Random thoughts on our Great Voyage

We had lots of commentary and support as we made our way down the river.  Some by phone, some by email, and some in our many face to face encounters with folks.  We thought we might share a few with you as we close this blog.

Why are you doing this? Because we can! And to help Tim fulfill his dream of completing “The Loop” that he started 20 years ago

You are a woman of Steel (Donna Mack)

You are the most adventurous people we know. (John and Carol Miller)

I should do a blog (Maggie Simons from France) Hint, no you don’t as it is a wicked mistress

I didn’t see that one (this trip) coming (Nancy Hanna at Forepaughs Restaurant in St. Paul) two years ago with Mack’s and us.

How can you leave us for that long (Mike and Nancy)

We have a bet on how far you will go (brothers Anderson) and the bet was Iowa. HA!

We are thrilled that you will be home April 8^th (Mary and Conrad)

All you do is just sit on the boat, right? (Various people)

Wow, all the way from Minnesota. (Various people)

Didn’t know that the Mississippi went all the way to Minnesota. (Way too many people)

When we looked at the distance from Carrabelle, Florida to Clearwater Beach across the Gulf of Mexico, we were scared for you. (Mary and Conrad).  So were we!

Are you ready to go home?  Yes.

Would you do it again? No, why would we? Other venues to visit and conquer.  And we don’t have a bigger boat.

Pretty boat, what is it?

How many times did you take the mast down? None.

Were you ever scared? YES.

How was the internet service? Mediocre, at best.

Did you see an alligator? No. Snakes?  No.

What was the nicest marina? Top 5…Lake City, MN; Green Turtle Bay, Kentucky; Sarasota, Florida; Bradenton, Florida; Fort Meyers, Florida.

Do you have any advice for someone thinking about this? Get a bigger boat. And then go back to the drawing board, and get a bigger boat.

What did you miss the most? Home friends, our own bathroom, friends,  TV, the many holidays and special occasions that we have celebrated with the old friends for a long long time.

What surprised you the most? Making new friends along the way. Meeting up with them again and again as we journeyed. That we didn’t go home at all, as so many people did.  How much work the journey was, and that it was often hard work. Kathy was surprised at how little we sailed.  Guess she hadn't thought that one through.

Another thing that did not surprise us, but often left us awestruck, was the abject beauty of our country. We have tried to describe it in our blog, but I don't think we did it justice.  We live in a beautiful land. So much of that land is untouched by human hand.

It is, indeed, a different perspective from the waterways.

Did you go to anywhere famous?

• Cairo, IA
• Paris, Tennessee
• Aberdeen, Alabama
• Cuba, Tennessee
• Dunedin, Florida
• Panama City, Florida
• St. Petersburg Florida

Through how many states did you travel?

• Minnesota
• Wisconsin
• Iowa
• Illinois
• Missouri
• Kentucky
• Tennessee
• Arkansas
• Mississippi
• Alabama
• Florida
• Walmart