June 6th, 2005
Tabasakwa Island, Georgian Bay
Ontario, Canada
Hey everybody out there, believe it or not, WE DID IT!
The Great Circle Loop is now officially closed.
All the details yet to be sorted out. But some say it’s close to 6000 miles plus and at the exilerating and majestic average speed of 9.8 miles per hour it proved daunting.
Arrived to a welcome committee of local boater/cottage friends at David and Susan’s cottage at 6:30 PM Sunday having left Orillia at 9:30 AM.
The last leg took us through the Severn River Section of the system. Here you get to ride one of the other many great engineering feats on the canal.
The Marine Railway.!
This machine is right out of a science fiction Star Wars episode. You park the boat above the slings and it picks you up, boat, people and all else we carry on board up into the air and over the Canadian Shield and back down into the beautiful waters of Gloucester Pool and on to one more lock at Port Severn and out into glorious Georgian Bay.
Put up the mast again with our many US state flags flying. One for every state we put foot to shore. At a moment while calmly passing the famous rocks and shallows we know so well, a shot glass of grog and a salute to arriving back was called for and quickly dispensed forthwith.
The last turn in between island rock and pine to see our Tabasakwa Island appear.…
A very magical moment.
Looped Loopers…Ted, Pat, David and Susan