who we crossed the Gulf with, and who enjoyed the ICW with us
- Trish and Roy of Madi Hati, and Steve and Maria of Dolly who braved the wilds of the Jersey ICW with us
- Paul and Jill of Pelican, who we journeyed with through the New Jersey ICW and the New York canals and who rescued us in our hour of need
- We were especially blessed to have travelled with Rich and Melanie of Jewel for 5 months, every minute with them was extra-special
"We don’t know what is ahead for us, but we will continue to travel the Great Lakes in iFloat. We hope to meet a lot more Loopers along the way."
Independence
Congratulations to Ken & Linda, who completed the Loop a SECOND time aboard their Bayliner 4788, Independence.
Jamin
Congratulations to Michael & Jane, who completed their Loop on June 6, 2025 aboard their Nordic Tug 37 Flybridge, Jamin.
"We started the Loop at the Statue of Liberty on June 1, 2024 and ended in the same spot June 6, 2025!
"It is with mixed emotions that we finish the Loop. It certainly was an adventure and we are so happy we did it. There were so many beautiful places we visited and so many wonderful people we have met and want to see again! We will enjoy the New England coast this summer and be with family again, but there are plans for more adventure in 2026!"
LaRea
Congratulations to Diane & Chris, who completed their Loop on May 23, 2025 aboard their Maritimo A50, LaRea.
Little Buddy
Congratulations to Steve & Becky, who completed their Loop on June 20, 2025 aboard their 1988 50' Viking 48, Little Buddy.
"We've come a long way from our boating days in the Cove at Saylorville Lake, then Lake Red Rock, and Rathbun Lake. Boating the Mississippi was a next great step ~ but The Great Loop is the experience of a lifetime!"
Ohana
Congratulations to Paul & Joanne, who completed their Loop on June 15, 2025 aboard their Grand Banks Europa 42, Ohana.
"Thank you to the AGLCA staff and members, and all the boaters we met along the way, for generously sharing knowledge, guidance, and a sense of adventure!"
Olympia
Congratulations to Mike & Liz, who completed their Loop on June 24, 2025 aboard their Kadey Krogen 55 Expedition, Olympia.
Regular Eggs
Congratulations to John & Kevie, who completed their Loop on June 2, 2025 aboard their Ocean Alexander Classico 48C, Regular Eggs.
"Regular Eggs is GOLDEN!! It's surreal that we are now flying the GOLD burgee!!
"The Loop was an incredible adventure that was hard, fun, tiring, and exhilarating...often all at the same time!
"We saw parts of the country that we would have never visited had it not been for this incredible journey. We met not only other Loopers but also many locals around the country.
"We want to thank AGLCA for always supporting us, especially during the Chicago lock delay of 2023. We were Flotilla 11 and the communication and organization that Kim and her staff did was phenomenal and crucial to us as we navigated those locks."
RingUL8r
Congratulations to Bryan, who completed his Loop on June 16, 2025 aboard his 40' 1979 Marlin Aluminum Trawler, RingUL8r.
"Well it's done!!
1 year and 2 days.
6000 plus miles, 150 plus locks, and countless bridges.
It's good to be back in Gananoque.
So many emotions coming back.
Highs: crossing the Gulf and trip to Bahamas.
Tragedy: Loosing my first boat due to storm near Fort Pierce.
Fun: Converting and cruising with electric boat.
Challenge: Cruising with an electric boat at 3.5 knots!
Best part of entire adventure is the fellow Loopers.
So many stepped in to help when my boat sank.
Thanks and hope to see you again on the Loop once I find my next boat to convert."
Rowe Boat III
Congratulations to Jim & Karen, who completed their Loop on June 10, 2025 aboard their Carver 406, Rowe Boat III.
"After more than 6,000 nautical miles, countless sunrises and beautiful views, we crossed our wake and completed the Great Loop.
"This journey gave us lessons in patience, navigation, and teamwork. We learned to go with the tides, read the current, and respect that four letter word: 'wind'.
"The Trent-Severn and Georgian Bay segment of the Loop was so beautiful and took us to the beautiful towns on the eastern side of Lake Michigan, where high wind woke us to the reality of big water! We learned so much about locking up and down through the river system down to Mobile Bay, Alabama and we were still learning after navigating the ICW into the Champlain and Chambly Canals and the St. Lawrence Seaway! Every segment taught us something about the waterways that shape this continent.
