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Yes, we are back on the water after a delightful three-night stop at Bob and Marie Austin's dock. What hospitality the Austin's showed us! Within a few hours of arrival we were partying with them and their neighbors, then the next day they insisted on loaning us one of their cars to go spend a...

Well, we're back on the Cosmic C and heading for Ft Myers FL. We had a great Thanksgiving celebration with Mary's family near Kansas City - 51 people in all. Only problem was that a 24-hour stomach bug was going around and many of us caught it, including Mary and me. Because of the bug our...

As we have mentioned before, our time frame is fixed on early March, so if mid-May is the consensus, then we will unfortunately have "been there, done that" by the time you all go.

Here are my 2 cents: 1. Delo 400 is primarily a diesel engine oil for commercial fleets. It is formulated to also meet most gasoline engine specs so that it can be used in mixed fleets. 2. Delo 400 does not come as a 10W-40; it comes as 10W-30, 15W-40, and 10W, 20, 30, 40, and 50 single...

We're pretty much tied into the late February, early March time frame since we need our boat back on the St Lawrence in June. We'd love to have company in the Bahamas, but would wish the rest of you happy cruising if you go later in the year. Patrick and Mary Fowles 25 foot C Dory Cosmic C...

Mary and I are planning to take the Cosmic C to the Bahamas for a week or two as part of our Great Loop cruise. We've been advised to avoid January and most of February and so plan to head over towards the end of February and into March. Patrick and Mary Fowles 25 ft C Dory Cosmic C Currently...

We have an Optima Blue Top as a starting battery and two Class 32 West Marine AGMs as house batteries. The Optima is three and a half years old now and going strong. Patrick and Mary Fowles 25 ft C Dory Cosmic C Currently moored at the Midway Marina, Fulton MS www.the-fowles.com

We should correct erroneous information we posted aearlier about fuel (or lack thereof) on the Illinois River. In fact there are two places to obtain fuel between Peoria and Grafton, but one may have to call ahead to get it. 40 miles downriver from Peoria, Tall Timbers Marina at Havana, IL...

We’re now home in Pennsylvania, and the Cosmic C is moored at the Midway Marina on the Tenn-Tom Waterway. We’ll be back on board in November to start the second leg of our Loop, heading for the Tampa area. Some loopers are noting that the anchorages along the Mississippi, Ohio, and Cumberland...

We’re at anchor behind Angelo Towhead Island at the junction of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. It's a beautiful evening, the fish are jumping, Mary has cooked a meal I wouldn't have thought possible on an alcohol stove, and we're replete and happy. We were entertained by relatives in Peoria...

Hi all: After two great days in Chicago, the weather changed again and we woke up to 20+K winds and pouring rain on the third day when we had planned to depart. Being the wimps that we are we decided to stay put, but I felt we couldn't leave the boat because the inner harbor around the...

Byrdman - if you want more details on our trip, go to www.the-fowles.com. Patrick

Well, Old Jim, despite all my guff about being conservative and staying on the East coast of Lake Michigan, we were about to leave the municipal marina at Ludington (one of the best, really clean, even has a TV room and free telephone) on Wednesday morning when we made the exercutive decision to...

We've basically decided to stay on the Eastern shore all the way down. We've received much advice, and most Great Loopers advise this. Plus 60 miles of open water is not something I or my wife take on lightly. A storm coming on when one is 30 miles offshore is something I really wouldn't want...

After having a wonderful time exploring the Georgian Bay, the North Channel, and Mackinac Island, we're now heading down Lake Michigan. Stayed last night in Charlevoix, and will probably stay here today because the lake is a little rough.

Hi all! We're now in Killarney after a gorgeous day on the water. The wind's gone, the sun's brilliant, and we've just had rusty nails to celebrate. Smittypaddler, we plan to do the loop in stages. Stage 1 is to Fulton, Mississippi, where we'll leave the C for a month or so, coming back in...

Well, we're finally doing it. The Cosmic C left our home base in the Thousand Island region of the St Lawrence river on Tuesday, August 8 on the first leg of our Great Loop cruise. We had great weather and a great time all through the Trent-Severn system, including a bluegrass concert in the...

The factory puts the drains an inch above the floor of the trough to prevent or minimize potential gas leakage from going overboard. It may even be a regulation nowadays. One is supposed to keep the trough reasonably empty of water to accomplish this. We consider emptying the trough just part...

Thanks for the ideas, Byrdman. Rogerbum, they have a 26' Limestone. Big cockpit but with the motor box right in the middle, which really complicates things.

I have a situation where a friend needs to be able to get his wife, who is barely able to walk with a walker let alone climb into a boat, on and off his boat so they can continue enjoying their summer place on an island in the St Lawrence river a little longer. They are both in their 80's, so he...