After the Rendezvous, Adagio cruised south for four days to Pickwick Lake and then down the Tennessee-Tombigbee River to our home port of Columbus, Mississippi. After going through our very last lock on the Loop, we enjoyed a steak dinner at a beautiful anchorage as we reflected on our Great Loop adventure.
During the past twelve months, we have cruised from Columbus, MS to Mobile Bay; across the Gulf of Mexico and down the west coast of Florida to Key West; up the East Coast to New York City; up the Hudson River to Albany, NY; west on the Erie Canal to Syracuse, NY; north on the Oswego Canal to Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River; through the 44 locks of the Trent-Severn Waterway in Canada; across the Georgian Bay and North Channel of Lake Huron; down to Mackinaw Island and the west coast of Michigan; through downtown Chicago on the Chicago River; out the Illinois River to the Mississippi, Ohio, Cumberland, and Tennessee Rivers; and finally, the Tenn-Tom back to Columbus.
In addition to the normal Loop route, we added side trips to the Bahamas, Outer Banks, Potomac River and Washington DC, St. Lawrence Seaway, and Lake Superior for a total of about 7,000 nautical miles. When we couldn't get there by boat, we rented cars to see the Brandywine Valley of Pennsylvania, the Adirondacks, Lake Placid, NY, New York's Finger Lakes, and Niagara Falls.
When Loopers finish their journey and return to the place they started their Loop, it is called "Crossing One's Wake," and is cause for much joy and celebration. The white Looper burgee (flag) is retired and replaced by a gold burgee signifying that a boat has "crossed its wake" and completed the Great Loop. Since we started our Loop in Columbus, we crossed our wake upon our return there on Monday, October 17, 2022, almost a year from the day when we departed. Charles' two brothers and sister-in-law joined us for some champagne and the raising of the new flag, and fellow Loopers at the marina joined in the celebration.
Look for one final post with an epilogue and thoughts about what's next!
America's Great Loop Route
Charles and Brother Rodney
Retiring the White Burgee with the New Gold One
Time to Celebrate!
