Community (Day 53-54)

At least 22 boat crews came to “docktails” (dockside social hour) tonight, our last evening of a long stop in Alton, Ill. After the sun set, we hosted four boaters in our salon, lit by solar flames, while snacking on Scotch Eggs that we made in the air fryer.

What fun.

The Looper community is like a river; it ebbs and flows, divides and converges. In our six days here, we’ve sadly watched familiar friends head down-river before us, reinforced links with friends whose schedules coincide with ours, and met new friends who arrived today. It reminds me of my camaraderie with Navy shipmates, which continues to this day. Your paths join and then diverge, but you remain close, because you shared something special.

Early tomorrow, we will join nine other boats to head down-river, through two locks on the Mississippi, past St. Louis and on toward Kentucky. And so it goes.

I thought six days in one place might be weird, or boring. Nope, neither. It was restful and rejuvenating, for both Jeff and me. As I talk to more and more Loopers about the pace and purpose of The Loop, most mention their desire for pauses to explore and absorb. Linger a bit. Make friends. Yes to all of that!

And there’s the need for maintenance, of both body and boat. See photos and captions below.