Annie and I retired in Nov 2023. We had been talking about what we were going to do when we retire, but now that the day was here, we had to get specific. We were at the Newport boat show and somebody mention the “Great Loop” to Annie.  I remembered when I was in high school my dad and talked about floating on the Mississippi. He said he thought it would be possible to go down the Mississippi into the Gulf of Mexico, go around Florida, up the east coast to New York, up the Hudson River, take the Erie Canal to Buffalo, thru the Great Lakes to Chicago, cross over to the Mississippi and down back to where we started.  I did not realize it at the time, but “That is the Great Loop.”  Since then, it had always been in the back of my mind as something I wanted to do. I would occasionally look at maps and plan the trip, but never mentioned it to anybody. Anyway, Annie looked at me and said she thought it would be an interesting adventure, I said let’s do it. We started looking for a boat. I wanted something that was seaworthy, comfortable, and not too big. We found the Eastern Casco Bay 31. It is 33 feet from the bow to the end of the swim platform. Has a 370 Hp Volvo Penta engine, 200 gal of fuel, 35 gallons fresh water, 30 gallon Holding tank, Wet Shower, stove and sink in the Main Cabin, No table, and a V berth in the bow. Annie wanted something a little bigger, but I won and we bought the boat in January of 2024.

The plan was to fix the items noted in the Survey (mostly cosmetic), pilot the boat from Maine to our house, Cruise the boat around New England over the Sumer, make a list of what need to be done before we start the trip and implement them of the winter 2024/2025.

So, starting in March 2024 Duane, Annie, and I would drive to Maine 3-4 days a week to work on the boat. We cleaned the boat from top to bottom with bleach and detergent (Including the Engine Room. You should have seen all the stuff we found in the bilge); we refinished all the Teak; painted the inside and cockpit; reupholstered all the cushions and Berths; remounted the Curtains; Cleaned and painted the prop, rudder, trim tabs, and bottom; Cleaned and painted the bow thruster; replaced all the Anodes. I Also, replaced the Vacuflush toilet with an Airhead Composing Toilet and emptying and closing off the Holding tank.  (a very controversial move with Annie). It ended being the best marine Toilet I have ever had.

And in early June we put the name on the boat “Over Yonder”, launched it, filled the tanks, and headed down river. The plan was to stopover in Gloucester (2 night), Boston (2 night) and Cuttyhunk (1 night). Close to the mouth of the river (30 min into the trip) I ran over a lobster pot and the line became entangled around the propeller. We were at all stop stuck in the middle of the river. Ugg! After about 15 min of forward and reverse the line fell off. We were underway again. The trip down the coast was beautiful. The ride was smooth and traveled at 12-15 knots. There was a 10-15 knot head wind, but the boat had no problems with the waves. As a note, Eliza, our daughter, had gone to the Hampton Beach that day. We waved as we passed. We entered the Annisquam River north of Gloucester.   It is a pretty, very busy river, Lots of houses and scenery.  And, for the most part uneventful passage, but as we were getting ready to turn into the Marina, we picked up another Lobster line (Damn Lobsters).

We made it into the slip. I went over the side (60° water) and saw that the propeller and line cuter (yes she had a line cutter) were well entangled. Duane and I proceed to take turns trying to cut the line off but we were having trouble seeing. A dude was walking down the dock and asked Annie if we needed help. She asked for a dive mask. A few mins later I heard a sound and look up. It was Paul Hebert, captain of the “Wicked Pissah” from the TV show “Wicked Tuna”. He was handing me a dive mask and said “I like the name of your boat”.

 Later we had supper at the “Mile Marker One Restaurant” and then the next day we walked into town, Gloucester, and spent the day sightseeing. Saw the “Fisherman’s Memorial” and the “Fishermen’s Wives Memorial” and, a lot of small specialty shops. As a last stop we spent an hour in line at a bake shop.  On the walk back, about 2 blocks from the boat, we were caught in a “heavy” downpour. We arrived at the boat soaked. I keep thinking if we had not spent so long in the bake shop…, but later that night, as we were eating desert, I thought that was a very good day.  The desert made me forget the rain.

The next morning, we left the marina, passed under the Blynman draw bridge into Gloucester Harbor and turned south toward Boston. It was another smooth ride at 12-15 knots with a 10-15 Knot head wind. I like going into Boston. It is a very busy Harbor, but it is wide, easy to Navigate and the Boston Skyline fills the sky. We stayed in the Boston Shipyard & Marina. Across the river from Boston, Wow! What a view. The first night in Boston Eliza picked Annie up for a Niles Horan Concert and then they would spend the night at Eliza’s. While waiting for Eliza Annie and I were walking around the Marina and stumbled upon the ICA Watershed. They had an exhibit with all these manikins dressed and set up like they were in a Rio Carnival parade. It was interesting, we spent a long time there. After Annie left Duane and I walked to the Skyline Monument and had supper at the Hyatt Regency. Good food, good walk. The next morning, while Duane slept, I walked around Jeffries Point into East Boston and had Breakfast at a bake shop. I got back just as Annie and Eliza were getting back. We all took the water taxi to the Long Wharff and spent the day around Quency market and the Park around the Wharfs. That night Eliza dropped Duane at the train station. Annie and I were on our own. The adventure begins.

The next morning, we left Boston and headed south. It was another smooth ride at 12-15 knots with a 10-15 knot headed wind. We entered the Cape Cod Canal just as the tided changed. Our 15-knot boat speed plus 4 knot current, we were flying thru the Canal. At the south entrance it got a little rough. The current was toward the south west. The Wind and waves were out of the south west. Plus, the shape of Buzzards Bay funnels the waves into the mouth of the canal. Opposing current and waves. The waves got big and sharp. At mark #2 our engine died! I could not get it started again. They were barely tuning over. We called Sea Tow. The dispatcher said they would have somebody there shortly.  He arrived in 4-5 mins. He was able to secure us and get us out of the channel. He asked us where we wanted to go. I said I was familiar with Onset. He called the Safe Harbor Marina Onset Bay. They said they had a mechanic on duty and could help us. He towed us there. They put us in a slip. I connect to shore power and started the battery charger. The machinic came down and I described the problem. He tried to start the engine. Barely turned over. He opened the engine hatch and tried again. Smoke started coming from the Engine and various points in the engine room. You could smell burning insulation. He used the fire extinguisher. The smoke stopped. We stood there looking at the Engine. He did not say a word; he picked up his tools and left. A couple hours later I went up to the marina office to see what was going on. They said he went to another job and would not be back. They said we could stay there and they would only charge us ½ rate for the slip. We were in a slip for a week, then a mooring for 2 more. They did not charge us for the mooring. With the exception of the mechanic (he would not even talk to me when I saw him around the marina) the marina staff were very accommodating and helpful. I would recommend them. I sent the week trying to get somebody to look at the engine. I was able schedule time with a mechanic from DePaul Diesel for mid-July, 4 weeks.

With nothing else to do I started trouble shooting. I found that most of the ground wire was no more (there were sections of green cable all throughout the engine room with a green stain connecting them).  The # 2 Battery was dead. I could not get the charge above 9V. And, the starter motor had burnt up. Duane and I started replacing the all the Grounding Wire. We replaced the Battery. An 8D Battery weights 167 lbs. and removing it is a story all to itself. We replaced the Starter Motor. The engine started.

We decided to go to Oak Bluffs. Spent 2 nights there. I like going to Oak Bluffs. We normally spend at least 3-4 days there every year. The mooring area in Oak Bluffs is a basin with boardwalk/sea wall, restaurants, and bars around it. It is easy to get into with approximately 50 moorings and mandatory rafting. On special events I have seen as many as 200 boats in the basin.  But, even with all the bars and restaurants it seems to get quite after 10PM. The town itself is very easy to get around. Everything is within walking distance with several attraction: The Flying Horses (oldest carousel in the country), The Campground cottages, Back door Donuts, Ocean Park, the beaches… Even on crowded occasion it is a low key crowed. People just relaxing and enjoying themselves.

Anyway, we were there 2 night and then Home. It took just over a month to get the boat home from Maine.