Great Loop

M

Mike

New member
8) Fellow Brats,
I must let my brother, Byrdman off the hook. I asked him to keep the following info under his hat. I will admit, I am the one who let the cat out of the bag.
IF all goes as anticipated, Gypsy, Brenda, & myself will begin a voyage around the Great Loop, beginning from our dock,Jan. 4, or thereabouts, cruising counterclockwise, around the "Loop". Our plan is to use two years and answer to no time clock. This opportunity came up and I seized the moment! This is about two years ealier than we had anticipated.
I let the cat out of the bag when I posted our 2010 Looper on the AGLCA web site and got busted!!!!
Anyone have electronic or paper or both for that cruise? I am in the market :shock:
Thanks!
Mike
 
Congtrats Brother & B.

And to think this little C-Dory gig started with a Cumberland River cruise on my TC-24 FreeByrd.... and you meeting Tom and Marge, Bill & El... a trip with me to the NW to meet some other C-Brats around the Seattle Boat Show time frame one year.... and the rest is history.

s_Seattle.jpg

Think I will be in MJ Sunday. I have a bag of different cruising guides that are pretty new, and, that you will need prior to me. Used a few of them while helping bring DARLING down the eastern ICW a couple months back. I think you have the same inland lakes and rivers chip that I have on my Raymarine system, and the same one that the Brigners have. That is about as good as it gets for inland waters. I also have one (about a year old) that has good detail on the Chesapeake Bay area...but, sitting here right now, I can not lay my hands on it. May be in my boat bag on my boat, or in the bowl on the helm station on ALOYSIUS at the dock there in MJ. If I have it...it is yours. I would not go over board on chips the way you and B like to poke about and see/find things. Just something to let ya know where ya are if your are fogged in somewhere....and take advantage of what ever little local charts and info you can find on the way. But then too... we have some Brats on the loop now you may want to PM...or email...

Glad to see you are getting geek'd up and that your post are making the other sights too. Buck and I had a great laugh....but I did have some "splan-nin" to do. Also have some neat stuff on the Abacos if ya get around to the right side of FL....and choose to turn right for about 60 miles one day....and stay a month or 3. The Yantcy's and Holders can help too and I think yall see them pretty frequently. Some great marinas that for about $1000 a month, you get meals, beverages and dockage... and great places for skinny draft boats!!!!

Brother Mike & B:, I am damn glad and excited for you and thanks for the many nights at the farm, on the lakes and rivers...and just in general life. We have had many, many great times and laughs together....and look forward to many more. Still chuckle a bit when reflecting back to our days when we were both in OCS together and the senior TAC had us stand on his desk facing out with books between our boots and had the others come thru so he could show them his "Bird book ends...".... Now, just how many brothers in life get to share those moments.. :mrgreen: :embarrased And to think... that treatment did noting to kill our self-esteem, or any of that sick stuff...we turned out "normal....ish" :smiled :thup
:hug :note :beer :cigar :cocktail :dog :hot :moon :smiled :tea :hug2
Thanks for letting this out... :thup :teeth You know how hard it has been for me to stay closed up about this....especially when folks would ask how yall are. Talk about some evasive answers... :mrgreen:

Brother Pat.... "Byrdman"[/img]
 
hey michael,
that's awesome news. gets me excited to hear somebody is planning a long term cruise. linda and i talk about the day when it's our turn, not quite here yet but light is definitely shining at the tunnels end.
mike, we've not met, but i understand you are byrdman's younger brother. must have been a real treat growing up listing to his stories! we've enjoyed his friendship and certainly look forward to hearing of your adventures. it looks like your going to do the cruise in the 22' c-dory, is that correct? well, i'm sure there will be far more conversation on c-brat about this upcoming trip and will look forward to reading all that goes on.
best regards,
pat

ps: byrdman, we're having second thoughts about selling misty seas, have been thinking about all the reasons we originally bought it and they appear to be as valid today as they were then. so, what do you think about that? crazy, i know!
 
Hi Mike & Brenda,
Glad to hear that it came early, for some they never get a chance to seek after their dreams. Sandy & I are excited for you all, carry on and good luck, keep us posted

:beer Jim
 
Mary and I did 90% in 2001 and 2002 and then finished in 2007. Best expierence of our lives. Have a great trip, don't worry about costs and pass something up and stick to the "no time clock". Good luck..chris
 
Mike and Brenda,

We are excited to hear about your loop adventure. We think that we will be doing the same in a year or less. I retired in January and the only issue for us is the two elderly (90 and 94) family members that we take care of. We have spent 70 days on the water thus far in 2009 but stick closer to home (Huntsville) except for 2+ weeks that we recently spent in Apalachicola; one of our favorite destinations.

