Before the Rendezvous even started, we learned that Ross can successfully dock a 52 foot boat in a 51 foot slip! A most excellent way to start this Looper-Duper Fun-Fest! The Dock Master, assisted by two high school students (??), guided us into an extremely tight space, while responding to Ross's query of, "are we going to make it?", by saying, "I think so". (!!) I was searching for a can of Crisco to grease up the boat as we slid into the slip with barely inches to spare. Ross was an instant dock-lebrity the moment we arrived and has been enjoying "attaboys" from Captains both green and salty throughout the four days of events and seminars.
We immediately saw our newest pals from SWEET PEA & WHY KNOT and caught up with other Loopers we'd met briefly here and there along the way, like Wayne from GYPSY 3, and Joe & Edie from SEQUEL. Our first night here, our dinner table totaled 15 folks, including some new instant friends, such as veteran Loopers Rick & Betsy Johnson (RICK 'N ROLL III) who may be two of the funniest folks we ever met.
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| The Zone, snug as a bug! |
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| Ross with Rick Johnson |
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Cocktail Hour w/ Wayne & The Johnsons
telling one of their famous stories |
We'd arrived Sunday, the day before the events began, and were on the first free van from the marina to the grocery store early Monday morning. Alas, no more Piggly Wigglys, but Harris Teeter, though much less fun to say, certainly did the trick! Three vans of 6 folks each, left the marina to shop for provisions. We passed each other, carts flying by through the aisles on BOTH levels of the store! I'd never been in an elevator in a grocery store. I felt like we were on a Game Show as we all raced to the check-out counters to get the first van back. Ross pushed me into the 1st van as I had the insulated bag with his precious Espresso Chip ice cream. Score 1 for Team Zone!
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| There were 9 Loopers with brimming carts waiting for the vans to take us back |
We then registered and got our goodie bags (we will never, ever need another pen, floating key chain or lip balm), as well as the schedule of events and our name tags. They got us all wrong; my name was printed as "Laure", they designated us as "In Planning" instead of "In Progress", and worst of all, they refused to list Ross as "Captain Awesome", saying the moniker was already taken! The nerve! All kidding aside, it was a great time, and the AGLCA folks put a lot of effort into making everyone feel welcomed.
Our days were filled with seminars, a few too many precautionary tales (i.e. horror stories) for my liking, and our nights were filled with buffet dinners, boozing and schmoozing. Folks at the Rendezvous were from all over the US and Canada, some in the planning stages, some who have completed the Loop, some even multiple times, and many, many Loopers-In-Progress like us.
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From left: Wayne (GYPSY 3), Mimi & Jim (just bought a boat, re-naming it shortly),
Rick & Margi (JOURNEY), Darrell & Lisa (WHY KNOT) |
There were lots of introductions - of new Loopers, LooperWannabees, ex-Loopers, Loop-di-Doopers..all with stories, some hilarious, some mundane, of how and why we got here and are doing/will do/did the Loop. All were here in Norfolk to learn from one another, see old friends, make new ones, and offer each other encouragement. One reluctant Admiral-to-be, told of how she was finally starting to embrace the idea of this venture after hearing wonderful stories the first night of beautiful moments, fantastic voyages, sunsets, rainbows and chirping birds.....and then she went to the seminar on Life Rafts! Big mistake! Picturing days afloat waiting to be rescued might have relegated her to Land Lubber status for life.
At some point during the seminar on How To Handle Those Locks, the speaker rattled off some worst case scenarios. You could practically smell the fear spread throughout the room. Just then, Rick Johnson got up, and in his down home style, reassured us that if he, Betsy and the hundreds of other idiots before us could manage their way through the Locks unharmed, we all had nothing to worry about. Rick also gave us the single best piece of advice for the Loop. He said, "never spend enough time with a group of Loopers to find out who the jerks are."
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| Ross, Betsy & Darrell |
I am sure I am not accurately relating the essence of these few days. We got some great tips, suggested routes, options and inside scoops on ways to make this trip more enjoyable, safer and certainly more sociable after meeting all these fun folks.
Well, we ate too much, partied too hearty and laughed until our sides hurt, but tomorrow we motor on...
We look forward to seeing many of our new friends (and maybe some visitors) along the Chesapeake Bay over the next few weeks....in Deltaville, VA, Solomon's Island, MD, & Annapolis, MD.....
We wish a very Happy Mothers Day to all, especially to my, sweet AnitaMom!
