After months of planning, securing a vessel, repairs, and packing, it was the moment we’ve been waiting for: starting The Great Loop.

Wednesday January 18, 2023 we walked for a final cup of coffee from Perk n Brew, said our Goodbyes and departed Cape Coral.

Our destination was WP Franklin Locks. The plan was to boat for about 3 hours, lock through, and settle for the day making it an easy run and allowing us to work out any issues that may arise.

When we approached the locks we learned our first lesson: check lock operational status.

As we arrived at the locks, we were informed that they were closed for maintenance and would be open the following day. So we dropped the anchor and settled in for the day with kayaks, a dinghy ride, dinner, and a movie.

The evening concluded with a lovely sunset and a plan for an early start the next morning.

Overall, day 1 was a good intro to the Loop. We traveled 3.5 hours and 22.7 nautical miles.