December 20, 2012  WE DID IT !!  We crossed our wake on December 2nd in New Smyrna Beach, FL.  Our son Mike, lovely daughter in law Beth greeted us with our Gold Burgee (FLAG) flying for us to see where to park !!  They had a great picnic with lots of our family and friends there to welcome us home.  What a trip it has been,  I would do it again in a heart beat.  We went 5012 miles in Native Son and came in under budget for fuel.  Thanks to all the wonderful Looper's for a great time with those whose wake we shared.  Thanks too to our family for joining us when they could and encouraging us to "go for it, while you can !!"  Now we need to learn again how to walk on land !!
We have done a lot of things in our lives, but this was the greatest yet.  Hate to see it end, but then the boat hasn't sold yet !! Native Son is in New Smyrna, and listed with a broker, meanwhile Beth and Mike can enjoy her.  We are in Key West for the winter and glad to be here after several trying days, moving from the boat to the little rv, going to Homestead and moving from the little rv to the 5th wheel, too much work.  Will be sure and make moving easier next year.   When doing the Loop for the first time you fly a White Burgee from the American's Great Loop Cruisers Asso., when you cross your wake ( coming in to where you departed) you earn a Gold Burgee, and if you do it more than once you get a Platinum Burgee.

 

 

Merry Christmas  and Happy New Year to All

 

 

November 25th,  Here we are at the Patrick Air Force Base Marina ( Manatee Cove Marina) a real skinny channel getting in here. Felt like we were back in some of the narrow passages in Canada, only they only looked narrow on the charts and GPS.  Great Marina here, they tied us up next to the Tiki Hut Bar...we rode our bikes to the bx and commissary, came back and a live band was playing rap, and loudly, I thought thank heavens for windows and air conditioning !!  Well we ended going back to the bx to excange something and when we got back they were playing our kind of music.  The Marina told us at 5pm they had food, go check it out so we did, they had a taco bar for our dinner.
Later we listened to their great live band and even danced on our boat !  A female singer had a great voice and after a really great song, all were clapping big time, and Rich blew the boat horn !!  Was truly another neat memory on our fantastic adventure.  Thanksgiving we shared with Beth and Mike at their lovely home, 3 our of our 4 children were there and 3 of our Grandchildren.  Beth's family was there and such a great family they are.  The food and family was what Thanksgiving is all about, love, family and grateful for our many blessings. We will stay here until the 29th, doing chores, and getting the boat ready to put on the market.  With mixed feelings, she has been a wonderful home since last February, once we cross our wake it will be OH YEAH we did it, and oh no, it can't be over. 

November 16th,  We had a great time in Vero Beach visiting with friends from Key West, Jenette and Warren.  Left there and came into Sebastian and visited with more Key West friends, Janice and Bill, both couples fed us wonderful meals and sooo good to see them.  Tomorrow we will head for Patrick Air Force Base, and looking forward to seeing Phyllis and Tony there. (More Key West friends).
On our trip we have visited many terrific friends, in fact some of our looper friends commented that we have friends everywhere.  And we do, we are so lucky, thanks to years of flying, camping and boating we are blessed.  Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Back in the intercoastal waterway, east fl.

We ended up staying in carrabelle, fl 13 days due to weather. Left carrabelle in the dark for steinhatchee, fl. Saw lots of dolphins, a flock of white pelicans. Next we left Steinhatchee and anchored in the cross greenway canal. Put out 2 anchors, next am could not get stern anchor loose so we cut the rope. Left in fog again... Picked up a crab pot rope, (UGH), so we went on to Tarpon Springs. On one engine. Had the boat hauled out, and the rope removed, fortunately no other damage. then on to Clearwater, fl, Sarasota, fl. And then anchored in Cape Haze Cove. On to Ft  Myers and our looper friends Lynda and Bob (Erika lin), came to see us. we saw lots of dolphins and lots of boat traffic. On our way again, to Port La Belle, Clewiston and Stuart,Fl. and if my figures are correct we did 109 locks on this trip and St Lucie was the last one.  Now getting close to where we began this loop, but plan on going into Patrick Air Force Base Marina for a few days. Mixed feelings about ending this adventure, it has been wonderful and yeah we did it, and. Hard to believe it is nearly over. Looking forward to Thanksgiving with family. We have so much to be thankful for.

RMKWomack Adventure

Amazing, they showed up twice !! I am afraid to try and delete the second set...









 Trying again !!

OOPS, I guess my photos got lost !!They showed in the preview before posting ?!?!  Will try again later, sorry .

RMKWomack Adventure

 Here are some photos at the Big Chute on the Trent Severn Canal, Canada.