September 15- 18. Day 151- 154 On to Brewerton 12.4 Nm. Total miles 2778

We woke early to 46 degrees and bundled up for our trip across Oneida Lake. This twenty mile lake runs from Sylvan Beach in the east to Brewerton, NY on the west. Since it was cold we kept all the vinyl panels on the fly bridge enclosure closed. That plus the sun and gloves, watch caps, jackets and sweat shirts kept us warm. By mid lake we could take off the gloves and caps, but as we were going into the wind, we still needed the sweatshirt and jacket.

We pulled into Winter Harbor Marina where we will tie up for the next few days and prepare the boat to be stored for the winter.

This is our last travel day and we feel a bit nostalgic and a bit excited about what we have accomplished. We traveled 2778 miles over our nations and Canada’s oldest waterways and trade routes. Met lots and lots of wonderful people that shared a passion for boating. Saw cities, towns, forts and lighthouses that line the waterway.

Was awesome to travel by water and visit where most of this country began. We renewed our lessons in history, especially the Revolutionary War, French and Indian War and the War of 1812. Also could see how commerce operated first via rivers and creeks and portaging, then via canal and barge, then steamboat and rail.

We enjoyed seeing the towns that grew up along these waterways, their old homes and businesses and how they changed over time.

All of Mother Nature’s beauty was on display- her waterfalls, forests, mountains, canyons and cliffs, her islands, glacier carved rock and her wildflowers.

Was thrilled to see bald eagles, hawks, Canadian geese, all kinds of ducks and songbirds, then land animals that I have only seen in pictures- red and black and flying squirrels, groundhogs and minks.

So much to remember and treasure.

So now on to chores September 16-18

I had the dubious honor of cleaning the drawers and closets in the boat and start packing all that we will take home with us. Have had to be creative with meals using up the food we had left.

Bill worked on replacing an engine part, cleaning the boat and fixing the head. Sounds like fun!?

We did take a break to pick up some supplies and check on the rental car we will pick up Monday. Splurged and used the loaner car to go to Taco Bell for lunch,

Bill took some drone shots of the marina at Brewerton.

Reflections on the Great Loop -

Over the 5 and half months last year and the almost 7 months this year for a total of 351 days, we travelled 6348 miles, through two countries 19 states, traversed over 200 locks to find large cities, small towns, farmland, and vast natural waterways and bays. Our route took us through sites of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Civil War, as well as the history of how America grew along her waterways. Beginning with canoes, rafts and barges people and goods moved through these waters. The sailing sloops and steamships changed these rivers, requiring locks and canals to be built to facilitate travel and commerce. Today it is amazing how much commerce moves through these waters. We developed a healthy respect for the freighter and tow captains and lock masters and harbor masters that keep the system working. We have lasting impressions of early morning sunrises, beautiful sunsets, and moonlit bays, the hospitality in all the towns we visited, the vast undeveloped shorelines

Day 194-195. 2nd year. December 3. On to Redington/Clearwater and then to Home. Miles 15 Total MIles 6021

Slept in again. Was nice to finally catch up on our sleep. Found our morning a bit foggy but promises to be a sunny day once it burns off. One of the boaters attracted a female manatee and her baby with his hose, so we walked over to the next dock to enjoy the show. Manatee are often found in shallow areas this time of year as they like the warm water. They also will take advantage of access to freshwater, especially if a hose is left hanging over the side of a boat. Bill also took some drone shots of Caladesi State Park. We did one last beach walk before we left today, turning north to explore that part of the island. Found a few turbans, an olive, 2 small horse conch and a whelk for our shell treasures today. Sea fog started to come in off the Gulf so we turned around and headed back to the boat. We left later in the day as we had to be close to a high tide to get out the channel at Caladesi. A local boater offered to lead the way to a cut that provides more water so we took

April 2 2022. We cast off our lines!

Day 1. April 2 We cast off our lines at 9:00am on out Great Loop adventure. Our friends, Phil and Aggie helped record our departure. The weather was overcast as we traveled out our canal and into Tampa Bay. As we approached the Skyway bridge a dolphin twice leaped completely out of the water, playing in our bow wake. An omen of good fortune for our adventure! As we ended our Tampa Bay crossing, the sun began to peek out and as we traversed past Longboat Key/Bradenton and entered Sarasota we had ourselves a sunny day. We traveled 34.4 nautical miles in four hours and anchored behind Otter Key, a mangrove Island near Lido Key in Sarasota. There we joined another boat from St Petersburg, FL. The owners were for many years sailors from the Caribbean down to Panama. What adventures they shared! The anchorage sports lots of manatees, dolphin and of course, the osprey who lords over Otter Key. Once settled properly, we took a nap, Will spend the rest of our day with a glass of wine

Crustacean Travels

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