Jim Alexander and List Hello from the Two J's V, a 36 ft Carver Mariner berthed at Slip E26 Sassafras Harbor Marina, Georgetown, MD. We have been reading your posts and wanted to let you know that we share many of your thoughts about the Hearland River section of the Loop from Chicago to Mobile. It too was our least enjoyed section of the Loop which we completed this Spring after 2-1/2 boating seasons. Even so, the biggest laugh we get during our 3 slide presentations (given to 3 yacht clubs and 6 Power Squadrons) are those of the Riverview Boat Club (3 rusty barges tied together on the Mississippi) and the club house up on stilts - with good inexpensive buffet dinner and cheap 75 cent beers). This section of the Loop while beautiful scenery, is very desolate with nothing much between here and there - on one stretch we only saw two tow boat and barge rigs, three small fishing boats, a couple of cottages and two or three bridges, in over 100 miles. If you like quite and solitude, you'll love it, if you like civilization and people to talk to in marinas and/or tourist attractions, quaint shops, etc. you will not be impressed at all. Unlike you and many others, we took our time on the America's Great Loop Cruise and went the long way around (Lake Champlain, Rideau Waterway, Trent-Severn, up to Lake Superior, etc.). The first Summer we only averaged 28 miles a day and the second and third years about 40 miles a day. Our average cruising speed was 8.8 statute miles per hour. We lived aboard for 260 days and spend 165 days cruising. We decided to take our time, see and do everything we could and try not to miss anything. We did so, because we heard over and over again from those doing the Loop a second or third time that their reason for the additional trips was because they missed so much the first time - not because they liked the cruising style so much. Without a doubt, our beautiful Chesapeake Bay. Lake Champlain and the Canadian heritage canals were the most beautiful and enjoyable waters. And yes, one must be prepared to rough it on many sections of the Loop, particularly if they are spoiled by boating in an area with a lot of first class marinas with all the amenities like: twin 30 amp / 50 amp electric; dockside water; cable TV; gas, diesel and pump out available everywhere. We have learned that most of the long range cruisers are really what we call Snow Birds - those who go North to the Chesapeake Bay or further North for the Summer and go South to Florida or the Bahamas for the Winter months. Very few do the Loop more than once or possibly twice. Our advise to those planning on doing the America's Great Loop Cruise is to take your time, do a lot of planning. Attend a couple of Trawler Fests, join the America's Great Loop Cruisers Association, read the newsletters and attend a couple of their rendezvous. Do your homework and learn to be as resourceful and self sufficient as possible. Buy the various electrical splitters and adapters and know what you can run on a single 30 amp or single 15 amp service (refrigerator, battery charger, TV and a reading lamp). Add water filters such as charcoal -sediment and an ultra pure water purifier for drinking water (sulfur tastes terrible in coffee and pasta and bottled water is expensive and heavy). Check out your anchors and anchor trip line for the various bottom conditions. Consider GPS to lap top Computer Chart navigation systems. Learn about Cell Phone to lap top Computer systems for Email, Canada non-roaming programs, etc. Make lists of everything you use on a daily basis - buying many items along the way simply is not an option in many cases (specialty light bulbs, filters, etc.). John and Judy Gill Two J's V AGLCA Loopers