Full Circle! Jacksonville, Florida

Garmin and I got the Gold!! Monday, April 4, 2016

Full Circle! I have completed my dream of completing America's Great Loop, circumnavigating the eastern United States waterways including Canada! 

Garmin's enjoying his last day along his epic journey circumnavigating America's Great Loop!

St. Augustine Lighthouse.

Historic St. Augustine.

The oldest masonry fort in the Continental United States:

Click here:  Castillo de San Marcos

Mission cross of Nombre de Dios in St. Augustine, FL stands 208 feet tall.

Looks like something out of Star Wars!

Jacksonville, Florida. Back to where our journey began less than 12 months ago.

We love our bridge repair guys!

Crossing our wake, right "here" near mile marker 740. We've been at sea too long as we are wearing "Red, Right, Return".

We crossed Cathy and Michael, aboard Trawler Life, as they are underway on Day 1 of their Great Loop journey and we are on the last day of our Great Loop journey! They took our first photo underway of being official Gold Loopers!

Trawler Life begins their year long journey today!

And.....he's done. What a journey!

Similar boat name.

Celebrating our new status as official "Gold Loopers"!

Retiring our very tattered Great Loop White Burgee, "Looper-In-Progress Flag".

AGLCA = America's Great Loop Cruisers Association.

Tossing my torn up "Locking-through" gloves after 108 Locks. We would have held a memorial burning of the gloves ceremony, but this marina has a 'burn ban'.

At port, bow view, Ortega Landing Marina, Jacksonville, Florida.

Garmin enjoying his "Gold Looper Dog" ceremonial Rib-Eye bone!

What a ride!

Our travel map. Each anchor represents our Ports of Call during our 11 month journey circumnavigating America's Great Loop, including Canada.

Our first "Gold Looper Sunset"!

Marineland, FL - Days 2 - 5

In the middle of our first night here, Charlie was back at the ER. I had to wait until early afternoon to get a rent car to join him. Kidney stone, UGH! Charlie was released later in the day but still doing awful. Garmin and I were able to run across the street to the beach for 30 minutes to grab several beach photos and were fortunate to visit with Loopers Ron and Vicki, aboard Sea To See, for several minutes on the boardwalk. Our shared conversation really relieved some stress for me as I was very overwhelmed worrying about Charlie and feeling helpless in helping him (it's no secret that I'm an Artist and the most NON-Medical personal alive). Angels are even boaters. The next day, fever and horrible pain was at a maximum so we decided to rush back to the ER. After a long and painful week and three ER visits later, Charlie is finally feeling human again! Another moment of comfort was when Geraldine and Alan, aboard Stray Cat, docked here yesterday. (That made me feel in such good, familiar company.) Winds were fierce as we didn't expect anyone to enter this small port, more less, them! So nice to see them here. Whew! Big thank you to Loopers John and Sandy, aboard No Schedule, for making themselves available to be on-board our boat, if needed, to head to Jacksonville. Big thank you again to Denise and Paul Magnus, aboard Orion, and Loopers Cathy and Michael, aboard Trawler Life, for offering assistance. Fortunately, we will once again head north tomorrow on our own. Loopers really pull together! AGLCA is really a great organization, connecting people who support and look after each other on the waterways. We have learned that, not only fellow Loopers, but boaters everywhere are always willing to be of assistance to each other.  It's been an amazing experience sharing the waterways with such great people from all walks (floats) of life along our adventures. The boating community is awesome!

Great to see John and Sandy, aboard No Schedule, again! We hadn't seen them since Fort Myers Yacht Basin!

Loopers Ron and Vicki, aboard Sea To See, at port in front of us. I really enjoyed hearing of their travels and home port of Orcas Island.

The 'Real Feel' felt every bit 94 degrees in Marineland, Florida Wednesday.

Enroute to the ER, I found it odd that I'm on the bridge having to wait on boats to go past, instead of being on the boat causing the traffic delay!

And......again. Hoping the third time is the charm!

Evidently, Charlie's morphed into ET.

Sunday Farmer's Market right at the docks! Gold Loopers, Glen and Jill were at the market and saw our Looper flag so they stopped by to say "hello"! Their M/V Last Dance is docked up north while they winter at their home here in this area.

We'll explore this area next fall when we return as we didn't have much of an opportunity to this time.