Sorry we could not make the Cumberland Gathering because we really wanted to cruise with you guys again.

I will be sending you a PM soon.

Congratulations again; wish that we were going along with you at least part of the way.

Richard, Cheryle and Chester
:lol: :lol: :dog
 
Hey "younger" brother Mike & B: Enjoyed our time together Sunday and the time on the water on GYPSY.

Hope the grilling worked out after melting C-Pearls cover.

Brother Pat "Byrdman"
 
:smile Thank you all very much for the congrats, encouragment, and well-wishing! I am certainly very fortunate to be able to do this trip. We will stay in touch and this site will be one we will most deffinatley be posting to. I am not as much a typer as Byrdman is, but then, he has always been a little more "full of it" than I :P But to set the record straight, I am about 8 years his senior :lol:
By the way, are there any C-80 Raymarine cards out there? I have the Card that will cover us from the house to the Gulf at Mobile. Any charts, cruise guides ect. will be welcome just let us know their worth and we will see if it is doable.
Thanks Again :thup
Mike
 
Hi Mike, I'm very excited for you on this trip! 2 years, wow, can you give us an idea of your schedule as far as seasons go (summer, fall, winter....). I can see doing a full year, moving with the seasons to keep the temperature where you like them, but 2 years means some extreme temperatures. Unless you are talking about doing the loop twice in a row over two years?

Thanks
 
Hey Greg,
Well, in keeping with our "no clock" agenda, (or lack thereof), we are looking at side trips as well as the main route of the Loop. I can't say it will take two years, but we have allocated that much time for an educated guess as to how long we want to cruise. We have several friends along the way who, for the past five years, have asked that we come vist along the way. A ride over to the Bahamas for a month or so is not out of our scheme of manuever. We are aware of the weather patterns and the bugs as well!!! So, I guess we will ride with the weather and bugs as our clock and see what they bring!!! I hope this answers your question, and you may be more correct in your time frame than I am with mine. We want to be sure we leave enough room to stop wherever and however long we please.
Appreciate the note!
Mike
 
Mike it was good seeing you guys and touching base again up in Tenn with Jeff and Kathy this last summer . I hope all goes well with you and try to make it to Naples this winter warm showers and cold beer await . take care Jim and Loree
 
Hey you two!
Once we get around to your neck of the woods we will give ya'll a heads up, probably via this site and see whats goin' on. Thanks for the note!
Mike
 
Just got off the phone with Brother Mike & B on approach to Rankin Lock in Fulton, MS. Below is a bit of traffice between us for the last few days. They did clear themselves of the ice issues we had at home and trailered down to Decatur AL for the SPLASHING OF GYPSY!

They are south bound and loving it.

19Jan10-4:41pm
YEP! We left Decatur Al. this mornin' 'bout 8 am. Locked thru WHEELER lock & on hook @ mm 266 in Six Mile Creek. Had supper and will go thru Wilson Lock tomorrow then on to Grand Harbor @ Yellow Creek. Looks like a rainy, windy ride though!!! Running on the computer battery for a trial so will be brief. We will stay in touch but I can't spend near as much time on the computer as you can!!:)
C U Later
Mike
- - -
20Jan10-7:35pm
We are off to a typical Byrd start...the next three days weather look like we had planned a Firewood fishin' trip! We have our choice of Heavy rain, flash floods, large hail, or even a tornado for desert!!!! This is coming after midnight tonight. We are hunkered down at Grand Harbor Marina MM 215 Tennessee River. Looks as though we may be here a day or two. Great restaurant just down the road and courtesy car available, great Margarita and food, kinda Jimmy Buffet style.
C Ya'll round the bend
Mike

21Lan10: Txt – Staying @ Bay Springs Marina, MM 412
22Jan10: Txt – Locked thru Whitten MM412, Locked thru Montgomery MM406, on approach to Randon lock, MM398. Looking to stop @ Midway Marina MM 394 w/wtx forecast for Fri night and forcasted 40mph winds for Sat. More than likely stay @ Midway and wait out winds/lightening.
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Byrdman..posting for Brother Mike on GYPSY
 
When you come up through the Chesapeake I hope you make time to see some of the Eastern Shore of VA ports of call. We aren't as glitzy as the Western Shore, but lots of nature.


Ah one day maybe I'll get to do it too.
 
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