Traveling the Great Loop

Nov. 3-9, mile 277; Today’s Run: 19 miles,

En route to Wheeler State Park

We came to the Joe wheeler State Park, a forested recreation site with lakeside campsites and cottages, walking trails and marina, to attend our first AGLCA (Americas Great Loop Cruising Association) rendezvous.

The AGLCA holds 3 rendezvous a year. The Association consists of an informative website offering member support with recommendations to destinations along the 6000-mile route. Podcasts, broadcasts and videos are available covering topics concerning Loop travel. For many, attending the rendezvous is a chance to reunite with friends and acquaintances they have met while traveling the Loop. Boats travel at different speeds, and chose destinations to suit their interests, and therefore may not see each other again for weeks. Before attending the rendezvous, we had only met 2 or 3 other Loopers. Now, 250 boats had come together to see friends and take part in route briefings: Wheeler to Mobile, Tarpon Springs to Miami, a side trip to the Bahamas and so on.  Presentations covering other topics such as anchoring, navigation, and reading the weather, were especially of interest to new boaters.

The one thing that no one can tell you is what make of boat is best for you to do the Loop. For that reason, ‘Looper Crawls’ are popular especially with those who currently do not own boats but hope to purchase one. During Looper Crawls, owners who chose to take part, open their boats for other members to view. It is an opportunity to see a wide variety of makes and sizes and speak with those who have completed the Loop or are currently underway. Since COVID, Looping has caught on fire.

From tugboats, trawlers, cruising yachts, express cruisers, and the occasional sailboat, the choice is yours. We have seen boats from 28 feet to 70 feet. The Kadie Krogen, pictured above on the bottom right, had customized with a stone backlit counter top! Double click on the first boat picture, then click on the white arrow to the right of the picture to see each boat in a larger frame.