Here is our itinerary for the second time around America’s Great Loop. You can find our first loop here. Also, don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter for more details.
Running Totals:
Marinas: 13
Locks: 30
Walls: 7
Anchorages: 0
Click on the Map Below to See Our Trip
You can see where we stopped and anchored out during our second time around.
September 2, 2020 – Day 1 on the first trip of our platinum loop! We started trip #125 from Cutter Marina, Essex, Maryland (North Baltimore) to Chesapeake Inn at Chesapeake City, Maryland. (Marina – total: 1)
September 3, 2020 – #126 from Chesapeake Inn at Chesapeake City, Maryland to Utsch’s Marina in Cape May, New Jersey. (Marina – total: 2)
September 6, 2020 – #127 from Cape May, New Jersey to Hoffman’s Marina in Brielle, New Jersey in the Manasquan Inlet. (Marina – total: 3)
September 7, 2020 – #128 from Hoffman’s Marina in Brielle, New Jersey in the Manasquan Inlet to Half Moon Bay in Croton-on-the-Hudson, New York. We went right past the Statue of Liberty. (Marina – total: 4)
September 8, 2020 – #129 from Half Moon Bay in Croton-on-the-Hudson, New York to the Kingston City Docks in Kingston, New York. (Marina – total: 5)
September 9, 2020 – #130 from Kingston City Docks in Kingston, New York to Donovan’s Shady Harbor Marina in New Baltimore, New York. (Marina – total: 6)
September 12, 2020 – #131 from Donovan’s Shady Harbor Marina in New Baltimore, New York to Waterford, New York. We went through the first lock called Troy Lock. We stayed on the floating docks outside the Waterford Visitor Center. (Wall with power – total: 1 and Locks: 1)
September 14, 2020 – #132 from Waterford, New York to Donovan’s Mohawk Harbor in Schenectady, New York. We started down the Erie Canal and went through Locks 2-7. We stayed at Mohawk Harbor Marina. (Marina – total: 7 and Locks: 7)
September 17, 2020 – #133 from Mohawk Harbor in Schenectady, New York to the wall in Amsterdam, New York right after Lock 11. We went through Locks 8-11 and none of them had cables to throw a line around. They all had ropes hanging down to grab and hold on to. (Wall, with power – total: 2 and Locks: 11)
September 18, 2020 – #134 from Lock 11 in Amsterdam, New York to Canajoharie, New York. We went through the Erie Canal Locks 12 and 13. We stayed at the Riverfront Park. (Wall, no power – total: 3 and Locks: 13)
September 19, 2020 – #135 from Canajoharie, New York to Little Falls, New York. We went through Locks 14-17 on the Erie Canal. Lock 14 and 15 each rise only eight feet. Lock 16 rose 20 feet and Lock 17 goes up a whopping 40 feet! We are staying at Little Falls Canal Harbor Marina. (Marina – total: 8 and Locks: 17)
September 21, 2020 – #136 from Little Falls, New York to Aqua Vino Restaurant in Utica, New York. We went through Locks 18 and 19 and then docked at Aqua Vino Restaurant in Utica. (Wall, with power – total: 4 and Locks: 19)
September 22, 2020 – #137 from Aqua Vino Restaurant in Utica, New York to Sylvan Beach, New York. We went through Locks 20, 21 and 22 and then docked on a free city wall. (Wall, no power – total: 5 and Locks: 22)
September 23, 2020 – #138 from Sylvan Beach, New York to Brewerton, New York. We went across Lake Oneida and then docked at Ess-Kay Yards Marina in Brewerton. (Marina – total: 9)
September 26, 2020 – #139 from Brewerton, New York to Fulton, New York. We stayed on a free wall next to the town of Fulton. We went through the last lock on the Erie Canal (Lock 23) and then started on the Oswego Canal (Locks 1 and 2). (Wall, no power – total: 6 and Locks: 25)
September 27, 2020 – #140 from Fulton, New York to Oswego, New York. We stayed at the Oswego Marina. We went through five locks on the Oswego Canal (Locks 3 – there is no 4 – then 5, 6, 7 and 8). (Marina – total: 10 and Locks: 30)
September 28, 2020 – #141 from Oswego, New York to Sackets Harbor, New York. We had to cross the lower southeast corner of Lake Ontario and head up toward the 1,000 Islands. We stayed at the Navy Point Marina in Sackets Harbor. (Marina – total: 11)
