Hello friends — it’s Chris and Deb checking in from Cincinnati, with a story that loops back to where this whole adventure began. On Columbus Day, we hopped in the car and headed down to Ripley, Ohio — to the little river camp on the Ohio River where our Great Loop dream first took shape more than 30 years ago.

We had that camp for 11 years, raising the kids on weekends full of tubing, water-skiing, fishing, and campfires. It’s hardly changed — the same quiet docks, the same A-frame next door, even the same old boat ramp where I once broke my ankle. Standing there again, it hit us how this whole loop really started as a family weekend on the river.

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Storms, Cars, and Classic Cadillacs

When we last left off, we were in St. Augustine, dodging thunderstorms and renting a car to explore. That detour led us to the Classic Car Museum, a time capsule of American design — from 1950s Bel Airs and pink-finned Cadillacs to horse-drawn stagecoaches.

Afterward we found ourselves at The Ice Plant, a Prohibition-style bar we’d discovered on a hop-on-hop-off tour. Great cocktails, vintage ambiance, and the perfect hideaway from the rain. Upstairs, a French fine-dining spot offered tiny portions for big prices — but it made for a memorable night before we hit the road again.

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North to Jacksonville Beach

Monday was move day — we cruised under the Bridge of Lions and made our way north to Palm Cove Marina in Jacksonville Beach. The houses along the ocean side were stunning, and the marina itself turned out to be a gem.

One unexpected highlight: meeting Jim Loudenslager, a master club-builder who’s been fitting clubs for the pros for half a century. We wandered into his shop looking for golf shoes and left with new custom sets — and a new friend.

Dinner that night was at Marker 32, a local favorite perched on the water. We grabbed two bar stools, struck up conversation with the couple beside us, and after a bottle of wine discovered the man was none other than a former pianist for Lynyrd Skynyrd — who’d also opened for the Rolling Stones. Only on the Loop do you stumble into nights like that.

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Sawgrass: A Bucket-List Swing

From Palm Cove, we followed the St. Johns River to Huckins Boatyard, a deep-water stretch where we could finally relax without worrying about shallow channels. The next morning brought a true milestone — tee times at TPC Sawgrass.

Playing the legendary 17th-hole island green has been on my list forever. Neither Deb nor I landed the green (hers kissed the wall; mine veered left), but the experience was unforgettable. The course was quiet, stripped of the tournament crowds, and we even spotted two bald eagles and a snake near the cart path.

We ended the day with dinner in the clubhouse surrounded by decades of golf history — and met a young player from Paris, Tom D. Harry Pond, practicing for the junior tournament the next day. Watching him stripe drives reminded us how timeless the game really is.

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On the Hard (and at Home)

C-DAN is currently on the hard at Huckins, getting her swim platform repaired after a few stress fractures from the dinghy crane. The crew’s got her in good hands, and we’ll check back next week when she’s ready to float again.

For now, we’re soaking up fall in Ohio — our favorite season — playing plenty of golf, chasing our grandson Leon, and watching the leaves change. Once the holidays wrap up, we’ll dive into the next leg of the Loop full speed ahead.

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Looking Ahead

Starting in January, we’ll be exploring the St. Johns River, one of the few rivers in North America that flows south to north. It’s lined with hidden coves, old paddle-boat docks, and (supposedly) alligators we still haven’t spotted. We’re eager to launch the dinghy and explore side trips along the way before heading up the East Coast.

We’ll post our month-by-month itinerary soon — if you’re near the coast or the Great Lakes next year, we’d love to reconnect over a dockside drink or a round of golf.

Until then, thanks for following along. From the Ohio River to Sawgrass greens, we’re reminded just how far this dream has drifted — and how close it still feels to home.

Fair winds,
Chris & Deb