Surf & Turf Retirement Adventures

Tag: GreatLoop

  • Travel day, Oct. 10, 2023 (Beardstown to Grafton, IL)

    Scott here!Travel day #8 Yesterday’s travel day was #7, I screwed up saying it was #9. My bad!! This will be quick since it is a catch up post. Travel days for cruising our motor yacht are a lot different than the RV. More planning and the United States Coast Guard recommends we file a…

  • Travel Day #7 stats

    Travel Day #7 stats

    Scott here LONG travel day for October 9, 29023! We spent the night at a free dock. A restaurant called Kuchie’s on the Water. No services, but the stay was free and that is the right price in my book!! Today we traveled from the Peoria area, the restaurant is actually located in Creve Coeur,…

  • Travel Day Oct. 9, 2023 (Peoria, IL to Beardstown, IL)

    Scott here …. againTravel day #7 We are planning a long day today and tomorrow. This part of the river has no services and no marinas, so it is anchorages only. We have not anchored on the river system yet, so that will be something for me to be concerned about! Anchoring isn’t difficult, my…

  • Travel Day #6 stats

    Travel Day #6 stats

    I will admit, since we started on the river system the Great Loop adventure has felt like work. Not a ton of fun. Long days, rainy, cold, and a lot of stress. Our flotilla has officially ended. The “go fast” boats stuck together to get through the Peoria lock this morning. The boats we were…

  • Travel Day Oct. 8, 23 (Henry to Peoria, IL)

    (Scott here)Travel day #6 Travel days for cruising our motor yacht are a lot different than the RV. More planning and the United States Coast Guard recommends we file a Float Plan with family. This way if we don’t show up or contact them they can contact the Coast Guard. We have only authorized our…

  • Travel Day #5 stats

    Travel Day #5 stats

    Scott here Day 5 is over and done with. Not nearly as long as the previous travel days and I don’t think we had any terrifying moments for us today!! The closest terrifying moment came when we were in Starved Rock Lock. We had three boats on the wall and three boats rafted out. The…

  • Travel Day: Oct. 7, 22 (Ottawa to Henry, IL)

    (Scott here)Travel day #5 I am using this blog as my notes and Float Plan for our kids as they know where we should be as we are in near daily contact with them. Click here to download the USCG Float Plan. Phone numbers for USCG offices can be found here. Heritage Harbor Ottawa is…

  • Travel Day #4 stats

    Travel Day #4 stats

    Scott here to see how I did with our travel plan for October 6, 2023. It was an eventful day and Rita will share that with you later! The flotilla plan was to be ready to have lines off at 6:45 am. We needed to be under a bridge by 7 am as it will…

  • Travel Day: Oct. 6, 23 (Joliet, IL to Ottawa, IL

    (Scott here)Travel Day # 4 I am using this blog as my notes and Float Plan (for our kids to know where we should be.) Click here to download the USCG Float Plan. Phone numbers for USCG offices can be found here. Initial PlanDate: October 6, 2023Route name in Aqua Maps: TD: 10/01/23 (Joliet to…

  • Travel Day #3 Stats

    Scott here Well, if finally feels like we are actually doing the Great Loop to me! Our first day of the IL River is done. We left at 7:57 am and met up with 7 other Loopers just outside of Hammond Marina then had one more join our flotilla just inside the River. The day…