Things learned while on "the Loop", 11/1/2022

Day 23, "on the Loop"

Random stuff we learned, experienced or thought was cool while looping!

Nature Center / Exhibit at Paris Landing (TN), our first stop.

• Turtles: very common around rivers and lakes

< This is called a map turtle, see the markings on the skin (legs and head), it looks like a map.

> see the curled up edges, this turtle shell shows signs of malnutrition

The staff at the Nature center were knowledgable and shared so much with us. They talked about snakes, local wildlife, birds and more.

Tracking Summer Place (for those interested):

There is an app, available via the Apple Store, called NEBO. Get the "free" version and search for our boat "Summer Place" or any boat for that matter. If the boat owner is associated with the AGLCA (American Great Looper Cruiser Association), you will see the AGLCA logo and then the boat name.

• Numbers, indicates how many boats are in that area (those associated with Nebo).

• See the white bubble w/ a map logo, this is the AGLCA logo. If you enlarge that bubble, you should see the boats' name

• Boaters use this tool to message other boaters or people

• People took pictures of our boat and sent it to us and we returned the favor

• We used this tool when traveling through locks, we could advise the Lock Master, how many boats would be "Locking through"

• Tracy used the message feature to send messages to nearby boats (traveling behind us) about things ahead; i.e., alligator sightings, dead heads (floating logs), etc.

PICTURE TO RIGHT:

• Hover over the AGLCA icon and you will see info relating to the boat

• The map indicates the location of boat

• Detailed information about the size / draft of boat

• Upper left hand corner, boat name, Captain & First Mate

• Upper right hand corner, the speed the boat is traveling

The picture below is a boat named "Liver Spots," this picture was taken using the Nebo app. Tracy sent the picture to the boat owners. We received several pictures of our boat also.

Navigation Information & Tools while on the River:

Red & Green Buoy's keep boaters out of danger:

The Red Buoy: The memory aid of “red, right, returning” will help you interpret the channel marker correctly. Basically, red marker buoys should be on your right (starboard) as you return from open water. Conversely, green channel markers should be on your starboard side as you head out into open water.

< This is known as a "Nun Buoy" (a red can with a top like a nuns head piece). When traveling on the river, this should be on the port side (left hand) & on starboard side (right) when returning from "open water". These channel markers are important to boaters.

^ The Green Buoy: The Open Seas

Green means go, which means go out to sea. Green buoys are called cans because they have a flat top, making them look like cans. The green buoys should be marked with odd numbers and contrast the red buoys, usually marked with even numbers.

Other navigational tools Joel (the Captain) uses while boating:

• Active Captain

• Route Guides (provided by AGLCA)

• Skipper Bob Manuals

• Waterway Guides (specific to the area we are traveling in)

In the picture below, Joel downloaded the map (our route) to his iPad.

- Upper left hand corner: 10.8 miles per hour

- Upper right hand corner: Compass Setting

- Lower left hand corner: water depth

- Lower right hand corner: GPS location

- Middle: In this case, this is the map of the river, notice the bends in this route. There

are " + and - " signs to enlarge the map.

During our travels, Joel relies on several sources to ensure we travel safely to our destination.

NEBO app, mentioned above. This app also provides a daily / monthly summary of our travels (for the month of October), see below.

As noted below, we have been underway for a total of 95 hours and traveled 862 miles of our 6000 miles. We have stopped at several marinas but our favorite spots so far are Fairhope, AL (Fairhope Yacht Club) and Panama City Beach, FL (Point South Marina - Bay Point), mainly because we were able to visit with family and friends at these locations!