Yesterday we traveled about 40 miles from Everglades City to Marco Island, Florida. Tiki Hut gazebo at Everglades Isle Unfortunately, we left the dock with the key fob for Everglade Isle RV Resort...But fortunately, Mark Lake devised a long-handled tool to hand the key fob to Rhonda, who drove downstream to meet us. Thanks, Mark … Continue reading Loopus Interruptus →

Yesterday we arrived in Everglades City, a town at the end of Highway 29 in Southwest Florida. We left the Gulf of Mexico and idled up shallow Indian Creek about five miles through a narrow dredged channel to this charming and rustic town. It is the former county seat of Collier County, but in 1962 … Continue reading Everglades City, Airboats R Us →

Not that Voyager ...and not that Voyager ...and certainly not that one ...but THIS Voyager is moving on! R&R has been at two excellent marinas in Marathon, Florida for the past six weeks. We truly enjoyed Marathon and met many new friends. But the Captain had a case of “dock itch” (been there long enough, … Continue reading …And They’re Off!! →

Friends from Indiana recently joined us on the boat for a few days of relaxation. It was good to catch up and see some of the local sights. We toured Crane Point Hammock Museum and Nature Trail, a 60 acre nature preserve near our marina that shows the pre-development state of Vaca Key, where Marathon … Continue reading “Back in Time” – at Crane Point Hammock →

Greetings! When the idea of cruising America's Great Loop first appeared on our radar about 18 months ago, I was excited about  all there would be to see and do and learn.   I was ready for a change of pace….new places, new people, new skills, new challenges - and I have not been disappointed! In … Continue reading Firsts from the First Mate! →

As our daughter-in-law Katy grew up, she recalls times of "Forced Family Fun" or "Triple F." Though we did not require all hands on deck, Erika, John and Katy recently joined us on the boat for a few days of fun. They all have busy lives and careers in Michigan, so it was good for … Continue reading (Un)Forced Family Fun in the Florida Keys →

NON-TECHNICAL FOLLOWERS: IGNORE THIS POST! Since R&R became ours, we have kept a running list of "boat projects" to improve or restore R&R's safety and livability...sometimes because we learned a better approach, other times because a part failed. So far, we have a long list of completed boat projects. Chartplotter. Replacing R&R's vintage electronic chartplotter/screen/multifunction … Continue reading Does that make me a Headmaster? →

Happy Sunday from Marathon, Florida! Since September we have met hundreds of people in various stages of their Great Loop adventure: planning, enjoying, fondly remembering, and planning for another Loop. We often are asked "What have you enjoyed most?" Our usual answer is THE PEOPLE - from such a variety of home towns and countries, … Continue reading Great Loop: Places or People? →

Shortly after daybreak on Friday, we untied our lines at the Marco Island Marina, turned into the fairway, and headed out into the Marco River. As we idled past La Peninsula on Isles of Capri (where we have stayed the past few years), friends Jean and Jan were outdoors to wave goodbye. Jan sent us … Continue reading Our Marathon to Marathon →

Two weeks ago we hosted Indiana friends Melvin and Lorraine (who now live in Florida) in Marco Island. Since it was a sunny day, we decided to drive East into the Big Cypress National Preserve to see the wildlife. Along the way we stopped for lunch at The Little Bar in Goodland. Excellent fresh seafood … Continue reading Goodland, Gators and Gallery →