"We are grateful for a smooth and beautiful Gulf crossing, and our days were often filled with dolphins, manatees, and birds guiding our way.
"The challenges - like the storm surge in Apalachicola, or the high wind coming into Charleston, made the trip more memorable! We will miss the quiet mornings drinking coffee on the bridge after casting off and our daily walk to the local patio for an app and a drink.
"Highlights for us included navigating the inland rivers, visiting the Carolinas, Annapolis, cruising by the Statue of Liberty, and exploring the beautiful towns of Chesapeake Bay.
"They say people make the trip - and it's true. Thank you to those at home who flew in to visit in the Keys and elsewhere along the way, and to those who followed our journey and supported with interest from home. Special shout out to Marc Brazeau, a frequent and fun crew member. Our trip also made better with boat buddies who became family on the water: Callie B, Next Wave, Knot Again, Miami, and Skin Deep. Thank you for the laughs, shared planning and storytelling.
"For those who have the opportunity and the resolve, we recommend the trip. 'Great Loop: 10/10'"
SHAMROCK
Congratulations to Dan, who completed his Loop on May 9, 2025 aboard his 46' Belkov Custom Downeaster Cruiser, SHAMROCK.
"I completed the Loop substantially by myself. People I met along the way were social and beautiful. Other travelers, lock operators, marinas, and so on were welcoming and helpful. The Loop is a unique place where you get back whatever attitude you give out."
Sweet Equity
Congratulations to Andy & Kim, who completed their Loop on June 2, 2025 aboard their Tollycraft 44 CPMY, Sweet Equity.
"An incredible year. Best part, making lifelong friendships with folks sharing your same exact passion. Worst part, saying goodbye to them along the way as they complete their Loop and finally us saying goodbye as we finished."
Sweet Mischief
Congratulations to Nancy & Lewis, who completed their Loop on June 23, 2025 aboard their 1985 Monk 36, Sweet Mischief.
"Great Trip! After crossing our wake in Watertown, New York, we will be continuing back home to Lake Guntersville on the Tennessee River. Facilitation by AGLCA makes the trip a community event rather than just a solo adventure."
Texas True
Congratulations to Dennis & Linda, who completed their Loop on June 6, 2025 aboard their True World Marine TE2888, Texas True. It's Dennis' Platinum Loop and Linda's Gold Loop!
"After celebrating their 54th anniversary on June 5th, 2025 Dennis and Linda Henderson closed their Great Loop at Donovan’s Shady Harbor Marina on June 6th just in time for the annual pig roast. Their small vessel, Texas True, safely completed the 12,000 mile, 15-year journey. Side trips included watching whales near Tadoussac on the St. Lawrence and a three week trip to the Abacos with six people and a dog. Another highlight was a 4,000 mile bucket list trip to the Caribbean with Linda seeing the Southern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos, while Dennis continued as far as the Grenadines. With all the Loopers they met and sights they saw on different segments of their journey this trip proved you can have a great experience Looping in a small craft."
Therapy
Congratulations to Ken & Monica, who completed their Loop on June 10, 2025 aboard their 1994 Carver 370, Therapy.
"We crossed our wake in Waterford, NY on June 10, 2025. Selah Way happened to arrive in Waterford shortly after us. Coincidentally, we received our first boat card from them back in 2021. Now they would help us celebrate our new Gold Looper status and were able to take the pictures for the occasion! Those Vermonters always show up at the right time!
"What an amazing adventure it has been. Just a little over one year, 6,877 miles, multiple countries and states. Seeing the eastern half of the U.S. from the water was certainly a different perspective than traveling by land; To see so much commerce happening in the rivers, To the history lessons coming to life as we explored so many forts, museums, homes and trails. All those strange new places yet we ran into familiar faces…loved seeing our fellow Loopers! Some of whom have become dear friends forever.
"We're grateful to all the AGLCA members and Home Port Crew for their wealth of knowledge, willingness to share, and camaraderie! Many thanks to our home crew that cheered us on every day and cared for the home fires!
"We are now home in Malletts Bay, Vermont but we will always carry this adventure in our hearts."
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