Iuka, Mississippi – WE DID IT!!!

Our final Loop sunset at anchor 10/1/2017

Day 343 brings us to Pickwick Lake Harbor in Iuka, MS and yes…as of 2:47PM on 10/2/2017 we officially completed America’s Great Loop!!!  The time flew by, the challenges were conquered and our new friends are forever!  And the fun…oh, all the fun, fun, fun!!!  It will remain etched in our memories, pictures, t-shirts and social media.  

We've looked at a lot of real estate

This has truly been a trip of a lifetime – any bad day was minimized by the overwhelming good days.  Any mechanical issues was quickly remedied with a suggestion or hands-on correction offered by another looper or well-positioned professional. Any homesickness or emotional meltdown was cured with empathy, shared tears then laughter!

The Winter Pool puts waterfront fun on the ground

Yes, we saw a lot of the USA – 17 states and DC. We left the country twice – Bahamas and Canada.  We took LOTS of pictures and I tried to update the blog often. We ate some interesting food but the best meals we enjoyed were the pot luck dinners with other loopers.  We walked A LOT – sometimes for fun, sometimes dragging a wagon to the Laundromat, grocery store or dockside dinner!  We visited with people we would have never met, most became our friends and some feel like family!!

Completing the Loop is bittersweet because like most things in life – people move on and circumstances change – nothing stands still.

“What’s next?”  Right now, we will do what every responsible boat owner does…pull the boat out of the water for a “physical”!!  We know routine maintenance (clean & paint the bottom) and a few other updates will need to be done.  In a few days we will lock in the timeline.  Then we will off-load the vessel and head home by the middle of October!!  There’s a lot to do after a year on the water!  We also have to see about routine physicals (doctors, dentist)!!

And yes, we would like to keep cruising…there is so much more to see!!  The pressure of seeing everything according to seasons and weather has been accomplished – now we are ready to really take our time to explore a few areas we rushed through.

The Lower Place secured in the Pickwick lock - final lock of the loop!

In a few days I’m sure we will post the trip stats (engine hours, fuel consumption) but not tonight. Tonight we will rest easy, knowing how blessed we are to have this dream become a reality.  We are not promised the next hour on this earth…make every moment matter!

Of course we give all the glory to God for taking care of us throughout this journey!! This wasn't the easiest trip to undertake and for reasons yet to be realized He watched over us and brought us safely back home!!  Thank you Lord!

God Bless

Morning breaks on our final day of America's Great Loop 10/2/2017