Here is a map of the possible Great Loop routes, ours is shown in red. It totals 5220 miles and is about the shortest route possible.
We started December 19, 2016 and essentially completed our Loop November 25, 2017. Our journey was broken up into seven legs that allowed us to return home for the majority of the year. We actually only spent 70 days boating and another 55 days traveling to/from the boat or laid over at a marina. So although it adds up to only about 1/3 of the year, it certainly impacted our lives more than that would imply.
We averaged 75 miles per day when boating. The shortest day was 2 miles and the longest was 139 miles (except for the Gulf crossing when we went for 22 hours and covered 250 miles). We generally traveled at two different speeds depending on conditions and goals for the day; our displacement speed of 9 mph or our planning speed of 20 mph. We would also slow to 6 mph when passing through no wake zones, private docks, stationary boats fishing, work barges, etc.
We met some really wonderful people. Not only other Loopers, but those in the marinas and towns we visited as well. We enjoyed time in parts of the country we would never have experienced otherwise. It is a large and great nation that we have! We are thankful for the opportunity to enjoy it.
