Traveling the Great Loop

Join us as we travel North America's rivers, waterways, and canals; visit U.S. and Canadian cities, historical landmarks, national parks and river towns. We may even take you to the Bahamas.

  • Hurricane Island, Ohio River

    Sept. 27; mile 890: today’s run: 90 miles The John T Myers commercial -sized lock has been under repair since July 2023. They estimate it will be closed until the end of September. Until it opens, barges will need to use the 600-foot lock. Tow captains will break up linked barges into smaller sizes, move… Continue reading

  • Evansville, Indiana, Ohio River

    Dear Readers, I apologize. I posted ‘Saying Goodbye to the Ohio River’ before I had posted Evansville and Hurricane Island. This post plus the following post, are places located on the Ohio River. Sept. 26; today’s run 69 miles En route: A dredger works to maintain a depth of at least 25 feet/ 7 m… Continue reading

  • After 460 Miles, We Say Goodbye to the Ohio River

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  • Anderson Island, Ohio River

    Sept, 25: today’s run: 70 miles As we continue southbound, Kentucky on the portside, Indiana on starboard, miles of forestry line the river. A large sign announces the riverside town of Tel City. Apparently, residents don’t need fuel for their vehicles on weekends. The town’s only gas station isn’t open. Bollards vary from lock to… Continue reading

  • Old Blue River Island, Indiana, Ohio River

    Sept 24, today’s run : 55 miles Leaving Louisville, we leave behind the pleasure boat area of the Ohio River. There will be no opportunity to refuel within the next two hundred miles. We past miles of forested shoreline, several power plants and Caesars Casino, operated by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. There is… Continue reading

  • Jeffersonville, Indiana, Ohio River

    Sept. 23: today’s run: 42 miles En route to Jeffersonville: Reinforcing the shoreline against flooding Deadheads can cause damage to propellers Stormy waters sweep the deadheads downriver where they accumulate against bridge abutments. Named after President Thomas Jefferson In earlier times, settlers and fur traders gathered here to use the river for transportation. The location’s… Continue reading

  • Madison, Indiana, Ohio River

    Sept. 22; mile 599; today’s run: 28 miles We experienced our first Ohio River lock today. Although we have lock experience, (Welland and Erie canals, Trent Severn, Rideau and the Panama Canal), this was our first Ohio commercial lock. Lock rules require that everyone wear a lifejacket, and boaters are to call the lockmaster prior… Continue reading

  • Baccalieu II travels the American Great Loop: 2023

    Join us as we travel North America’s rivers, waterways, and canals; visit U.S. and Canadian cities, historical landmarks, national parks and river towns. We may even take you to the Bahamas. Welcome to my blog. Baccalieu II, a Back Cove 41, was built in Maine, commissioned at RCR Yachts in Buffalo, and shipped to Cincinnati,… Continue reading

Baccalieu II travels Americas Great Loop: 2023

Welcome to my blog. Baccalieu II, a Back Cove 41, was built in Maine, commissioned at RCR Yachts in Buffalo and shipped to Cincinnati, Ohio where she was launched into the Ohio River. (More about that later). We took her a few miles downriver to the Four Seasons Marina where we began our travels south.

Note, in the blogs: ‘Mile’ following the place name and date, refers to River mile markers. ‘Today’s run’ refers to the number of miles travelled that day to reach our destination. How fast we travel is currently dictated by the fact that some marinas in the northern states close in the fall. At some point, refueling might become a challenge. What there is to see at stops, and fuel efficiency are the main three factors how fast we go. 1050 RPMs ( 10mph) is our most efficient speed; 1600RPMs (15-16mph) is the next option. The boat is capable of 32 mph flat out; cha ching, cha ching. Diesel engines like to work hard but they don’t pay the bills.