I’m not sure why it has taken me so long to add these statistics to the blog but, finally, here it is.

Our 17 month adventure tested us as we sailed away from the familiar waters of the Great Lakes and experienced salt water, locks and tides, new people and places. We discovered we can live comfortably together in the space of a 34 foot boat and became very aware of the excess we enjoy at home and just how little you need in terms of space and ‘things’. We became a part of a cruising community, many of whom we are still in touch with. We learned to be flexible in our planning as Mother Nature called all the shots.

I retired on May 11, 2012 and we moved on to the boat on May 12th. We travelled for 17 months – a total of 502 consecutive days and covered 7,156 nautical miles (8,235 statute miles).

In total we transited 66 locks; 30 between Chicago and Mobile, Alabama and another 36 on the Erie Canal between Troy, New York and Buffalo.
We had visitors in Tarpon Springs and Clearwater, Georgetown, Exumas, and Nassau and in Annapolis, Maryland.

We anchored 169 nights and had free docks or moorings for 92 nights for a total of 261 free nights. We paid for docks and moorings for 241 nights. Almost everywhere there were deals for staying a week, or being a memberof Boat US, AGLCA or having a Waterways Guide card.

Diesel costs were $3,216; a bargain compared to most boats completing the loop. Our diesel used an average of ½ gal. per hour and we sailed whenever possible.

Docking was our biggest expense for the 241 nights at $8,174.21. On another trip south we would anchor far more. Much of our docking was when travelling with other Loopers, in bad weather and when we had company on the boat.
Groceries came in at $6,991 and eating out $5381. Groceries are similar to when we are at home but we did eat out much more – trying new foods, new places and joining other Loopers.

Liquor, beer and wine came in between groceries and eating out at $5,816. Thank goodness for those cheap prices in the US!
Laundry was $464.50 or a whopping 1,858 quarters!
Dinghy gas was a surprise at $663. But we did have our dog with us so many trips to shore when we anchored. We also used it a lot in anchorages to sightsee and visit nearby parks and towns.

We had what I called Miscellaneous costs: the big things were health Insurance, boat insurance, AGLCA Rendezvous, charts and Navionics chip, mast stepping and shipping, boat repairs, a new solar panel and anchor (Rocna), dental work in Nassau plus many small expenditures. This in total came to just under $10,000.
When you add it all together it comes to $49,281.16 for 17 months or just under $100 per day. Was it worth it? More than worth it! We met and travelled with people from all over the world…Australia, New Zealand, Brazil and Sweden as well as most states and many provinces travelling in every kind of boat from a 14 foot sailboat to 60 and 70 foot yachts. We collected more than 70 boat cards from people we met along the way, some who will be lifetime friends. We gained a new appreciation for the US and the people at the marinas and small towns along the waterways. In all 19 states we travelled through, people offered us rides, loans of cars, their catch of the day, invited us to their homes, and just made us feel so welcome.

So, stay tuned…we just may head back down the east coast this fall!