Do you live for spring when the boat goes in the water? Do you suffer from post-boating-season depression when she is hauled back out in the fall? Do you ever wish, just once, that instead of hauling and dreaming about "next year" that you could just keep going and put a little water under your hull on a slow boat south? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to float down the mighty Mississippi River like Tom Sawyer on his raft, or look up from your aft deck at the Blue Moon of Kentucky? Dreamed perhaps, of feasting on grilled catfish in Tennessee and then heading off to catch a show at the Grand Ole Opry? Wondered what it would be like to glance over from the helm and witness a huge alligator slither into the murky waters of the Mobile River or stand out on the deck just a few feet from dolphins frolicking in your bow wake? Perhaps you can picture yourself docked in old Key West, catching a sundowner's party at Mallory Square, washed down with a cold one from one of Hemingway's old haunts or yourself in New York City, anchored under the towering Statue of Liberty, watching the busy harbor come to life while you sip your morning coffee? Doesn't that sound more appealing that a quick coffee from the drive-through coffee shop as you navigate traffic jams, snowstorms and business meetings? Each year many people just like you combine their love of boating with their love of travel and set off to explore America's Great Loop, a series of lakes, rivers, canals and waterways that connects a huge area of south central Canada and the eastern United States. Boaters from all over the world converge to enjoy this experience and many who have never owned a boat but always longed to try the cruising lifestyle make the leap, buy the boat and do what they must to become a "looper". We're glad we did. Here's our story.
About the Author: Melanie Wood traded her boots and parka for a wetsuit and flippers when she escaped The Great White North and set off to cruise the loop. Join the loyal and growing group of readers who have followed the cruising adventures of Diamond Lil, the famous 38 ft. Bayliner Motor Yacht from Canada. Melanie Wood has published 27 articles in boating magazines such as PassageMaker and Power Boating Canada about the adventures that she and her husband Captain John have enjoyed on Diamond Lil, their 38 ft. Bayliner Motor Yacht. The trip around America's Great Circle Route is just the first in a series of adventures. Melanie lives aboard Diamond Lil in the historic fishing village of Oak Ridge, Roatan, Islas de Honduras (Honduras Bay Islands) where she is currently working on the second in the Captain's Log series; Diamond Lil Does the Bahamas. Visit Melanie's website at www.mytripjournal.com/johnandmel