Covering over 6,300 miles, a Pender County couple checked off an item on their bucket list while also reaching a milestone.
Doug and Nancy Jewell, with the help of The America's Great Loop Cruisers' Association, cruised around the eastern half of the United States and a portion of Canada on their own boat, "Belle," a 1976 36-foot Grand Banks Classic power boat.
The America's Great Loop Cruisers Association is an organization that helps folks plan and execute the "Great Loop."
"We chose to do the Loop for the adventure and the pleasure of seeing all the Loop has to offer from the unique perspective of a boat," Doug said. "Perhaps next spring we will go to the Chesapeake Bay for a few months to visit places we passed by this time."
Where did the cruise take you?
The couple left their home on the Northeast Cape Fear River near Burgaw and cruised up the East Coast following the Intracoastal Waterway. They entered New York Harbor and cruised up the Hudson River through Lake Champlain and into Canada. Their return trip was up the east coast of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, to North Carolina and Burgaw. The couple in total visited 19 states and two Canadian provinces.
"We also took a side trip up the Saint Johns River from Jacksonville, Florida, to Sanford, Florida," said Doug.
How long was the cruise?
The couple left Burgaw on April 14, 2024, returning home to Burgaw on March 16, 2025. "During that time we returned home twice for a couple of weeks each time," said Doug.
Did you ever come in danger of storms?
The Jewells paid particular attention to the weather and the couple wouldn't travel if the weather was forecast to be bad. The couple did run into bad weather when crossing the Big Bend of Florida.
In one case, the weather forecast was wrong, and they ran into strong winds and waves on a six-hour crossing of open water. The couple was very safe in their boat, Belle, but they did get bounced around a lot.
"It was very uncomfortable, and we were most relieved to reach port at Steinhatchee, Florida, that afternoon," Doug said.
Do you cruise in your boat alone?
The couple were on their own for the most part. Fairly often the Jewells would meet other boaters and cruise with them for a day or longer, as schedules and needs allowed.
"A comment about schedules -- you can't be too tied to a schedule on a boat. A lot of factors can destroy a schedule, such as weather, mechanical issues, sickness, family needs, etc.," Doug said. "We like to say, 'our schedule is written in the sand at low tide.'"
What were some of the exciting moments?
Seeing and experiencing some of the most amazing sights and scenery this part of the world has to offer was a positive experience for the couple.
"We especially enjoyed seeing the wildlife ? porpoises in all the salt waters, innumerable birds (our favorites were the pelicans), manatees in Florida, alligators in fresh waters, loons in Canada," Doug said.
The couple particularly enjoyed anchoring out with the peace and quiet of nature and the beautiful sunsets and night skies. Occasionally the night sounds were very noisy with lots of noise from birds, frogs and insects.
"We only had a handful of stops where mosquitos and no-see-ums (sand flies) were a problem," Doug said.
It turned out that meeting and getting to know other boaters was a highlight of the trip for the couple.
"We made many friends who we will see and stay in touch with over the coming years," Doug said.
Would you recommend this to other boaters?
Absolutely, the Jewells said.
Prior to this trip, the only long-term boating the couple had done was a trip from Wilmington to the Florida Keys about five years ago.
"It takes a bit of planning, a boat that is suitable to live and travel on for a long time, and the skills and knowledge to navigate and operate the boat," Doug said. The couple started their trip with a reasonable amount of basic knowledge, but they learned something new every day.
"The America's Great Loop Cruisers Association is a great resource to help plan the trip, and to provide advice along the way when needed," Doug said.
Cheryl M. Whitaker covers community news for the StarNews. Reach her at [email protected].