The log of Leland Tug's travels — the Great Loop and beyond.https://lelandtug.com/https://lelandtug.com/blog/mission-accomplished/https://lelandtug.com/blog/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 circumnavigationThu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://lelandtug.com/blog/the-southern-shore/https://lelandtug.com/blog/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 feTue, 28 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://lelandtug.com/blog/goats-on-boats/https://lelandtug.com/blog/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 endSun, 19 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://lelandtug.com/blog/segue-to-navigating-lake-superior/https://lelandtug.com/blog/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 inMon, 13 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://lelandtug.com/blog/days-19-28-penang/https://lelandtug.com/blog/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!Fri, 06 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://lelandtug.com/blog/days-16-18-ipoh-to-penang-georgetown/https://lelandtug.com/blog/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 oiThu, 29 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://lelandtug.com/blog/days-14-15-kl-to-ipoh/https://lelandtug.com/blog/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 fSat, 24 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://lelandtug.com/blog/days-10-13-kl/https://lelandtug.com/blog/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.Thu, 22 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://lelandtug.com/blog/days-78-and-9-kl/https://lelandtug.com/blog/days-78-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 Sun, 18 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://lelandtug.com/blog/days-4-5-and-6-kl/https://lelandtug.com/blog/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 whWed, 14 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://lelandtug.com/blog/days-3-5-kuala-lumpur-kl/https://lelandtug.com/blog/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 areMon, 12 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://lelandtug.com/blog/melaka-day-2/https://lelandtug.com/blog/melaka-day-2/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 Sat, 10 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://lelandtug.com/blog/greetings-from-melaka/https://lelandtug.com/blog/greetings-from-melaka/Greetings from Melaka!Thu, 08 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://lelandtug.com/blog/theres-movement/https://lelandtug.com/blog/theres-movement/Greetings,Sun, 04 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://lelandtug.com/blog/gold-loopers/https://lelandtug.com/blog/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 Wed, 05 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://lelandtug.com/blog/the-erie-canal-we-will-be-back/https://lelandtug.com/blog/the-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 ofMon, 27 May 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://lelandtug.com/blog/the-big-apple/https://lelandtug.com/blog/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.Thu, 09 May 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://lelandtug.com/blog/crossings-holden-beach-nc-to-annapolis-md/https://lelandtug.com/blog/crossings-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.Sun, 21 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://lelandtug.com/blog/at-home-at-holden-beach/https://lelandtug.com/blog/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.Mon, 08 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://lelandtug.com/blog/jekyll-island-5-stars/https://lelandtug.com/blog/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 courteWed, 03 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://lelandtug.com/blog/greetings-from-st-augustine/https://lelandtug.com/blog/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 onTue, 26 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://lelandtug.com/blog/key-west/https://lelandtug.com/blog/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 someFri, 02 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://lelandtug.com/blog/crossing-the-gulf/https://lelandtug.com/blog/crossing-the-gulf/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.Wed, 24 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://lelandtug.com/blog/too-many-dolphins/https://lelandtug.com/blog/too-many-dolphins/We are starting to see dolphins often since leaving Mobile. Always exciting! Never gets old.Thu, 04 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://lelandtug.com/blog/special-edition-photos-only/https://lelandtug.com/blog/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.Mon, 11 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://lelandtug.com/blog/made-it-to-mobile/https://lelandtug.com/blog/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 loSun, 10 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://lelandtug.com/blog/to-chatt-and-back/https://lelandtug.com/blog/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, bikerTue, 21 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://lelandtug.com/blog/from-grand-rivers-ky-to-iuka-ms/https://lelandtug.com/blog/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 wiThu, 16 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://lelandtug.com/blog/green-turtle-bay/https://lelandtug.com/blog/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 aFri, 03 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://lelandtug.com/blog/from-the-illinois-to-the-mississippi-to-the-ohio/https://lelandtug.com/blog/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 arSun, 29 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://lelandtug.com/blog/almost-off-the-illinois-river/https://lelandtug.com/blog/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 bankTue, 24 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://lelandtug.com/blog/put-her-on-her-engines/https://lelandtug.com/blog/put-her-on-her-engines/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).Thu, 12 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://lelandtug.com/blog/gono-go-no-go/https://lelandtug.com/blog/gono-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! HowSat, 07 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://lelandtug.com/blog/no-we-have-not-left-yet-yes-we-are-still-going/https://lelandtug.com/blog/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!Fri, 29 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMT