ANN ARBOR, MI -- An Ann Arbor couple spent 10 months travelling nearly 6,000 miles on river, bays and coasts around the eastern half of the United States, completing their journey in August.
Celeste and Tom Martin, both 63, completed America’s Great Loop, a circumnavigation of the eastern U.S. and part of Canada that includes the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, the New York State Canals, the Canadian Canals, the Great Lakes, inland rivers and the Gulf of Mexico.
A little more than 2,000 boats have completed the Great Loop since 1985, according to records from the America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association.
Celeste said she believes she is the first African-American woman to complete the journey. Kimberly Russo, the director of the AGLCA, said while the organization does not track ethnicity of its members, but that it “wouldn’t surprise me if that was correct.”
“We’ve always loved to travel — that used to be my whole profession,” said Celeste, who is a retired flight attendant. “We’re just a traveling family.”
Tom, who formerly worked as an engineer for Ford Motor Company, has been on previous sailing trips with friends.
The pair first heard about “loopers” at a presentation given at a boat show in Chicago. They had previously owned a pontoon and ski boat, but upgraded to a 42-foot-long, 16-foot-tall yacht for their trip.
After purchasing their boat in Kentucky and being trained in navigation, the couple set sail on Nov. 9, 2020. They rented out the lower half of their house while they were away. Their youngest child is currently in college, which partially prompted their decision to travel.
“Empty-nesters,” said Celeste. “Why not?”
They took a counter-clockwise route, traveling from Kentucky downward to the Gulf of Mexico, near Florida and back toward New York. They then went through the Great Lakes into Detroit and Chicago before returning to Kentucky. Although the trip can include a Canadian segment, Celeste and Tom stayed in the United States due to ongoing pandemic restrictions.
With a trip through Canada, most “loopers” hit 6,000 miles by boat. Because they stayed in the U.S., Celeste and Tom traveled 5,600 miles.
The couple also took several side trips inland, renting cars while docked. They spent roughly a month each in Pensacola and St. Augustine, Florida, and Port Clinton, Ohio. They also spent a week in Detroit and Mackinac City, Michigan.
During their time in New York, the couple anchored near the Statue of Liberty, where Tom could see Ellis Island, where his great-grandfather arrived in the U.S.
The trip was not without is faults, though.
“It is boring going down the Mississippi River,” Celeste said. “It’s so boring.”
Tom agreed.
“The prettiest, clearest water I saw the whole trip was the lakes here [in Michigan],” Tom said.
The couple also spent some time trapped in New York, after Lock 17 into the Eerie Canal became stuck.
For Tom, one of the most difficult parts of the trip was predicting and dealing with weather conditions.
“I had all these worries about everything. I really enjoyed when I got to stay in one place for a while,” Tom said.
Being a part of the association helped Celeste and Tom recognize and meet other “loopers” on their journey. Boats flying a white flag are on their first trip around, while those with a gold flag have done it before.
Boats that complete the journey are given a gold flag once they “cross their wake,” meaning they cross the spot from which they started.
Celeste and Tom crossed their wake in Barley Lake in Kentucky at noon on Aug. 1, just 10 months after they left. Thirty minutes after they docked in Kentucky, someone made an offer on their boat. Two weeks later, it was sold.
“And it’s back on the loop again,” Celeste said.
Celeste said being on the trip taught her she could live with fewer things. Once she arrived back home, she gave away many of her possessions.
“Goodwill is very happy,” she said.
Tom said the journey taught him about dealing with fear to achieve something great.
“You can overcome all your fears,” he said.
The couple has plans to purchase another boat and take up part-time residence in Florida.
“It is the greatest trip you’ll work for,” Celeste said.
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