Welcome Aboard Serenity!
Captain Mike and I, Donna (aka Mrs. Padilly), began cruising into our newest adventure when we started America’s Great Loop (AGL) on June 7, 2024.
So much planning and work has gone into realizing this dream. As a result, this site has been quiet for a long time.
Not anymore! We purchased our Looper boat, Serenity, in January 2024. In June 2024, the Captain cruised her from her home port, Kemah, Texas, to Mobile Bay, Alabama.
Serenity is a 2005 Grand Banks 42 Europa. She is a beautiful twin-engine diesel trawler with a full walk-around deck.
On June 7, 2024, we placed our AGLCA Looper flag on the bow flagstaff and began the first segment of our cruise to Lake Barkley, Kentucky.
Doing the Loop Backwards
We are cruising the loop BACKWARDS (versus the traditional counterclockwise route following the seasons) because we have lived in and cruised Florida waters for the last six years. In addition, we now live along America’s Great Loop in Kentucky. The thought of cruising back down the river to Mobile and then around Florida would mean it could be five months before we started cruising in unfamiliar waters. We want to begin experiencing something new!
Cruising backwards comes with a few additional challenges. One is that you cannot follow the seasons, as temperatures stay mainly in the 70s when you cruise the traditional counterclockwise route. Another is that there is the potential for more weather incidents.
Since we are cruising backwards (clockwise), we must put Serenity in heated storage for one season and wait out hurricane season in Annapolis, Maryland, the following year.
Since we will not be cruising twelve months out of the year, and we plan on making multiple side trips to experience the regions along the loop as fully as possible, our loop will take about 3+ years.
Our Tentative Timeline is:
2024: We officially started the loop on June 7, 2024. We cruised Serenity for two weeks from Mobile Bay, Alabama, to her new home port at Green Turtle Bay Marina in Kentucky.
2025: We will take an AGL loop side trip to Nashville, TN. During Derby season, we will cruise to Louisville, KY. We will also visit several anchorages and marinas in Kentucky and Barkley Lakes.
2026: We will continue the loop cruising backwards (north) in Spring. We will stop in Chicago (my hometown), Milwaukee, and Michigan’s towns of Holland, Traverse City, and Mackinaw. Then, it is off to Canada to cruise the North Channel, Georgian Bay, Trent Severn Waterway, and Kingston. The Kingston stop will be memorable for both of us. Mike and his dad raced sailboats there in the 1970’s. Kingston is also the hometown of my 3rd great-grandfather, Captain John Trowell. Captain Trowell steered the Canadian side-wheeled paddle steamer, Algerian, in the late 1800’s. After Kingston, we head back to the USA to Brewerton, NY, where we will put Serenity in heated storage for the winter.
2027: Serenity returns to the water in late spring. We will travel the Erie Canal and Hudson River. Then, we will take side trips to Long Island, Rhode Island, Martha’s Vinyard, and Nantucket Island. Our next leg will be to Annapolis, Maryland, to wait out hurricane season.
We start cruising again in November, visiting the Carolinas and Georgia. By winter, we will return to familiar cruising waters in our former home state of Florida to enjoy the season.
We expect to cross our wake in Mobile Bay, Backwards on Serenity, in March 2028.
Our First Segment – 2024
Cruising Serenity to her new home port took a few weeks and was my first real experience in long-distance cruising. While the Captain is a seasoned boater who began his boating career racing sailboats with his dad, this First Mate has enjoyed boating with her Captain and family for leisure.
Not anymore! Preparing to do America’s Great Loop is happening! The first thing I learned as we cruised Serenity up the rivers to Kentucky is that cruising in your boat over long distances is NOT a vacation but an adventure.
My rose-colored glasses quickly fell into the water, as I quickly learned there was so much to learn! I could not have imagined learning and experiencing so much in just two weeks!
This “mini” cruise taught me a lot about being a new cruiser. I will be sharing the legs of this trip with you here.
I am also working on a small travel memoir about my experiences and growth while cruising the rivers to Kentucky. The book will be released in 2025. I’ll update subscribers as the release date draws near.
The reasons I travel are simple: to learn, grow, and seek new adventures. I blog because, as a former educator, I still desire to share what I have learned with others. My hope is you enjoy what you discover as we cruise America’s Great Loop Backwards on Serenity and become one of its subscribers.
Happy Trails, Fair Winds,
and Following Seas.
Mrs. Padilly
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Mrs. Padilly!!! It’s so great to hear from you again. I’m glad you’re doing fine, and still very much adventurous.
You have a wonderful boat. I really love those trawler-type boats. They have a style that I’m missing in many new designs. As to boat design, I’m really old fashioned.
I wish you all the gest for your travels, fair winds, and always a handwidth water under your keel,
Pit
Wow, Pit. I’m behind the times! I just saw your comment. Many things are going on, including moving to a new state! Hope you follow along as we cruise America’s Great Loop on Serenity!