In a message dated 12/10/01 12:02:19 AM, trawler-world-great-loop-request@lists.samurai.com writes: << Will be doing trip from LI Sound thru Erie Canal to Ontario then to Canada, back down Lake Champlain to Hudson and back to CT. >> It may be heresy to say so on this list but the Little Loop that you describe contains many of the more interesting elements of the Big Loop without the expense, life disruption, elapsed time, and boredom. Many of us plan to make the grand circumnavigation of the Eastern US but put it off to the indefinite future. Until the kids are out of school; until the house is sold; until we retire; until we have the right boat; until we learn enough; until we get up the courage - and then we die. If you have any sort of boat, take the Little Loop next summer. It's about 1000 miles long. It will take a month or two. It's not expensive. It's thoroughly delightful. Do it now! Larry Z