Greetings, Loopers! As you cruise north along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW), an unforgettable culinary journey awaits—one delicious bite at a time along the East Coast.
As Loopers make their way to the Chesapeake, a route choice presents itself near the North Carolina/Virginia border. Boats can continue on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW) or take a diversion along an alternate route, the Dismal Swamp Canal. Each captain and crew will need to decide which route to follow. To aid that decision, here are a few details and the pros and cons of each.
We recommend creating at least a ballpark budget as early in the planning process as possible. For most future Loopers, one big question looms: Can we actually afford to do the Great Loop? Understanding the potential costs upfront helps answer that question and shapes many of the decisions that follow.
As the days grow longer and Mother Nature finally forgives us for whatever we did to deserve the winter we just had (sheesh!), many of you are turning your bows toward northern cruising grounds in Canada and the Great Lakes. With the New York State Canals not scheduled to open until May 15, there’s no need to rush. Take your time. Meander. Explore. The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW) is rich with experiences you won’t want to miss.
A couple of years ago, we created a planning guide email tip series to help take some of the mystery out of “Where do I start?” when planning your own Great Loop adventure. We’ve decided to share the series in the next ten issues of Great Loop Link because (even if we do say so ourselves!) it’s great information.
