(Scott here)

Our Camp Host time at Dodge County Astico Park is over. I have really enjoyed being a camp host and really enjoyed working with the staff at Dodge County Parks and specifically Astico Park. Thank you to everyone with Dodge County Parks for making us feel welcome and working with us for the summer.

But I have been getting an itch to move as we have been stationary for about 4-5 months. Don’t get me wrong, we have been out of state a few times, mostly to MN to visit one of our kids, spouse, and grandkids. Visiting and helping family and reconnecting with friends.

We have been working hard this week getting all of our stuff on the boat and organized. Some of our possessions are getting stored (thank you Audrey and Rob!), some of it is getting donated, and some of it is just getting tossed.

And, it is a boat, so I have some projects to finish up.

Our take-off plan is to start moving around Sept. 20, depending on weather of course. We want to spend one weekend in Kenosha to visit some previous boat neighbors before we head to the Chicago area.

As you may remember, three locks are closed on the IL River until Oct. 1. We are aware of at least 274 “Loopers” that plan on going through the locks. The AGLCA (America’s Great Loop Cruisers Association) is putting together groups of 16 boats to go through the locks in an orderly fashion. Trying to coordinate the boats going through the locks and trying to get as many through as is feasible and practical in any given day is a huge task. We are very thankful the AGLCA is taking this on, and hopefully, making our trek easier and safer. It isn’t just about getting through the locks, but having a place to dock or anchor as everyone goes down the river. We will know where we fall Sept. 11, then we will confirm our reservations.

We will be heading down the Calumet River, AKA Sanitary Canal. We can’t go through Chicago as our air draft is18′ 2″ and we need to be below 17′ to go through downtown Chicago. No big deal as Chicago isn’t a spot where I want to spend time.

Our possible schedule is as follows:
Sept. 11 – sell my car
Sept. 18 – sell Rita’s car (both we are just selling to Carvana)
Sept. 20-23rd-ish – We want to reach the Kenosha Marina by the 23rd if weather permits
Sept. 26 – head to a mooring field in Chicago
Sept. 30 – head to Joliet, IL (if we are scheduled to go through the locks Oct. 1)
Oct. 1 – get through those locks and buddy boat down the river
Oct. 31 – be in Demopolis, AL ready to continue heading south (our boat insurance requires us to be north of the 32 parallel until Nov. 1 due to hurricane season
Dec. 1 – wait for our weather window to cross the gulf stream to get to Bimini Bahamas to get checked in
Dec. 20-27 – celebrate the Christmas holiday with our kids and grandkids in George Town Bahamas
Jan. 5, 2024 – time for us to leave George Town and determine where we are going
Spring 2024 (read May’ish) – put the boat on the hard and head North
Nov. 2024 – splash the boat and head south to the keys and explore the parts of FL we missed
Spring 2025 – Atlantic ICW north to finish the Loop

It will be interesting to see how this all comes together over the next two years. Heck, we might find a place we love and decide we want to set up home at that location. Who knows?? I know, God knows. We will just follow His plan as best as we can.