Pearls Aboard OYSTER – An America's Great Loop Travel Adventure Blog

Updated on September 3, 2026September 3, 2026SUMMER 2026 ADVENTURE

MAGICAL MAINE CELEBRATIONS Blog & Vlogs

There was excitement. There was trepidation. But mostly there was pure wonder when Jeff and I had sailed away from Bucksport, Maine back in 2022 …

Updated on August 3, 2026August 3, 2026SUMMER 2026 ADVENTURE Uncategorized

WE’VE BEEN CRUISING THROUGH HISTORY!

I know. I KNOW. I’ve been absolutely terrible at keeping you all apprised of what’s going on aboard Oyster this summer. The truth is, an …

Updated on April 25, 2026April 23, 2026SUMMER 2026 ADVENTURE

OYSTER’S SUMMER ‘26 ADVENTURE KICKOFF!

We’re on our way again! This summer season was truly kicked off on style ~ Jeff and I were able to join a great group …

Updated on October 16, 2025October 16, 20252025 Great Loop & Beyond

PEOPLE PEARLS

Between venturing off to do the America’s Great Loop and now continuing our cruising life beyond, I’ve gotten to thinking. What, exactly, have we gained …

Updated on August 28, 2025August 28, 20252025 Great Loop Pearls

WE’VE CROSSED OUR WAKE!

HOORAY AND YIPPEE-AY-OH-KAI-YAY!! WE ARE NOW GOLD LOOOPERS! “Well,” you say. And what the heck does that mean?? It means, dear reader, that Jeff and …

Updated on August 21, 2025August 21, 20252025 Great Loop Pearls

WE’RE FINALLY ON OUR WAY TO CHESAPEAKE BAY!

It seems like forever since Jeff and I have gotten to enjoy the fresh breezes from Oyster’s fly bridge. We have our wonderful water faring …

Updated on August 19, 2025August 15, 20252025 Great Loop Pearls

Our Great Loop COMEBACK!

For anyone who hadn’t been aware of it, Jeff and I recently suffered a two month+ setback along this year’s America’s Great Loop journey. Check …

Updated on June 8, 2025June 8, 20252025 Great Loop Pearls

Our Great Loop Setback… or ENDING?

OH, NOOOOOO! Has our Great Loop adventure ended just short of making it to the finish line in New York City? Have we lost our …

Updated on June 8, 2025June 8, 20252025 Great Loop Pearls

Exploring Southern Charms in the Carolinas

Jeff and I have truly enjoyed our travels along the Intracoastal Waterway (also known as the ICW). The ICW is a gem of an alternative, …

Updated on August 18, 2025May 24, 20252025 Great Loop Pearls

Loop Journey 2025 Kickoff Vlog

What a great start we’ve had to our Great Loop journey so far! Ten days in, and Jeff and I have already made it to …

AHOY & WELCOME!

Trish and Jeff

OUR WORLD IS OUR OYSTER!

When Jeff and I purchased our 40 foot 1974 DeFever Trawler OYSTER in August of 2022, never could we have imagined how much joy she would bring to us these last few years Our sweet girl may have needed a good bit of tender loving care at first, but boy, has she ever purred along the waterways with ease and grace despite her age. Jeff and I like to think that Oyster is pretty happy with us, too. Together ~ both she and we ~ have found not only a renewed sense of purpose and discovery, but a wealth of new adventures, too. Thanks for coming along as we share all our cruising fun and foibles!

WHERE HAVE WE BEEN THE LAST FEW YEARS?
HERE’S A RECAP…
(but see blogs for details!)

FALL, 2022
Jeff and I were able to come to know our Oyster and gain our sea legs as we ventured from Bucksport, Maine in Penobscot Bay. We travailed the New England coastline down to the Long Island Sound where we reluctantly “put her up on the hard” (meaning: store her out of the water) at Petzold’s Marina on the Connecticut River. It was tough to say goodbye to her for the winter - we had just finally gotten to know one another!

THE “TRIANGLE LOOP” SUMMER & FALL 2023
After receiving some much needed cosmetic care along with a few extra special perks like a new generator and other fancy items, Jeff and I launched Oyster anew. This would be our first true adventure together. We traveled the New York waterways up into Canada’s Rideau Canal and back down through Lake Champlain to Connecticut. The trip in total was over 800+ miles and included over 130 locks. Such an enthralling way to begin!

THE TRADITIONAL “AMERICA’S GREAT LOOP” PART 1
SUMMER & FALL 2024

Jeff and I traced last year’s wake through the New York waterways (Long Island Sound, Hudson River, Erie & Oswego Canals, but this time crossed Lake Ontario to enter Canada’s Trent Severn Canal system as opposed to the easterly Rideau Canal. This fantastic journey took us into Lake Huron, where we explored the stunning and immaculate Georgian Bay and North Channel before heading back down through Lake Michigan.

From Lake Michigan we entered the mid-U.S. river system that took us all the way from Chicago down to the Gulf of Mexico. Talk about incredible! When we finally crossed the Gulf of Mexico to work our way to our little Port LaBelle Marina along the Caloosahatchee River east of Ft. Myers, Jeff and I felt like experienced sailors for sure.

ON OUR WAY TO “CROSS OUR WAKE” AND BEYOND!
SUMMER & FALL 2025
Woohoo! We and Oyster will complete our AMERICA’S GREAT LOOP adventure together in New York City Harbor. This is traditionally called “crossing your wake”, which means that we will have ended where we had begun. At that point we will have earned the right to exchange our white America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association white burgee (flag) to proudly bear a fancier gold one. Yessirreee!!

But our travels will not end there. Once again we will travail the Northeast coast to hang out and explore more of Maine. And yes again, Oyster will winter in Connecticut again.

SUMMER & FALL 2026
THE “DOWNEAST LOOP” AROUND THE CANADIAN MARITIME PROVINCES? We sure hope so!

COME ABOARD OYSTER WITH US!