One of the benefits of cruising along the waterways is the wonderful people you meet along the way, both on boats and on land. Two other boats cruising the Great Loop, with interesting stories, were encountered while on the Trent-Severn Canal. A few notes about the crews of these boats may help illustrate.
The photo above is of Lovely Louise under sail on Lake Michigan with captains Katie and Jessie. This photo was taken from Katie and Jessie's blog since the camera was left on Last Dance when the crew encountered this duo in a lock. Louise would appreciate this photo more, as she is in action. In the Trent her mast was unstepped, lying on deck in wooden supports, so she could clear the low, non-opening bridges. Not in her prettiest do.
Katie and Jessie, life-long friends, decided to purchase a sailboat for the challenge of cruising the Great Loop. They left Michigan September, 2012, when they were 23 years old. A trip of this length is usually undertaken by folks old enough to have completed a career and saved for a lifetime. It is unique for the trip to be challenged by people so young.
Their Loop was completed September, 2014. More can be found on their blog:
http://katieandjessieonaboat.com/
John Guider looks with a bit of concern as the much larger Last Dance pulls into a lock behind his boat, Adventure II. John, who counts professional photographer among his careers, is rowing the Loop. He began his trip in 2009, leaving from his hometown, Nashville, Tennessee, in a self-built 14 foot boat. He spends two months every summer rowing. He has rowed down the Mississippi to New Orleans, along the Gulf of Mexico and around Florida, and up the east coast to the Great Lakes. His goal this year was to make it to Chicago and then finish the Loop next year. As with everyone cruising the Great Lakes this year, windy weather slowed his progress. He ended his 2 months rowing in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, 40 pounds lighter than when he started in Trenton, Ontario. For a view of John's photography and to learn more about his adventure, his blog is at:
http://www.johnguider.com/riverinside
