Saturday, July 8, we finally depart Penetanguishene for our Great Loop journey! It is not without some trial and tribulation.
Everything is finished on the boat. Or so we thought. The new water pump installed, the solar panels working, the electronics, Nebo. We are all excited to leave Friday, July 7.
I pass Aaron, our master mechanic, on the dock Thursday afternoon.
“Aaron! We are leaving tomorrow. You will be glad to get us out of your hair!’
Aaron looks down, a little dejected.
“Well … I’m not so sure about that,” he replied.
What ?!
I walk onto the boat. Captain Pat is anything but happy.
“The only thing on this boat that hasn’t been replaced!”
“What?”
“I just tried the anchor. The gears are frozen. We need a new windless. Not sure we can even locate one.”
Oh my goodness. This is bad. Oh well, I tell myself. At least no one is sick.
Yet.
So, Amanda in the office gets busy and locates a windles that fits our boat. Dean or Amanda will pick it up in the morning – in Barry, about 50 kilometers from the marina. They will then install it and we will be on our way.
Patrick can hear him working on the new non-skid flooring.
Not to worry, Aaron is being careful!
However – 4 a.m. Friday morning – Patrick awakens, dizzy, with nausea. Everything is spinning. We both are worried.
Turns out it is vertigo, probably from the sinus infection he’s been nursing all week. Our primary care physician is willing to call in meds to the local pharmacy. Only we discover that won’t happen as only prescriptions from a Canadian licensed physician will be accepted.
It’s a new experience with health care in Canada. And not a good one.
We finally manage to get prescriptions phoned in from “Good Doctor” (an online only Canadian prescription service that charges $70 up front.) I borrow Aaron’s car, get the prescriptions and now we are back in business.
In the meantime, we also discover some vertigo solution maneuvers on You Tube that prove helpful.
Saturday morning, we are off! Headed to Hope Island – appropriately named for our first destination on our Great Loop journey, Part II!
Below are photos of favorite memories from Harbour West Marina, and our journey to Hope Island – first cruise on our Great Loop journey, Part II.
The detailing is a second job for Amanda – after hours in the office.
One evening at six we visited the “crew” in the office. They were enjoying a well-deserved happy hour. So fun – I wish I had gotten a photo.
I thought of Andrew and LetzRoll doing the same!
Journey and Hope Island Arrival
Pat and Cindy's Great Loop Adventure 
13 responses to “Finally … we are off!”
Yea for Patrick!! He’s done it again! What a guy! Now we’re off to the land of “milk and honey”!
Kensu Acaloyo “Patricksan:, “Nea sea ninji pobemito!!”
“Vayas con dios Chico y Chicita bonita!” Guillermo Francisco
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Gracious are you two ambitious! We’re jealous. Never did anything like you’re doing. We’re
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Yippee
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Miss you, Tevie!
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You two are the travelers! Miss you.
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Yippee
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I am so glad you finally got to get your lop started after all of those hiccups. Great luck looping! I love your pictures and your captions!
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Thank you, Alyson, appreciate all of your support. Thanks for following!
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What a great report! The staff are true pros!
Loving the photos and information.
Are you going straight down the Mississippi, or zig zagging?
Have a safe and fun voyage.
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Hello! Thank you for all of your help. Not sure about the Mississippi, yet. Miss You!
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Glad the anchor was replaced. Hopefully the Canadian meds get rid of Patrick’s sinus infection and no more vertigo. Safe Journey Forward boat 🛥️
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Thank you, Doreen. So far so good. Hope Al is recovering.
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