Day 201 Loop Completed - Second to the Last Blog Entry

On day 201 - today - as Loopers say, we "cross our wake" and will be back home in Seminole. Our last anchorage of the trip, Anclote Key, was serene and peaceful. This blog has become a daily journal of our exploits and I'm so glad we recorded our adventures. Not only so we could share them, but we can look back and remember. It's almost unreal to think that we have accomplished "the Loop". So many feelings along the way - elation, exhaustion, amazement, anxiety, speculation, satisfaction - but never disappointment. Monumental joy when we completed another phase of the trip and sadness when we had to say good-bye to some amazing people. Can we pick a favorite city, anchorage, marina, river, moment? I don't think so. There's just such a multitude of incredible experiences on this journey that it would be like picking a favorite child. You can't. There are some places that surprised us and we want to return to like Lake Michigan, Canada, and the Panhandle. Three years ago, we didn't even know that you could circumvent the eastern section of the USA  by boat - now we've done it. We've done it with the support and encouragement of our extraordinary daughters, family and friends. I also have to give cudos to Sundowner. She's been an outstanding ship with no issues and the perfect Looper boat. Captain Jack has been a good sport and I couldn't imagine doing the trip without him. He now has "fans" across the country. As we end this odyssey, we are wiser, more adaptable, more spontaneous, more adventurous, and more appreciative. As we left our anchorage, appropriately, three dolphins directed us home. We can cross "completing the Loop" off our bucket list, but sometimes checking off one item creates more to be added. So tomorrow we start planning for our next adventure.