We have begun our Great American Loop. It has been more than a decade since Brian said “I’ve been reading about doing the Erie Canal by boat”. Since then, we have been empty nesters, retirees, and now Loopers. We are more or less on schedule to begin our loop. We made some adjustments (as everyone did) last year, but here we are !
On Tuesday July 13th we began preparing the boat to “hit the highway” at the end of the week. It was a beautiful last evening at Riverboat Marina in the Sacramento Delta. The next day Brian drove the boat to Stockton while Ellen drove the car. We got settled at Delta Yacht Center and got back to work (without the Bimini it was Very hot inside the boat).
On Friday, the truck arrived, we were hoisted, and the morning was spent watching her being secured. Ellen was pretty relaxed but Brian was worried about every screw and every unknown (and known) that you could imagine including whether or not it would fit on the truck. Even though we measured the boats height several times this year, you never really know until it sits on the truck if it will be too high to travel the highways (overpasses). With the windshield, the compass, the steering wheel, and the seats pulled off the top, we came in at 13’8” high, which made the grade.
We drove out after lunch, headed north on I-5 to I-80 and we even passed the boat twice! Many thanks to all the people who helped us prep the boat. It doesn’t take a village; it takes a boat yard. Rick @ Riverboat Marina installed our A/C unit, which we already love. Bob @ Delta Yacht Center who helped us get the boat on the truck and last but not least Winston trucking.
Hoping to be in Kentucky by the middle of next week, along with the truck!