"We prepared everything over
the winter so, in spring, we were ready
to put it all in its place."
TRICIA KING
Experience Magazine speaks with Tim and Tricia King to find out how these long-time boaters prepare themselves, their two cockapoos and their Riviera 445 SUV, Tricia Anne, for the trip of a lifetime.
Tim and Tricia King settle into a comfortable couch in their timber cabin on Beaver Island, Lake Michigan. Their daughter Wendy sits nearby with the couple’s cockapoos, Finnegan and Molly. Just two weeks out from their autumn departure, the Kings appear entirely relaxed. A lifetime of cruising has taught them to plan and prepare well ahead of time. Instead of a last-minute scramble ticking off ‘to dos’, they have time to reflect on the voyage that lies ahead. Plus, it’s not their first time. The Kings cruised the eastern section of this epic US water system three years ago.
“Our lives really have been founded on adventure and family, and our love and respect of nature,” says Tim. “One of the final things we’ve done before our departure is to place an inscription under the saloon’s hardtop, where it extends out like a sun visor, so we can see it when looking ahead.”
A similarly inspiring quote from American naturalist Henry David Thoreau also feels apt: “Rise free from care before the dawn and seek new adventures. Let noon find you at other lakes, and night find you everywhere at home…grow wild according to thy nature.”
Under the divine guidance of Thoreau, the Kings are set to discover hundreds of years of history across the roughly 10,000-kilometre Great Loop encircling the eastern United States and Canada. They will travel counterclockwise, from the Great Lakes south to the Mississippi and Tennessee Rivers, head east across the Gulf Coast, around Florida to the Atlantic and north through its intracoastal waterways, to the Erie Canal and Canada’s heritage canals. There’s also a side-trip to The Bahamas to look forward to.
“It’s an escapist’s dream,” admits Tim.
ON TO PRACTICAL MATTERS
Over months they have carted boxes of food stuffs, clothes, towels, bedding, spare parts, tools, extra lines, fenders and charts to the motor yacht. “We prepared everything over the winter so, in spring, we were ready to put it all in its place,” says Tricia. “Over the last month we’ve been cooking and preparing meals to freeze, putting together our medical emergency kits, the dogs’ papers and meds, food and treats for them too. Every day we take a load to the boat and document where it is.”
Finnegan and Molly are important crew members. “They have their sea legs,” assures Tricia. “They’re really good little sailors. Finnegan is a little more adventurous – he’s gone overboard a couple of times, but he knows how to swim to the platform. Molly likes to sit on the cockpit step and keep watch.”
For the safety and comfort of all the crew, the Kings had a gangplank made for the trip. This helps everyone – four-legged or two – to trot on and off the Tricia Anne with ease. “We want to get on and off the boat in a safe and efficient manner, so we fashioned a gangplank with wheels that goes from the swim platform to dock. The gangplank folds in two when we’re underway and lays on the mezzanine seat just perfectly with no overhang,” says Tim.
"Every trip is unique, no one takes the same route, and there are so many side trips, shortcuts and long ways."
TIM KING
Both Tricia and Tim worked on a number of projects in the year leading up to the trip. Their preparation has been thoughtful and deliberate.
“We spent some time sorting out storage. The 445 SUV has a lot of room, but you can never have enough,” says Tim. “So, we’ve optimised custom shelves in closets and repurposed other areas for cleaning supplies and water bottle storage. We’ve also mounted a number of D-ring mounts around the place to keep things neat, secure and seaman-like while we’re underway. I’ve done some work on the engine room to store boxes in a safe, secure and accessible manner, with spare parts including gaskets, spare filters, pumps and lines. With our sailing background we’re familiar with bad conditions, so we have a lot of spare lines, extra mooring lines, emergency lines and we’re storing them in accessible places where they won’t rot or get mildew.”
The couple says they intend to meander along the waterways at around 6-7 knots, bearing in mind the majority of the Loop is in intracoastal waters with wake-free speed limits. Stopping off in towns along the way will offer them a chance to explore the history of the Great Loop, as well as top up provisions, fuel and water.
Tim has also fashioned a filtration system to mitigate any poor water quality along the way. “We now have a double filtration system where we can run dock water through a charcoal filter and then a water softener to demineralise it. It rides securely in the cockpit floor storage.”
These old-time sailors will take navigational charts with them, so when they meet others travelling the Loop, they can share their experiences and take notes of points of interest and facilities.
“We don’t have an itinerary; it’s too long a trip to plan like that. Every trip is unique, no one takes the same route, and there are so many side trips, shortcuts and long ways. Generally, you end up sort of moving along with a pod of other cruisers. Most average 50 to 60 miles a day. We can stop and rent a car in places we’d like to visit and see the local history. We’re determined to have fun on this.”
Experience Magazine wishes Tim, Tricia, Molly and Finnegan all the very best on their Great Loop adventure.
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