Mike and Patty's Great Loop Adventure 2018-2019

Harrisville Harbor of Refuge in Harrisville, MI to Bay Harbor Marina in Bay City, MI

Mike and I want to thank all of our family and friends for their support during our adventure. Thanks to all that visited, sent texts and sent e-mails keeping in touch with us while we looped. Thanks to Audrey, Deb and Rodney who helped Mike with condo association business while we were gone. Special thanks to Mom and Dad Burdo for making the trips to Frankenmuth to check on the condo every month.

Day #409: Mike and I were up at 5:00 A.M. to prepare for departure. At 6:00 A.M. "Parrot Bay" was underway for the last leg of their loop. There were fog advisories out for lower Michigan but there was no fog on the water. I received a text from Jarrod and Heidi letting Mike and I know that there was no fog as "Kool Time" was ahead of "Parrot Bay" as they were headed back to Bay Harbor Marina that morning as well. The two of us couldn't have asked for a better weather it was sunny with calm seas. At 8:45 A.M. "Parrot Bay" was at Ausable Point with calm seas. Mike called Bay Harbor to have the staff put his truck in front of the slip. At 11:30 A.M. "Parrot Bay" at Gravelly Shoal light there was a northeast breeze 5-10 miles per hour with seas 1 foot or less. At 1:30 P.M. "Parrot Bay" at the green spark plug buoy #1 with seas flat. At 3:05 P.M. "Parrot Bay" near Bay Harbor Heidi and Jarrod out taking pictures of "Parrot Bay", Mike and my return. At 3:15 P.M. "Parrot Bay" secure in F-13 (her slip) at Bay Harbor after traveling 80.2 miles (5,382 miles total for the trip. Mike and I were greeted by Kenny, Monica, Jarrod, Heidi, Dave and Kelly with a cake to celebrate "Parrot Bay" going Gold. At 5:00 P.M. I ordered BJ's pizza (this pizza is one of the food items that Mike and I missed while they were gone for the 13 months). Mike and I were joined by Dan, Mom/Dad Burdo, Dave/Kelly, Jarrod/Heidi, Bill, Chuck/Cindy. The group held on until the mosquitos came out. What a great evening for Mike and I to see both family and friends that we have missed for the year.

"Parrot Bay's" announcement on the AGLCA Daily Forum:

Subject: Parrot Bay Crosses Her Wake

Posted by: Mike & Patty Boynton on 8/15/2019 at 5:39 PM

View/reply online Reply via email to: >">forum@greatloop.info Reply via email to: Mike & Patty Boynton (michaeltboynton@aol.com)

Parrot Bay crosses her wake in Harrisville, MI at 4:50 PM on 15Aug19.
After over 13 months underway, Mike and Patty aboard Parrot Bay cross their wakes at Harrisville, Michigan on 15Aug19.
Our gratitude to all the friends we made along the way that shared docktails, experiences, help and support. We’ve planned this trip for years and it met all expectations, but we never anticipated the camaraderie that emerged so naturally and organically.
Miles: 5221.2
Days: 408
Locks: 105
Boat issues:

We replaced 1 raw water impeller pump.
We replaced 1 Garmin 741 GPS unit.
We rebuilt and replaced the 4 duckbill valves in the vac-u-flush. Yuck! Got splashed with black water! (had to jump into Georgian Bay at 12 Mile Bay to clean off)
Dropped 1 VHF handheld radio into the North Channel at the Benjamins.

Groundings: Zero! It can be done without touching bottom!

We have been Looping for 409 days.

Miles Traveled (thru August 16, 2019) : 5,382 miles

Ports of Call: Harrisville, MI; Presque Isle, MI; Rogers City, MI; Mackinaw City, MI; Harbor Springs, MI; Leland, MI; Frankfort, MI; Ludington, MI; Manitowoc, WI; Sheboygan, WI; Port Washington, WI; Racine, WI; Chicago, IL; Joliet, IL; Ottawa, IL; Peoria Heights, IL; Havana, IL,; Florence, IL; Grafton ,IL; Alton, IL; Kimmswick, MO; Cape Girardeau, MO; Cairo, MO; Paducah, KY; Grand Rivers, KY; Buchanan, TN; Waverly, TN; Bath Springs, TN; Counce, TN; New Site, MS; Fulton, MS; Columbus, MS; Gainesville, ; AL; Demopolis, AL; Putnam, AL; Silas, AL; Mt. Vernon, AL; Mobile, AL; Gulf Shores, AL; Fort Walton Beach, FL; Panama City, FL; Carrabelle, FL, Clearwater, FL; Sarasota, FL; Cape Haze, FL; Fort Myers, FL; MooreHaven, FL; Stuart, FL; Fort Pierce, FL; Vero Beach, FL; Cocoa Village, FL; New Smyrna, FL, Marineland (St. Augustine), FL; St. Augustine, FL; Fernandina Beach, FL; Cumberland Island, GA; St. Simon's Island, GA; Midway, GA; Savannah, GA; Beaufort, SC; St. John's Island, SC; Charleston, SC; Georgetown, SC; Myrtle Beach, SC; Southport, NC; Surf City, NC; Beaufort, NC; Oriental , NC; Belhaven, NC; Columbia, NC; Elizabeth City, NC; South Mills, NC; Tidewater, VA; Deltaville, VA, Soloman's Island, MD; Annapolis, MD; Chesapeake City, MD; Bear, DE; Cape May, NJ, Atlantic City, NJ; Statin Island, NY; Croton-On-Hudson, NY; Kingston, NY; New Baltimore, NY; Waterford, NY; Scotia, NY; Amsterdam, NY; St. Johnsville, NY; Utica, NY; Sylvan Beach, NY; Brewerton, NY; Oswego, NY; Harrisville, MI and Bay City, MI

"Parrot Bay" has transited (17) States: Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York.

"Parrot Bay has transited 2 countries.

"Parrot Bay" has traveled the following Canadian cities: Kingston, ON; Bellville, ON; Trenton, ON; Frankford, ON; Campbellford, ON; Hastings, ON; Peterborough, ON; Youngs Point, ON; Bobcaygeon, ON; Kirkfield, ON; Orillia, ON; Coldwater, ON; Victoria Harbour, ON; 12 Mile Bay; Nobel, ON; The Stairs and Maskinonge, an anchorage at Shawanaga Island; "The Bustards" anchorage; Killarney, ON; Baie Finn; South Benjamin; Kagawong, ON; Meldrum Bay, ON.

Location for the Nights: Marinas (through August 16, 2019): 393, Anchorages: 13 Free Dock: 3