Wrapping Up Our Loop 2016

It’s the middle of August and we’re back in Unionville, Connecticut. I haven’t written since the end of May, partly because the Internet was frustrating and partly because we got very busy. A lot has happened in the last few months.

I’ll cut straight to the end of the story: we bought a house in Virginia! 

All during the 2016 segment of our trip, we hurried up the ICW so we could spend extra time in Virginia, intending to explore the lower Chesapeake Bay and the rivers that feed into it. From south to north, the big rivers in Virginia are the James, the York, the Rappahannock and the Potomac. After seeing the James and the York, we traveled to beautiful Mobjack Bay and on to the Rappahannock River. We stopped in Urbanna, a small town on the Rappahannock that’s famous for its annual Oyster Festival in November, and that’s where the magic began. 

Our new house on Dymer Creek, Virginia

In early June, we had an appointment in Deltaville, Virginia, to have the after-cooler flushed and the oil changed. We had a few days to wait, so we explored Urbanna and met Alana, the mother of Lauren’s good friend from college. As it turned out, Lauren has been to Urbanna at least ten times! Alana has a nice shop in Kilmarnock, and she’s also a realtor. When we told her we were thinking of retiring to the Chesapeake region in a few years, she arranged to show us around the county. Several creeks feed into the Bay in this area, and there are gorgeous houses with fantastic views on all of them. Without even trying, we found a house that we both love. Within a couple of days we had made an offer, signed a contract, and retained the contractor who was already working on the house. The siding and roof had already been replaced and the interior had been gutted. We docked Pearl at the pier at the house and stayed for a month, choosing appliances, countertops, cabinets, doors and flooring, and deciding where the plumbing, electric, HVAC, electronics, and gas should go. Zillions of decisions. In early July we drove back to our Connecticut house. It’s already on the market, and hopefully, someone will see it soon and love it as much as we do. 

Pearl in Deltaville, Virginia

High power lines over the Rappahannock River

Rappahannock River Rainbow

Even though we’re excited to be returning to the Chesapeake region, we’re sad to be leaving Connecticut. It has been a great place for us, but this new place feels right. It’s exciting to be setting off on a new adventure, including possibly boating on warm days in January! We have a whole different lifestyle ahead. 

Our Great Loop adventure isn’t over yet, and we plan to finish next summer. We’ve left Pearl down in Virginia and only have to make it as far as the Statue of Liberty. A year ago at this time, we were in Lake Michigan, traveling down the Wisconsin side of the lake. What a beautiful summer it was! I’ve been remembering the Trent-Severn Waterway, Georgian Bay, the North Channel and Lake Superior. We feel so fortunate to have been able to do this trip, see those places, and towards the end, find this gorgeous property in Virginia on the Bay.

Pearl on Dymer Creek,
with the Chesapeake Bay
just visible through the gap.

Our advice to Loopers:

            Make it your own trip.

            No regrets

            Eat food with flavor

            Tip generously

Until next year,

Ellen and Brian Clarke

on Pearl, 37’ Nordic Tug

Great Loop 2015 & 2016