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My Great Loop Adventure

Tales of crusing the Loop as crew and then (mostly) solo as captain of my own boat.

  • Home
  • Travelogue
    • Captaining Do It NowPosts about my third time on the Great Loop, starting in October 2022, on my own boat, M/V Do It Now.
    • Crewing with Capt JohnPosts about my second time on the Great Loop, in April through May, 2022.
    • Crewing with Capt PaulPosts about my first time on the Great Loop, in August through September, 2021.
    • Cruising on Captain GigsStories from my travels working as a training captain, delivery captain, or Great Loop advisor while on the Great Loop.
  • Destinations
    • Side TripsSome interesting side trips I’ve made.
    • MarinasMarinas I’ve stayed at along the way.
    • AnchoragesAnchorages I’ve stayed at along the way.
    • Points of InterestTowns, museums, attractions, and other points of interest I’ve visited on my journey.
    • Off the Beaten Tracks
  • Great Loop Info
    • TipsTips to help you save money, travel safer, and have more fun on your Great Loop journey.
    • Onboard Cooking
  • Captain Services
    • Delivery Services
    • Ranger Tug Hands On Training
    • Single Handing/Solo Cruising
    • Being the Best First Mate
    • Start Your Great Loop with a Pro!
    • Training in the San Juan Islands
    • Learn How to Cruise on a Guided Flotilla!
    • Cruising on Captain GigsStories from my travels working as a training captain, delivery captain, or Great Loop advisor while on the Great Loop.
  • About
    • About Maria
    • Contact Maria
    • About My Loop BoatPosts about choosing, acquiring, shipping, and cruising in my Great Loop boat, M/V Do It Now, a 2019 Ranger Tug R-29 CB.
    • About this BlogGeneral information about this blog.
  • Maria’s Other Content
    • Maria’s Personal Blog
    • Maria’s YouTube Channel
    • FlyingMAir YouTube Channel
    • ML Jewelry Designs
Great Loop Cruise Planning, Part 4: Planning Your Next Cruising Day

Great Loop Cruise Planning, Part 4: Planning Your Next Cruising Day

In this part of my multipart trip planning series, I explain how to plan for the next day of travel.
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December 12, 2024Posted inGreat Loop Info, TipsNo Comments
December 2024 Blog Update

December 2024 Blog Update

I attempt to explain why I've just been releasing posts with video links lately and what my plans for this site are in the months to come.
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December 9, 2024Posted inBlog Info5 Comments
Video: St Ignace to Beaver Island

Video: St Ignace to Beaver Island

A video, with synced chartplotter, for my trip from St Ignace to Beaver Island on a mirror calm Lake Michigan.
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December 9, 2024Posted inCaptaining Do It NowNo Comments
Video: Cruising Down the Chicago River

Video: Cruising Down the Chicago River

A video from the first day of my Great Loop journey.
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December 1, 2024Posted inCaptaining Do It Now2 Comments
Video: Erie Canal Lock 17 Guillotine Gate

Video: Erie Canal Lock 17 Guillotine Gate

A narrated look at the operation of the enormous guillotine gate at the Erie Canal's Lock 17.
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November 17, 2024Posted inCaptaining Do It Now, Great Loop Info, Points of InterestNo Comments
Video: DeTour to St Ignace, MI

Video: DeTour to St Ignace, MI

July 31, 2024: I leave DeTour MI, recovering from a sinus infection, and, enroute to St Ignace MI, show you how I use my Garmin chartplotter's AIS feature to get information about nearby traffic.
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November 10, 2024Posted inCaptaining Do It Now2 Comments
Video: ICW Ft Pierce to Vero

Video: ICW Ft Pierce to Vero

January 25, 2024: I start my trip north from my Dad's house and capture my cruise with video footage off the command bridge.
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November 6, 2024Posted inCaptaining Do It NowNo Comments
Video: Dolphins at Fort Pierce

Video: Dolphins at Fort Pierce

January 25, 2024: I see a lot more dolphins than I've seen in one place as I'm leaving my Dad's house in Fort Pierce, Florida.
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October 31, 2024Posted inCaptaining Do It NowNo Comments
How Long to Do the Loop?

How Long to Do the Loop?

A reader asks whether it's best to do the Loop all in one go or break it up into segments. Here's the answer.
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October 25, 2024Posted inGreat Loop Info, TipsNo Comments
6 Things Every First Mate Should Know

6 Things Every First Mate Should Know

Dockwa publishes the first article I've written exclusively for their newsletter.
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October 14, 2024Posted inGreat Loop Info, Tips4 Comments

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Ranger Tug Training

I’ve just updated my page about Ranger Tug training (available in my boat or yours) to list the dates Do It Now will be available. Dates include participation in next September’s Ranger Rendezvous at Roche Harbor! Learn more here.

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On this Date

Here's where I was on this day during my Great Loop travels. Click a link to read all about that part of my trip.

10/30/22
Grafton Harbor at Grafton, IL

10/30/23
Coinjock, VA to Columbus, NC

10/30/23
Alligator River Marina at Columbus, NC

Status Report

I crossed my wake in Chicago on August 12, 2024.

The Numbers
Days on the Loop: 464*
Travel Days: 258*
States: 19
Provinces: 1
Countries: 2
Nautical Miles: 8,330
Fuel Gallons: 5,234
Fuel Cost: $23,552
Marina Nights: 278
Marina Cost: $15,590

*Typical Great Loop trip lengthened by multiple side trips.

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Start YOUR Loop with a Pro!

If you’re new to long-range cruising and are planning to start your Great Loop Adventure soon, why not start it with an experienced Looper on board?

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What I’m Reading

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My Marina Reviews

Read my Waterway Guide marina reviews.

RSS On My Personal Blog
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