September 29, 2020 – #142 from Sackets Harbor, New York to Cape Vincent, New York. Rough day on Lake Ontario. We stayed on the wall of the Cape Vincent Fisheries Station. (Wall, no power – total: 7)
September 30, 2020 – #143 from Cape Vincent, New York to Clayton, New York. Much better day on Lake Ontario. We stayed at the Clayton Harbor Municipal Marina. (Marina – total: 12)
October 2, 2020 – #144 from Clayton, New York to Alexandria Bay, New York. We stayed at the Horizon Marina and then put the boat in heated winter storage and began our extended stay on land. (Marina – total: 13)
I have so enjoyed watching your adventure and am thrilled you are going to do it again! Before I heard the good news, I had just told my husband that I was going to watch your first trip over again. One thing I like about your blog is that Sam explains so much of little things he is doing, and uses terms that we all should know as boaters. Watching him navigate, I learned what “on the one” and “on the two” meant, as well as just becoming more familiar with starboard and port and “red, right, returning”, etc. The more I listen to him talk, the more familiar I feel with boating without yet owning a boat. I like hearing him on the radio, too. I just know we have so much to learn. We still have not found our boat, but you two have made me feel a little less nervous about giving the Loop a try. Anyway, instead of watching your first trip over again, I will watch the second. Please fill it with as many learning opportunities as you can. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experiences with us!
Thank you Janet! That really means a lot to us. We appreciate your kind comment.
Congrats on the wake crossing and now ready for the next one. Wife and I had wondered what the future holds. Now you can take your time and stay as long as you wish. We will be watching and reading and enjoying the trip from afar. Keep it and enjoy.
Thanks so much for coming along with us, Buck. We are planning to do the loop again. Stay tuned…
You are making great progress on your second loop! I’m sure it is much easier now that you are “old salts”.
It’s incredible how much I am enjoying this trip so much more now that we have picked up a few skills. 🙂
“A few skills”, you are being very modest! You are now seasoned salts! I am so glad that you are enjoying yourselves. Consider a side trip to the Finger Lakes. I worked summers on Canandaigua Lake, but the lakes you can access from the Erie Canal System are just as pretty. When I worked at Xerox we spent summers on Conesus Lake. Upstate New York is beautiful this time of year.
That sounds fun! And yes, very beautiful.
I was looking at marine traffic around oriental and decided to see where you were .then I said what are they doing up there .it’s about to start getting cold . what are your winter plans ?
We are putting the Here’s To Us in heated winter storage in Alexandria Bay, NY.
Sam, What does the sign read over your left shoulder, Know When ? next If you didn’t have your Carver 504
What 3 yachts would you think purchasing. ? Ball park total cost of doing the loop approx.
What is the average cost of docking at a marina ?
enjoyed your post greatly /// Could help but notice Rev mellowed as the loop went on.
Cheers
It says, “Know when to call it quits and have a margarita” – it was on the boat when we boat her and seemed like a good thing to keep. I have been looking at boats so my list continually changes but I like the express type boats and faster tugs. Sea Ray 510, Nordic Tugs, Ranger Tugs, American Tugs – all without flybridges – I am a one helm guy! Cost of the loop about 50K, mostly marinas and fuel. Average cost is $2 a foot at a marina. Yes, as Rev has gotten more confident, she freaks out a whole lot less. LOL
I hope you will have time to spend a couple of days in Green Bay, Wisconsin, maybe plan a meet up to introduce ourselves and grill some brats….
Safe travels 🙏
Scott and Jen
That sounds fantastic! Yes, I believe our plans are to go down the Wisconsin side this time around. See you soon!
