Leland Tug

Travel Log

Every leg of the trip, newest first — from casting off in 2023 through the rivers, the Gulf, the East Coast, and home to the Great Lakes.

  1. August 13, 2026

    Mission Accomplished

    Hello! This long entry reviews the last part of our journey, beginning in Houghton–Hancock and ending at our home slip in St. Clair, Michigan. On August 7, we officially completed our circumnavigation

  2. July 28, 2026

    The Southern Shore

    Hello! This stretch takes us from Barker’s Island Marina, Superior, Wisconsin, to Houghton-Hancock, Michigan. Yes, we are back in Michigan and the Eastern time zone! As an unapologetic homebody, it fe

  3. July 19, 2026

    Goats on Boats!

    Hello! This post covers our time from Red Rock, Ontario, to Barker's Island marina in Superior, Wisconsin. We left our last blog in Red Rock, needing to spend an extra day there due to weather. It end

  4. July 13, 2026

    Segue to Navigating Lake Superior

    Hello! To bring everyone up to date: We made it home from Malaysia on February 12, with a one day whirlwind tour of Istanbul on the way. Back in Michigan, we froze, then thawed with the rest of you in

  5. February 6, 2026

    Days 19-28: Penang

    Life in Penang settled into a rhythm pretty quickly—and apparently blogging wasn’t part of it! It’s been a while!

  6. January 29, 2026

    Days 16-18: Ipoh to Penang (Georgetown)

    We spent four days (2 travel on either end) in Ipoh happily wandering the town. It began as a home base for Chinese tin miners—tin being Malaysia’s first big industry, followed by rubber, then palm oi

  7. January 24, 2026

    Days 14-15: KL to Ipoh

    Most days we see a flashing Alexa light when we enter the room (yes, Rob brought our Alexa and Amazon stick - very helpful). The reason, 9 times out of 10, "a winter advisory warning has been issued f

  8. January 22, 2026

    Days 10-13: KL

    Let's begin by reporting we both feel much better! The colds are gone, and we do not notice others coughing around us much these days.

  9. January 18, 2026

    Days 7,8 and 9: KL

    Days 7 and 8 we were still getting over sore throats, sneezing and coughing. Both days we walked around the KLCC park. The walk there is via the elevated walkway. Relaxing and nice not to worry about

  10. January 14, 2026

    Days 4, 5 and 6: KL

    Day 4: Our morning walk brought us back to Petaling Street in search of the murals we missed the day before. Since we were already halfway to the Botanic Gardens, we continued another 30 minutes to wh

  11. January 12, 2026

    Days 3-5: Kuala Lumpur (KL)

    Day 3, Saturday: Late morning a driver took us from Melaka to KLCC (Kuala Lumpur City Center). A 2-hr drive took about 45 minutes longer due to traffic. This is the last weekend of a holiday so we are

  12. January 10, 2026

    Day 2: Melaka

    I should start by putting our time in Melaka into context. We are staying in the Cultural Center (i.e., tourist destination). Outside of the city are subdivisions, strip malls, boulevard streets with

  13. January 8, 2026

    Greetings from Melaka

    Greetings from Melaka!

  14. January 4, 2026

    There's Movement

    Greetings,

  15. June 5, 2024

    Gold Loopers!

    We finished the Great Loop on May 31, 2024! It was an incredible excursion, filled with warm memories of people we met, delightful moments, “oh no!” experiences, and a sense of accomplishment. We are

  16. May 27, 2024

    Erie Canal: We will be back

    This post covers travel from Croton-on-Hudson NY to Tonawanda NY, via Panco Marine Fueling, Town of Waterford free wall, Fonda Terminal free wall, Rome City free wall, Baldwinsville free wall, Port of

  17. May 9, 2024

    The Big Apple!

    This post covers travel from Annapolis MD to Croton-on-Hudson NY via Delaware City DE, Cape May NJ, Atlantic City NJ, and Manasquan Inlet NJ.

