The beginning of the Loop adventure
The adventure starts with a side trip from my home port in Galveston Texas to Mobile AL by way of New Orleans, where I will ultimately cross my wake with a lot of effort and a little luck.
This will be the most challenging part of the trip in my opinion. The Gulf ICW is almost entirely commercial. There are very few recreational facilities. Gas and fuel are often difficult to obtain, and anchoring out is the routine rather than the exception. I will need to be well-prepared with a detailed float plan and all the resources I will need to potentially anchor out for two weeks.
I will not have any reasonable marina choices until I get to New Orleans. With good weather and good luck, I expect the trip to New Orleans to take me 12 to 16 days.
Planned Stops:
| Stop # | Destination | Mile Marker | Fuel Burn (gals) |
| 1 | Stingaree Restaurant and Marina | MM 336.0 | 3 |
| 2 | Taylor Outfall anchorage | MM290.4 | 4.6 |
| 3 | Port Author Yacht Club or Peggy’s Place (3 miles up bayou) | MM275.5 or MM269.5 | 1.9 2.9 |
| 4 | Calcasieu River (Lake Charles) | MM241.0 + | 3.8 |
| 5 | Mermentau River (anchorage or marina) | MM202.0 + | 3.9 |
| 6 | Shell Morgan Intercostal City | MM160.0 | 4.2 |
| 7 | North Pier Marina | MM 147.6 | 1.3 |
| 8 | Morgan City or anchorage at Franklin Canal | MM96.0 MM120.9 | 6.1 |
| 9 | Bayou Terrebonne (Homua) | MM57.5 | 6.3 |
| 10 | Barataria Waterway Seawag Marine | MM 14.9 | 4.3 |
| 11 | Lake Pontchartrain New Orleans | MM0 | 1.5 |
We just were in Sebring visiting Alisa and John. We reminisced stories of Mittie and talked a out your, Gnarley’s…
What an adventure! Yes…Always listen to Mittie!
Sorry you had to cut your trip short, this time. So glad you are safe, and recouping at home. Hope…
Great summary of the adventures. You have met some amazing people on this trip.
Steve the only thing I could think of that could have added to the trip home would have been if…
Ohh my Steve what an adventure!!! Glad you are home safe…you learned things you need to do for the next…
Steve We are thinking about you and hope you are doing well. Miss you much and hope we will see…
So glad to hear you all made it home safe & sound! It was an adventure and I know Mittie…
Oh Steve, what an adventure! But OUCH, you could have taken a nice European river cruise for what you paid…
I’m glad for your safety and bummed the journey was cut short. But all thing work out for a greater…
Steve, you have done and incredible job on this adventure! What a beautiful story! Your pictures are so amazing and…
Steve, we have so enjoyed following along on your journey! Love that you did it, in memory of Mittie &…
Sorry to hear of the boat troubles. Good luck with repairs and I look forward to following your voyage when…
Glad you are safe and headed back home. Mittie was watching over you.
Hi Steve, love your adventure. Hugs to you, Mittie and Gnarly. I loved watching your journey. Thank you. Wally.
So sorry for the engine and electrical issues, but you did the part of the trip that you were apprehensive…
So sorry for your setbacks. Everyone here at Bluewater Marina has been following your journey. I hope you can regroup…
Oh Steve, I am so sorry the boat has had so many issues but what an experience you have had.…
Nice
I am so sorry you are going home, but maybe it is for the best. Mittie would know when it…
Sounds like a very long day, glad to see the Sail up as I’m sure you’re enjoying the quiet without…
Your boat buddy looks a lot bigger than you! Glad you made it safely to your destination.
Be safe. Glad you are making the best of every situation. Peace friend.
Thanks for the update captain.
👍👍👍💕💕💕
May the force be with you Steve! Will await to hear you made it safely to your next stop!
Love all the photos but the sunrise and sunset photos! Wow! And cute little Gnarly!
Hopefully, you got your engine all fixed up. Nothing is worse than having it work one day and not the…
I’ve had to play catch-up today as I have been busy with my “dog traffic control” duties the past several…
I love, love Apalachicola! Great little town with a museum and great restaurants! Sounds like every single day is quite…
Looking like an older version of what I imagine Huck Finn would appear, Steve!! Good to hear from you and…
Love the video, buy boy you look tired. Mom said to use more sunscreen on your face. – jerry
Steve, I enjoy reading about you and Gnarly’s adventures. Thank you for sharing. I’m one of Mittie’s “sisters” from our…
Steve, I love reading about your adventures. You have a nice style of writing to make things interesting and make…
That is funny as hell. My buddy Charles would have said it was “an elliptical contusion”. I vote for even…
Hi, always great seeing you all. Yes you are in a really good place. I am happy you are taking…
So glad you had a good day and got some stuff done to make the journey better. Sounds like you…
Steve I love your blog! Glad the trip is going well with only a few bumps on your journey so…
Yay! Gnarly got to play with some little friends! I’m sure that has been the highlight of her trip. Thumbs…
Another GREAT post. Love the pictures. Gnarly’s new friends seem very nice. If you have to be stuck you couldn’t…
Love it, your mom sounds like a warrior. Be safe my friend.