Sam and Rev:
I have been following you on your first loop, and now watching as you begin to go around again. My wife and I are planning to loop in 2023 or so, but currently do all of our boating in the bay of Green Bay, Lake Michigan, and northern Lake Huron. I wanted to encourage you to try more of the harbors on the West coast of lower Michigan as well as to cross the lake and enjoy the Bay of Green Bay from Washington Island down to Sturgeon Bay. We have cruised extensively over the years from Frankfort to Harbor Springs on the West coast of Michigan, Mack Island, the North Channel, and Door County WI. I know if you spend a little more time there, you will agree that there are not many places you can cruise that will be nicer. Enjoy your winter off the boat and looking forward to your continued journey. Scott and Amy (Who Dat)
Hi there! When we were in Michigan, we were blown away with how beautiful it is. You are fortunate to live in the area and enjoy boating there. Thanks for the suggestions for our second time around.
I love watching your videos and reading your blogs, thanks for sharing! What is your biggest challenge when your on the water?
Hi Stacey! When we first started EVERYTHING was a challenge. Now, I guess it would be the unexpected and unpredictable traffic that we encounter while underway. Thanks for watching!
Why did you pick that spot? Sounds like you’re going home for the winter? Then head out in the Spring?
We picked Alexandria Bay to store our boat in their heated storage facility for the winter. We are getting some cosmetic work done as well as a new range/stovetop for the galley. We wanted to be up there so we would be in a great position to enter Canada next spring. We have a lot of videos to put out while we are visiting family over the winter.
Hi sam & Rev! Beautiful spot to pause! We are from the St Lawrence River – Clayton/Alex Bay area originally! In fact, my parents used to keep their boat at Horizon (used to be the TI Club) and my in-laws had a summer house within walking distance from the Clubhouse on Wellesley Island. Currently we are yankees living in the south – 23yrs in NC, but still spend our summers in Clayton. In fact, you went right past our cottage as you turned the point into Clayton to go to the marina. We love it so much and i’m thrilled you will be headed back to travel through Canada (hopefully the border is open by then!) We are just starting our boat search! We’ve boated our whole lives but have never driven anything bigger than a 24’! We love your videos and have learned so much from Sam! Probably a few years away from Looping for us but we plan to do lots of weekends and mini trips in Canada to start! Spend some time in the 1000 Islands…it’s gorgeous and full of history. You will love the sunsets! Can’t wait to see your video up the Erie and into Oswego and the St Lawrence!
Hi there, Amy and John! What a beautiful part of the country! You are so fortunate to have a place up there. We can’t wait to get back and then into Canada. It seems like a long winter so far and we are anxious to return to our boat and get back on the great loop. Good luck to you on your boat search. It’s so fun looking and dreaming. Maybe we will see you up there when everything thaws out!
I would love to see you trek over to the western side of Lake Superior and cruise Minnesota’s north shore – you would not be disappointed from Isle Royale south to the Port of Duluth and on up to the Apostle Islands. I am fortunate enough to spend my boating time here and plan on the loop when I retire.
Keep up the great video’s, I am living my retirement dream through you right now – the advice is priceless. THANK YOU!
Matt, that sounds like a great plan! I’ll run it by Sam. Thanks for the recommendation. 🙂
When you guys go from Detour to Mackinac Island this summer, use the Les Cheneaux islands channels. You’ll love the trip and we’ll treat you to docktails in Hessel.
Hey, thanks so much for the recommendation! Sam is writing that down for planning. See you at Docktails!
As Matt stated, Lake Superior is definitely a beautiful place to spend part of your summer! My wife and I boated the Mississippi river for a number of years and finally ended up on Lake Superior and bought a slip in Washburn Harbor! The north shore of Lake Superior is a spectacular cruising area, if you should find your way up here a must have book is “The Superior Way” by Bonnie Dahl, many of boaters have toured Superior guided by that book, including my wife and I, (I have no connection to the book or author).
I’ve recently discovered your channel and have be watching a few episodes nightly!
Well, thanks so much for the book recommendation. Sam says we will be going in Lake Superior this summer during our travels. Thanks for joining us.