  18. April 21, 2024

    More crossings, from Holden Beach NC to Annapolis MD

    This post covers travel from Holden Beach NC to Annapolis MD, with stops at Bald Head Island NC, Swansboro NC, Belhaven NC, Alligator River NC, Dismal Swamp NC/VA, Yorktown VA, and Crisfield MD.

  19. April 8, 2024

    At home at Holden Beach

    This post covers travel from Jekyll Island GA to Holden Beach NC with stops at Thunderbolt GA, Dataw Island SC, and McClellanville SC.

  20. April 3, 2024

    Jekyll Island, 5-stars

    One of Georgia's 4 Golden Isles. On March 27 we traveled from St. Augustine FL to Jekyll Island GA (84.6SM). Jekyll Island is a state park, and a favorite stop primarily due the availability of courte

  21. March 26, 2024

    Greetings from St. Augustine!

    It has been nearly 2 months since the last riveting update of our Great Loop adventure. There is much to catch up on

  22. February 2, 2024

    Key West

    We have been in Key West since January 19. After 3 days here, Rob extended our stay to 1 month. After 2 weeks, Rob extended our stay to 2 months. As much as I like it here, we do have to leave at some

  23. January 24, 2024

    Gulf Crossings

    We passed through a great deal of bad weather and sporty water* in the Gulf of Mexico to make it to Key West. It was worth every uncomfortable moment.

  24. January 4, 2024

    Dolphins!

    We are starting to see dolphins often since leaving Mobile. Always exciting! Never gets old.

  25. December 11, 2023

    Special Edition - Photos only

    Many thanks to some special loopers in flotilla 12 for sending us photos of our first few days on the loop.

  26. December 10, 2023

    Made it to Mobile

    I’m writing from our home in Michigan. My heart sank as I sat down at the keyboard and realized my Skipper Bob Cruising Chicago to Mobile guidebook is on Leland Tug in Mobile AL. Skipper Bob’s is a lo

  27. November 21, 2023

    To Chatt and Back

    At Iuka we decided to take a side trip to see the Tennessee River Gorge (the Grand Canyon of the east) and visit Chattanooga. We found Chattanooga vibrant and liked that there were many walkers, biker

  28. November 16, 2023

    From Grand Rivers KY to Iuka MS

    Grand Rivers KY to Camden TN (Thurs-Sat, Nov 2-4). This leg brought us to our 6thstate (MI, IN, IL, MO, KY, TN). The Kentucky Lake/Tennessee River was gorgeous. Stayed at Pebble Isle marina. Met up wi

  29. November 3, 2023

    Green Turtle Bay

    Paducah KY to Grand Rivers KY (Mon, Oct 30). Left Paducah in rain, wind, and found ourselves in zones of light fog. About 11 miles in we traded the Ohio River for the Cumberland, yet still traveling a

  30. October 29, 2023

    From the Illinois to the Mississippi to the Ohio

    Bar Island to Grafton IL (Tues, Oct 24). We cruised with several other boats who had tied up at Logsdon Tug Service ~2 miles upriver, and all went through the LaGrange Lock uneventfully. Leland Tug ar

  31. October 24, 2023

    Almost off the Illinois River

    At daybreak on Thursday, Oct 19, our flotilla of 18 left Hammond IN for the Joliet IL wall. The days go fast - going through locks, passing freighters, dodging logs. The weather has been mild and bank

  32. October 12, 2023

    PUT HER ON HER ENGINE!

    Yesterday we took full advantage of the only good weather window for days by "putting LT on her engine" and leaving Muskegon at 3 AM for a 13.45-hour crossing to Hammond, IN (photo).

  33. October 7, 2023

    Go/No-go: No-go.

    While we were hoping to start making our way to Chicago last week, the wind and waves had other plans. We can’t use “not enough time” as an excuse if we find ourselves underway and under prepared! How

  34. September 29, 2023

    No, we have not left yet. Yes, we are still going.

    Our preparations for The Great Loop are coming along… departure is likely on/around October 7. Meanwhile, we are enjoying the wonderful Harbour Towne Marina in Muskegon!