Information On Cruising The Great Loop

Join us on this week's episode of Great Loop Radio as and Looper and Chicago native, Mike O'Malley, shares advice on marinas, sites, restaurants, and how to get around the city when you visit Chicago as part of your Great Loop adventure.

AGLCA members Wendy and Bobby Wilson and their four daughters are about to start their Great Loop adventure.  Listen to this week's Great Loop Radio podcast as we chat with Wendy about looping with children and the special planning needed to accommodate the medical needs of one of her daughters.  If you think there are obstacles you can't overcome to make your Great Loop trip happen, we promise you'll be inspired by the Wilson's story. Although their situation is unique, Wendy will share helpful information for anyone thinking about Looping with children or Looping with a loved one who has medical challenges.  She'll also tell why she recommends not putting off your dream of the Great Loop.

Join us as platinum Loopers and authors Pat & George Hospodar provide details on cruising the Michigan side of Lake Michigan.  They'll share general details, as well as favorite ports, marinas, anchorages, and things to see and do during this part of the Great Loop.

Join us on this week's Great Loop Radio podcast as Gold Loopers Foster Schucker and Susan Wilson provide details on boating the Wisconsin side of Lake Michigan.  Foster and Susan presented on this topic with great reviews at the Spring Rendezvous earlier this year.  Listen as they share the highlights of this leg of the Great Loop.

Join us on this week's Great Loop Radio podcast as our guest, Roy Eaton, shares tips for exploring the North Channel.  Often listed among the best fresh water cruising grounds in the world, the North Channel is one of the Great Loop's gems!

Listen as Judy Loving, Cruising Editor for the Lake Superior chapter of the Waterway Guide Great Lakes edition, descibes Lake Superior and its charming towns and anchorages.  Judy shares why she's now spending her second season on Lake Superior and why she thinks this is a Great Loop side trip not to be missed.

On this episode of Great Loop Radio, Gold Loopers and long range cruisers, John & Judy Gill, join us to discuss how to ensure you have clean, odor-free, high quality drinking water aboard your boat.  You'll hear details on installing and maintaining a water purification system aboard that will enable you to stop carrying heavy and hard-to-store bottled water.  

On this week's episode of Great Loop Radio, Chad Buchner, Manager of Canal Operations for the Trent Severn, takes us through this unique waterway.  Listen to hear about the history of the Trent Severn, the towns and villages along the way, and what to see and do on this Looper-favorite waterway!

Join us as our guest, Pete Bardunias, President and CEO of the Southern Saratoga Country Chamber of Commerce, takes us on a guided tour of the things to see and do as you arrive in the historic area of Waterford, New York as part of your Great Loop adventure.

Why put off the Great Loop until retirement?  Loopers Ly & Ed Konrot are successfully working aboard their boat while cruising the Great Loop! Learn how this couple is doing it, as they share practical advice for how to make your boat your floating office.

Which way should you go?  This week's episode of Great Loop Radio helps you decide between the major route choices available when you reach the Erie Canal.  Take the Erie Canal all the way to Lake Erie?  Or turn off the Erie Canal at the Oswego Canal to Lake Ontario?  Or skip the Erie Canal and continue north for the triangle route through Lake Champlain and into some of the historic Canadian cities?  Alan Lloyd, author of Great Loop Navigation Notes, will give the highlights of these three routes and help you decide which to take.

New Jersey is known as one of the spots on the Great Loop where shallow, poorly marked channels cause many Loopers to choose to go outside, into the Atlantic.  Join us as New Jersey locals and authors of two Great Loop books, Pat & George Hospodar, give us up-to-date information on cruising through this area. They share whether the inside route is passable at this point in time, as well as give practicle advice on making the decision to take the intracoastal route or the "outside" route.

Rex Noel, Cruising Editor for Waterway Guide, takes us on a tour of the Chesapeake Bay, including "must-see" towns, marinas, anchorages, and events happening in the area.

This week's Great Loop Radio podcast gives details on arriving at the upcoming Spring Rendezvous in Norfolk by boat.  John DeSocia, the dockmaster at Waterwide Marina, will update us on any expected delays due to the closing of the nearby railroad bridge, approaches to the marina, facilities, and what to see and do while in Norfolk.

This week's episode covers the Albemarle Loop.  Our guest, Jack Atwell, will explain what the Albemarle Sound area offers boaters, including places to go, things to do, and discounts!  This podcast will convince you to slow down, venture a bit off the ICW, and enjoy the best of North Carolina!

This week's episode discusses doing the Loop in small segments.  Our guest is Mike O'Malley who is currently Looping by cruising for a few weeks at a time and then leaving the boat behind to return home for work and family obligations.  Hear how he plans and executes each segment, takes care of logistics, and maintains peace-of-mind when leaving his boat to return home.

Loopers on the traditional "seasonal schedule" are in and around Georgia.  Join us for this week's episode of Great Loop Radio and hear Gold Looper Steve Westgate provide information on his home waters.  Steve and his wife, Beth, transited these waters earlier this week and have current information on shoaling and any other hazards to navigation.  Steve will also share his recommendations on what to see and do in this area.

Join us as Platinum Loopers Larry & Lola Huggins take us on a tour of the pristine St. Johns River.  This Great Loop side trip begins in Jacksonville and takes you through an untouched area of Florida where natural springs bubble and wildlife abouds.  Listen to learn the details of this scenic Great Loop detour.

On this episode of Great Loop Radio, we'll hear about cruising the segment of the Great Loop that runs from Stuart, FL to Jacksonville with our guest, Winston Fowler of the Salty Southeast Cruisers' Net.  Learn more about the waterways in this area, anchorages, marinas, must-see-sights, and more!

Despite the best efforts of the cruising community, the bill to restrict overnight anchoring in five popular anchorages has passed the Florida Legislature.  The bill is now awaiting signature or veto by Governor Rick Scott.  Our guest on this week's episode of Great Loop Radio is Phil Werndli of the Seven Seas Cruising Association's Concerned Cruisers' Committee.  Phil helped lead the charge at the Florida state house to defeat this legislation.  He'll share what implementation of this new law will mean and what the possibilities are for the next legislative session.