One Mile at a Time: Completing the Great Loop on a Tiny Sailboat
The Local Tourist
Mary Beard Grodsky
I’ve long heard of “Great Loopers” coming through Pickwick Lake in the fall. The journey and what inspires the trip has always intrigued me, and through a local friend, I was encouraged to try to catch a few as they passed through this year. They’ll frequently come into town after the busy summer season to gather provisions or stay overnight as several nearby marinas welcome transients.
My simplistic view of Loopers is that many come from various paths up North during the summer, head down into the our area as the weather starts to cool, and back out through our waterways into the Gulf of Mexico during the winter months. They “loop” back up past Florida (typically), hence the nickname. Then, they can head back up through the Great Lakes to find their ways back home. On average, this 6,000-mile journey is completed in about a year, depending on your number of stops. The lock and dam at Pickwick has had several convoys locking through recently, many on pleasure crafts. I know that’s the official nautical term, but in my language, those are small houseboats. I had been trying to catch one as I was visited town and got a call that a sailboat had just locked through and was staying overnight at Pickwick Landing State Park.
I had my list of questions ready as I prepared to interview Martin Haseman, who was traveling from The Great Lakes to the Bahamas. That in and of itself was an interesting one-way journey, but as we started to dive into his particular situation, I realized I had to go completely off script. My mind swirled with questions as I realized Martin was doing this journey on his own with just his dog and cat with no formal plan in mind. To top that off, he’s doing it on a $5,000 sailboat that he acquired on a test run that has just a 30hp motor.
Martin had done a test run in the previous weeks at Kentucky Lake, testing the boat and timing his use of provisions. After fixing an issue with the starter on his sailboat, he was off to the lock and dam at Pickwick, the thing he was most intimidated by. As many have told me, the crew at that dam is helpful and friendly so in 40 minutes, Martin had risen 63 feet and was sailing through Pickwick Lake. Someone handed Martin an elaborate Excel document of stops and planning along the way, none of which Martin had planned to do. He knew state parks offered comfortable amenities and friendly people so the overall plan was to stay overnight when needed at state parks along the way. And moving at a max of 3.7mph, his journey is one to take in all the sights.
Intentionally slow, Martin is taking his time getting to the Bahamas. He makes frequent stops along the way to check out islands to let his dog roam and explore nature. As he meets up with others, he has noticed that he’s one of the only ones with no set plan in mind. Every boat he meets has detailed checkpoints and rigid itineraries. Martin believes this strategy misses the point of the journey entirely. Isn’t the point of the Great Loop to completely detach and enjoy the water and all that Mother Nature has created?
And completely detach he did. Having sold all his rental properties and beginning an early retirement from his corporate career, Martin has figured out how to live comfortably in his new sailing lifestyle on a modest $10,000 a year. The most humbling part was to watch Martin’s video after he sailed through Pickwick Lake, declaring it the most beautiful lake he’s even been on, full of nature and beautiful homes. You’ll want to follow along on his YouTube channel “Another Place Another Time” to watch this adventure unfold.
Click here to learn more about me and how I can help you with your real estate needs. Whether Memphis or Pickwick Lake, primary home or investment, I’m happy to offer my services.
Contact me at 901-468-7030 or Marygrodskyrealtor@gmail.com