Those oysters look amazing! We are loving reading the Adventures of Steve and Gnarly every night! We miss you guys!…
Steve I am so enjoying your daily blog! Glad you all are safe, hope you get the engine hiccup fixed…
HI Steve, thanks for sending the info to access your web site again. Elvira wants to know if you have…
I imagine you going back and forth between “beans out of the can” to the lovely oysters you pictured. Wondering…
Hi Steve, I learned about your blog a couple of days ago from Alisa. I am back in the hospital…
Hey Steve, Jim, Perry here. As amazing as it might seem, you are at at Bluewater Bay Marina, my home…
Safe Journey my friend!!!
I am in awe of your courage and determination! Your daily journal has me on the edge of my seat.…
Good to hear about your journey, and that you are yourself in solving issues and enjoying the trip. Think of…
Steve, I love reading about your adventures and find myself questioning how in the world you can even do it,…
How cool is that view for a baseball game?! Love reading about your adventures! Hope everything keeps going good for…
There is a God, indeed!
LOVE GETTING UP EACH MORNING EARLY AND FIRST THING TO READ YOU BLOG. TAKE CARE OLD FRIEND AND SMOOTH SALING…
All I can say is WOW! And I’m glad you’re safe!
Happy Easter. It sounds like you had a rough day! I hope your evening and tomorrow goes better. So, has…
Steve, was Gnarly giving you the “stink-eye” during this last adventure? I would have been. I’m beginning to think this…
What an amazing journey you are on!!! We love to read about your daily adventures…and the amazing people and places…
I love your blog, Jerry reads it to me every day. He looks for mistakes but I never see any.…
Yay! You got the comment section fixed! Your ears might have been burning tonight Steve, we celebrated Dave’s 69th birthday…
Fallowing your trip blog, nice work. I am about 12 months behind you leaving from Waterford Marina.
Len says: Nice trip, I’d rather be flying! Nancy says: Too scary for me! We enjoyed the informative update. Sounds…
Wow Steve, what a great adventure you are on with Gnarly as your co-captain and Mittie in your heart! I…
So glad you made it to New Orleans and then up to Atlanta to see your mom. Wow! What an…
Steve: your trip this day sounded pretty scary, I sure hope the rest of your trip goes well. You’re probably…
Steve, Elvira says it looks freezing out there. She feels cold just thinking of what you’re going through. Be safe…
I can’t believe you’ve ONLY been on the trip for 9 days, I’m sure at times it seems like a…
Wow, what a day!! My guess is that the truckers on I-80 say the same kind of crap we just…
I am really enjoying your trip logs! What an adventure for you all! Hope you slept well and make it…
It is comforting to know you are meeting wonderful people along the way who will help you out when you…
You look so cold. I hope that you run into some warmer weather soon. Of course, it’s only March, so…
OK, now I’m wondering if you packed enough underwear! With all of these harrowing experiences you’ve had, I can’t imagine…
I am finally up-to-date on your incredible journey! I’m loving all the little stops you have made and the pictures!!…
Finished reading the blog for the 12th. it’s amazing how clean the inside of your cabin looks. Never looked like…
Sounds a little interesting! Also cold. temp. here today (3-15) in the 60’s. Keep that knife handy and be safe…
Very good. I also liked Morgan City.
Great!! I lived in Houma La for over a year working on relief from Hurricane Andrew. Really quaint area and…
Cold for sure when you haven’t been on the water to experience it.
We love reading about your voyage! We are so happy you decided to go ahead and make your trip you…
Floating houses! And a cable ferry just like they show in old westerns; who would have thought. As I read…
Wow, this is far different than I expected it to be. I thought…I don’t know what I thought, but it…
Great post, I could almost smell the sail in the air. Glad to see Gnarly is making a contribution.
Great pics and descriptions of your journey! You’d better get a good meal soon or you will be 120 pounds!…
Interesting events. Amazing you adapt so well. So happy you are enjoying your great adventure
Wow, it seems like you are learning about sailing and your boat. By the time you get back you’ll start…
OMG Steve, I can’t believe you think this is fun! Peril at every turn; that food; the weather; yikes! But…
Oh boy Steve! Lost my breathe over those 2 incidences!
Wow…What a story! Glad you didn’t get run over! It sounds like you are having a good time. Be safe…
Love your posts Steve! So glad you have had beautiful weather so far! Please be careful with all of the…
Wow, it looks like you had a kind of crazy day. You are lucky that big boat didn’t ram you.…
Great journaling and images. Safe journey
March 10th. GREAT post! I hope this part of the trip is a shakedown for all the little avoidable problems…
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