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!
trishlaplaca 
Love your Pearl earrings!!
Thanks, Fran! They’re a bit overstated, but I figured that pearls will definitely have to figure into anything we do on Oyster. Maybe they’ll bring us good luck all along the journey ;-)!
Trish, loved your video. You were a bit hard to hear, the first part was fine but when you spoke I had my phone turned all the way up. Maybe my phone?
I also couldn’t figure out what was beside you, it looked like the bottom of a dummy with a bikini but then I was thinking it’s the back of a seat? Must be my twisted mind.
Anyway, your 1st vlog is a success and I can’t wait to travel along on your journey.
Have fun (which one know you are) and be safe!
Thanks a million, Beth! I actually had a microphone attached to my shirt, but it may have fowled up. I’ll definitely be more conscious of that! You’re too funny – the “dummy with bikini” is a pillow. But anyway, most of all I SO appreciate your fun feedback. Thanks so much for checking out the page! Big hugs to you and your sweetie!
Thank you for the birthday wishes. We hope to follow you on tis exciting journey. We have friends who just started the loop for a year long trip so it was exciting to see that you will be on some of the same route. If you are on Lake Champlain or anywhere near us in Vermont and have time, we’d love to drive to see you or even bring you to the cottage for a day or two or three… whatever fits your plans. We are east of the lower end of Lake Champlain on route 144 which runs between routes 22a and 30 on Lake Hortonia.
Hi there, sweetie pie! Ooooh, we would absolutely love to catch up with you two if you aren’t out galavanting yourselves ;-)! We definitely plan to come down the Champlain after visiting the St. Lawrence Seaway. We’ll be in touch. Hope your birthday was absolutely wonderful!!!
I love this so so much! I may or may not have teared up watching it 😜
I feel like I’m along on your adventure! Thank you for letting me live vicariously through you two.
We love you two so much! Please give hugs to your family from us. I can’t wait for the next video!
Awww…we love you guys so much, too! It’s been really fun meeting up with everyone here – Carole and Gerry set us up on a dock at a restaurant Carole used to work for. It’s been amazing! I have 2 more video blogs and the last one about the Erie Canal talks about it. It sure has bee a wild journey!
We leave from here tomorrow to head up towards the St. Lawrence Seaway. I’ll check in with you via FaceTime soon. Are you guys back home?
We love you, love you, sweetie pie!