Loopers Are Like Lemmings

We have noticed while we travel that people doing the great loop seem to travel in herds. Part of this is due to timing. East coast boats move north during the hurricane season (June-November) and then inland via The Great Lakes in the fall. The route is basically the same for everyone so it isn’t surprising that boats bunch up.

Where the bunching occurs though is sometimes inexplicable. For example, a marina on Mobil Bay. Almost every looper goes there and we have yet to hear a boater extol the experience they had while there. Quite the opposite. Stories like: one head with no lock for the whole marina, no working pump out so those waiting for repair are told to pump directly into the harbour, repairs take much longer than expected even when they have been scheduled in advance, no courtesy car despite it being nowhere, and the list goes on.

This marina is a sponsor of the great loop cruisers association. People have been stopping here for years and new loopers have heard the name. The name is recognized and relieves the crew of one decision. Even though some of the horrible stories have been shared, we still saw 20 plus boats tied up there this fall.

Just recently we saw this mind set in action. I had booked a slip at a marina near Belhaven. We needed a place for a few days to let some weather blow through. Some dock chatter made me rethink the decision. Then, I happily jumped off the cliff and canceled my reservation to rebooked at a marina in downtown Belhaven. Big mistake. The slip was totally exposed to the predicted SW wind.

We moved the next day to my original choice. We had a quiet day, used the courtesy car to get groceries and into town later for a great dinner with Loral and Brian on Port-a-Gee and Sandy and Troy from Melody. Spoon River Restaurant and Art works was a really fun restaurant with a pick your own wine cellar. We heard people drive up to five hours for a meal here. I don’t know if that is looper lore or not but I do know the place was full on Monday night and my duck breast was perfect.