November 21st to December 15th, 2025

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Okay, I have been lazy and remiss in posting updates. It has been a couple of weeks with slow progress and being held up by bad weather. We travelled from Navarre Beach to Rocky Bayou near Niceville, Florida. Peaceful and calm. When we left Rocky Bayou, we got our first taste of spicy seas and we moved down to Smack Bayou, another beautiful anchorage. The winds were forecast to be 15 to 20 mph so we moved to a marina in Panama City. We were on a fixed dock with pilings and no breakwater. What we didn’t know is that we would be rocking in our slip for three days. It was interesting to have to jump from a moving boat onto a narrow finger that was three feet higher than the boat! We spent Thanksgiving there with the staff and other loopers!

we left there November 29th for a peaceful night at Saul Creek. We then headed over to Carabelle where we met lots of other loopers, all waiting to make the overnight crossing to Tarpon Springs or the three day trip around the Big Bend. Weather was not good with no good weather window to do the long crossing. We, and three other boats, opted to go from Carabelle to Steinhatchee. It was truly my roughest day on the boat. There were big waves and lots of wind. Part of the trip, which was about 9 hours, had the seas rocking and rolling our boat. Stuff flew off the counters and shelves, I just stayed in my bed under the table. You couldn’t walk anywhere in there! It was a big relief to stop at Steinhatchee.

It was a big bonus to be there, lots of walks, friendly people and FISH! My dad went fishing everyday and caught his limit of speckle bellied trout! That meant there would be fish in my bowl. We ended up spending a whole week there. We decided we would wait for better seas as we are not in a hurry and we had about 150 more miles to travel. My mom was able to make a pretty Christmas tree with a looper lady that has all kinds of pretty crafts on her boat! They had a couple of potluck dinners with everyone and really enjoyed their time with them.

They had several cats at the marina that I really was interested in chasing but I wasn’t allowed to!

Our trip to Crystal River and then Tarpon Springs was uneventful. Beautiful, flat calm seas. Sadly we have parted ways with the looper boats we have been travelling with as they moved onto different destinations so we are back on our own again.

We are now in Gulfport, Florida at the Municipal Marina waiting out more windy weather. With any luck we will be able to start moving again. Dad bought some bicycles so he is teaching me to trot alongside which will give me a little more exercise too! (And them)!

November 15th to 21st, 2025 (Week 3)

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Not a lot this week from my perspective. We were at the Fall 2025 AGLCA Rendezvous in Orange Beach, Alabama. Beautiful sunny days, a great park area for running and chasing the ball and plenty of people to give me scratches. We left Orange Beach and stayed the night at Fort McCree. Gorgeous white sand beaches and plenty of fish around to catch. Nice to be on the move again.

November 8th to 14th, 2025 [week 2] Gulfport, Mississippi to Orange Beach, Alabama

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We had a pretty easy week. We got down to the Gulf sooner than we thought we would. We did stay over at Gulfport Municipal Harbor Marina for a couple nights. There was a cold front that came down from the north that brought us high winds and very cold (almost freezing) temperatures. The Marina was really nice and a great place to settle for a few days. Our first time with fixed docks which were pretty challenging with the tides. Sometimes those docks are too high to jump up on. We left there and spent a night in Pascagoula at Lake Yazoo. Very pretty and a quiet night on a super shallow lake.

We then made our way to Dauphin Island, Alabama. We stayed at a place called Pelican Cove where I had a great time running around on beautiful white sand beaches and going for swims! I have mastered my own personal potty spot on our boat on the swim grid! It’s a big relief for my Dad not having to worry about getting me to shore in those sketchy areas (alligators, mud and no pee zones at all). A bigger relief for me as I don’t have to stress waiting!

We crossed Mobile Bay yesterday and we are now in a little anchorage near Oyster Bay waiting on our moorage at The Wharf at Orange Beach for AGLCA Rendezvous. We took the dinghy out and explored the beautiful marshes and bays of the Alabama Gulf Coast.

I will have to be on my best behaviour at the Rendezvous and looking forward to socializing and getting extra pets from all the people.

Week 1 – Pineville, LA to Gulfport, MS

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I have officially completed my first week on the Great Loop. We saw amazing scenery! We saw many alligators after Lock 1 (Lindsay C Boggs). The area is known as the gauntlet. Our plans included staying the night in this area but after seeing several large alligators on both sides of the river, it was decided to carry on. There was absolutely interest on my part to go ashore. We travelled south on the river until almost dark! We anchored behind some barges in a quiet area off of the main river. The shore was very muddy which means I made a mess of our dinghy! Day 2 was another really long day….I generally doze a lot when we are cruising along but sometimes I like to get up onto the passenger seat and take a look at the scenery. There wasn’t anyone around the first few days. That changed when we got to Morgan City. We docked at the City dock with some shrimp boats! I don’t think much of shrimp but my Dad was able to get some fresh shrimp. Heading out the next morning to Houma, I spotted about a dozen tern flying behind our boat. I got pretty upset about that and was making as much fuss as I could to scare them off!

We docked at the Downtown Marina in Houma. We were able to go for a leash walk while we were there. I prefer to have the freedom to go where my nose and sight are interested but this is ok too. Many dogs at the houses here, I was greeted by many different barks on our way.

We headed out early the following morning through some beautiful swampy areas and we also are now seeing huge barges heading up and down the river regularly. Great warm weather! Lots of pelicans and tern birds. I am getting used to them following us. We stayed in Bayou Sorrel, pretty cool place. Not many on shore options for me to do my thing but Dad was able to take me out in the dinghy and find a place that I didn’t get covered in mud.

We stayed the night just past Jean La Fitte on a public dock. I got another leash walk and was able to stretch my legs. We seem to be settling into a routine here and getting used to boat life. I admit I am pretty lazy most days but there are many different smells and sights everywhere we go. The last night at the end of the river was really nice. We anchored in a marsh next to the Gulf. It was quiet and I got to run around on my first white sand beach. Dad was fishing while the day ended and caught a huge redfish, too big to eat but, hey, they didn’t ask me about it! I love 🐠!

Tomorrow we venture out to the big Gulf and back to the sea!

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Seahorse is in the water at the Red River at Fort Buhlow Recreation area in Pineville, Louisiana ready to begin the first leg of our Great Loop cruise. We have spent two wonderful days sharing time with family and getting last minute errands done. We’ll be heading south on the River tomorrow morning as soon as the fog clears.

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Washington to Louisiana!

I knew they were preparing for a big trip! I watched them pack up all our things but this time there was more than what they usually took. I was a little anxious myself so I made sure to follow them and keep tabs on their activities. I finally got to do a walk on trip onto the ferry with my Mom and we met Dad in Tswassen. He were six days on the road towing the boat through snow, sleet, high winds, lightning storms, tornado warnings, pouring rain but we made it. We slept in the camper in rest areas. Awaiting the next adventure!