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, Florida

We threw the lines at sunrise and traveled 72.1 NM up the Indian, Halifax, and Matanzas Rivers along the ICW. We saw more sunken vessels along this stretch than any other, along our Loop!  We are docked at Marineland Marina, Marineland, Florida.

I love bascule bridges....

....and am fascinated with the gears.

Wide water along the Indian River.

Haulover Canal. Luckily, the "fish kill" was not present anywhere since we were south of Titusville.

Almost reminds us of the Georgian Bay ?!

We eked through the most heavily occupied Manatee Zone we've sailed through to date. The Haulover Canal was packed with them. We were very careful, having to keep our boat at a standstill many times, waiting for them to move so we would not hurt one.

NASA radar. 

Charlie says this is a stork?! 

Local Law Enforcement making sure the fisherman under the bridge are legit! Thank you!

New Smyrna Beach

Kayak-er taking a rest along the shoal, or, perhaps "beached" from the strong north winds.

Ponce de Leon Lighthouse.

Heading up towards Daytona Beach.

12 people on board, including a child!...Are we the only ones concerned?!

We love the beautiful decorations on bridges that are only seen from the water!

Some people have no problem "airing their dirty laundry in public" while underway, literally.

Thank you "Mr. Bridge Repair Guys" for keeping these lift bridges functioning! 

Floating Condos.

Garmin is enjoying the scenery!

Pppffftttt!

Charlie has such a keen eye for wildlife! Deer sighting!

Who knew?!

Love the Dolphin cut-outs along the boardwalk railing!

Close up of the dolphin carvings along the boardwalk rails.

Garmin does "the boardwalk"!

At Port.

Garmin found Geocache "Safe Harbor" which had a travel bug inside! We will take it with us on our adventure north and log its progress!