5th Anniversary of the Great Loop Adventure

Today is a special day!  Our Great Loop adventure started on Sunday, October 3, 2010 when we departed Belmont Harbor on Guided Discovery, our 48 Sundancer.

Diana & Les in Marathon Florida in January 2011

Five years later, we are liveaboards on our 63 foot Outer Reef Long Range Motor Yacht enjoying life as nautical snowbirds who winter in Sarasota and summer in Hingham (MA).

It's been an interesting and fun journey.

The Great Loop adventure lasted 444 days and took us on a 6,150 mile journey to 135 cities around the eastern United States.  The journey had three segments. Segment 1, which lasted 372 days, took us from Chicago to Mystic Connecticut via the western rivers, the Gulf coast and the eastern seaboard. Segment 2 involved Diana's 8 month recovery from a collision with a 95 pound doberman (Wolfie) who was chasing Kodi and literally ran through Diana's leg.  Segment 3 started on July 1, 2012 in Branford Connecticut, when we relaunched the 48, and ended in Chicago when we crossed our wake on September 12.

The next phase of the journey took place on dry land.  Immediately after selling the 48 in October 2012 we contracted to build the 63 Outer Reef.  Fifteen months later on February 3, 2014 she was delivered in Fort Lauderdale.  This phase involved literally hundreds of decisions on equipment and decor that have, over time, proven to be very successful.  During this phase we were snowbirds living in Chicago during the summer and Sarasota in the winter.

Phase three began on February 10, 2014 when we officially moved aboard the 63.  To date, the 63 has traveled well over 5,500 miles as we shuttle between Florida and Massachusetts.  We have lived aboard for 598 days.  Phase 3 also marks the sale of our property in Chicago last September and the beginning of our official status as liveaboards.

Totaling the 444 days on the Great Loop and the 598 days aboard the 63 yields 1,034 total days living on the water (57% of the last five years.).

October 3, 2010 marked the beginning of a new phase of our lives and one that has brought us great joy.  We expanded our understanding of the United States, made new friends, enjoyed five years of endless summer, boated extensively and, most rewarding, got to spend time with my sister, daughter and granddaughter.

I could not have predicted on that Sunday in 2010 that five years later we would living in Hingham Massachusetts on a 63 foot trawler and getting ready for a November 1st run back to Sarasota.  But that's the result of the event that took place five years ago today.

Les