Day 1 – 10/4/23 – Launch… – The Great Loop in a C Dory 25

Sorry, everyone, for the delayed postings. There has been a lot of activity and getting used to things, including figuring out how to blog, so I’m just now starting to catch up about two weeks in. This blog is taking shape to be both an update for family and friends as well as a potential travel guide for others. As a result, I’m going to try breaking things down between a general summary of our day and information more specific to boaters and Loopers.

Starting location: Kimmswick, MO

Weather: Sunny upper 70s

Ending location: No change

Statute Miles: 0

General summary: We got to Hoppie’s Marina around noon and moved necessary stuff out of the truck and into the boat. Hoppie’s is a legendary stop on the Great Loop partially because it is the last gas stop for over 200 miles, the longest distance between fuel in the whole loop, but also for it’s character. There is no marina building, just Hoppie’s house and Ray’s (current manager) house nearby. It is basically two barges secured to the shore, a gangway, mooring cleats on the sides of the barge, and a non-heated shelter with a few aging tables and chairs. No bathroom, showers, laundry, store, but they do have water and fuel! It is all very do-it-yourself and rustic. We had been in touch with Ray, who helps run the marina, and learned the water levels were seriously low this year – about 10 feet below typical mean low. He was agreeable to launch our boat since the draft (distance from water line to bottom of hull) is only about a foot, so less chance of getting stuck aground. They insist on managing the launch themselves, which turned out to be a very good thing. Several people came by to help and our boat was attached to the front hitch on a pick-up. It was a difficult maneuver down the ramp, but she made it in! I don’t think I’m exaggerating if I say it would not have been do-able if the water were a mere few inches lower. I’m quite certain we were at the literal end of the ramp and there was no way she could have been pulled back out. Once secured to the dock, we walked into downtown Kimmswick. Kimmswick is bustling between 10-3 with it’s famous breakfast/pastry place and kitchy stores. We got pastries for breakfast from The Blue Owl and made reservations at the local restaurant/winery for dinner tomorrow (not open today) and had left-overs for dinner before spending our first night on the water sleeping in the V- berth.