Crossing our wake in Charleston - WE DID IT!!!

We had a very enjoyable and charming few days in Beaufort, SC before beginning our final few days on the trip.  We departed Beaufort on March 9th for an anchorage 30 miles south of Charleston.  It is appropriate that the last night of our journey was on anchor in a very secluded spot just off the intracoastal waterway.  This first picture was made in the early evening as the sun was setting and we were sitting on the aft deck reflecting on all we have seen and experienced in the last year.  We have been fortunate to have seen many, many peaceful settings like this!

We departed early the next morning for our final 30 miles on the most incredible journey we have ever experienced.  For the final 3 hours as we approached Charleston, Pia read recaps of some of the adventures captured in our daily journal and ship's log.  We will be happy to be home but will miss the challenges and rewards of being on the water. 

When we departed in April 09 from Charleston City Marina, we stopped for a moment to look at the bridge from Charleston to James Island (from the Charleston side) and wonder how it would feel to approach it from the other side when we complete the loop.  This next picture is the bridge coming through the Wapoo Cut approaching Charleston, about to cross our wake.  The other picture is us actually crossing our wake on the Ashley River as we approached the marina.  Quite an emotional experience for both of us.  WE DID IT! (the boat still floats, we have money in the checking account, and we are still married!)

At 11:00 AM on April 10th, 51 weeks after departing, Jack and Pia aboard "Still Busy" crossed our wake to complete The Great Loop.  We have traveled over 6000 miles, 2 countries, 17 states, 2 provinces, 140+ locks, and almost 40 waterways/rivers/canals/lakes/oceans etc.  As we pulled into the face dock at the Charleston City Marina, we were greeted by the same group of friends, holding a welcome home banner, that were in Charleston in 2009 to visit us before our departure.  Jack also hoisted our America's Great Loop Cruising Association GOLD BURGEE that we earned by completing this adventure.  

 Most of our fondest memories of this journey are of the great people we met along the way, many that we are still in contact with and will hopefully travel with in the future.  Seeing "The Crew" from Lake Norman with this banner as we approached the dock was equally great as they were here to help celebrate our success.  Coming home would not have been the same without them here. 

We continued our celebration with The Crew on Saturday afternoon followed by dinner at their rented house on Wild Dunes Saturday evening.  On Sunday, Brent, Tara, Garrett, and Grace joined us for the trip from the marina to the boatyard where "Still Busy" will be loaded on a truck for her return to Lake Norman.  After dinner with Brent and family, we spent Sunday evening preparing "Still Busy" to be lifted out of the water on Monday morning.  We are not only pleased that she made the journey without a major malfunction but the bottom and props were in excellent condition. 

As we have stated many times on this blog, The Great Loop has been a trip of a lifetime.  There are 3 parts to this journey; Planning, Doing, and Remembering.  We have great experiences to remember and talk about for years to come.  We have met some great people along the way and we have experience challenges that we were able to overcome. 

For the foreseeable future, we will be back in Cornelius with long overdue chores at home as well as preparing "Still Busy" for lake life. 

We look forward to our next adventure on the water and are already planning this event.  Stay tuned!!!