The Down East Circle Loop (DECL)

June 28, 2025

The Down East Circle Loop (DECL)

I have debated doing another blog for this trip.  I am not sure why.  I realize that it is important for many reasons, not the least of which to aid my ageing memory.  However, multiple people have reached out encouraging such and for that I am humbled and grateful.

So what is the DECL?  

From a route perspective it is as follows;  Start at New York City and go up the Hudson through Lake Champlain to the St. Lawrence Seaway.  Follow that out the mouth of the St. Lawrence and around the Gaspe Peninsula dropping down on New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia. Rounding Nova Scotia brings you back to the USA at Maine.  From there you follow the coast south passing Newport, Boston, Cape Cod, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard and more until you enter Long Island Sound.  This leads you past many cool things like Mystic and the Connecticut River and back into NYC.  

Being that we started on the Chesapeake, the total trip should be about 4,000 miles. We expect it to take from early June until mid October.

The DECL is the area marked in green:

Getting Off The Dock

We had a few logistical challenges slotting this trip into the rest of our life.  One of the big considerations was a commitment Terri made back in the early 80's with her besties that on their 60th they would all get together to celebrate life.  Unfortunately, that was during the Covid years so they delayed it to this year, their 65th.  

We didn't want to give up the entire summer for the sake of a week but making the event was important.  The solution was both simple and painful:  I would start without her and she would join weeks later in Burlington Va.  So, on June 4th, Yudee and I pushed off the dock to little fanfare.

Rocket Up The Bay

When Loopers are passing through the Chesapeake, we encourage them to spend time enjoying the best brackish water cruising in the world.  There is so much to do and see that you could spend an entire summer and only see half.  I spent 3 days....

I would like to say the reason for passing so quick was because I had spent much of my life on the Chesapeake or because we did much of it in 2023 when starting the Great Loop.  But the real reason was without my Admiral, the joy just wasn't there.  Rather it be St. Michael's, Annapolis or Rock Hall ... these gorgeous destinations felt like just another burger and beer and I only spent one night at each.

I have to change

I realized I couldn't be simply retracing the steps I had done with Terri for the emotion of the trip just wasn't there.  I had to change my path.  Lewes Delaware was just the ticket.  I haven't been there since I was in college.  Back then it was a small little nothing town, but that didn't matter. It was going to be different.

From Rock Hall to Lewes is 125 miles with much of it being open water.  I had to run out the top of the Chesapeake, down the C&D canal, down the Delaware River and across the Delaware Bay.  The winds were down but rain was in the forecast.  Who cares? I need to change the tone of this trip and Lewes was my destination. 

Rain! Lots of rain.  Visibility was maybe 100 yards.  80% of the Delaware Bay was navigated by electronics.  You ever wonder what rain looks like on radar???

Fortunately, I have the ability to have the radar ignore the rain letting me "see through it" pretty well.

  

Lewes Delaware

Boy, has this town grown up fine.  This was literally my childhood "backyard" and it was all new to me.  They have really developed the town.  If you are on the Delmarva Peninsula looking for a nice evening, you will not be disappointed here.

Find the Shorebilly!

I was able to have a fun afternoon with my sister, Ginny.  And imagine my delight and surprise when Don and Alicia, friends for 45 years, realized they were having dinner in Lewes at the same time I was there.  Yea!

A Hero Arrives

Pulling out of Lewes, I felt alive for the first time on the trip.  Next stop was Cape May where Jim Hauenstein (notice the triphthong, Jim is quite proud of that).  Seriously, Jim proved to be a great asset running the boat up the Atlantic, Hudson, Locks and into Lake Champlain. However, the biggest advantage of having him on board was seeing the trip through fresh eyes.  Things that I take for granted were novelties to Jim and that was fun.  For example, when Frank and Sharon invited us on board for docktails, Jim was wholly unprepared for the refresh rate that Sharon could serve bourbon.  By the time he figured it out, it was pretty buried.

             Jim crapping his pants trying                     

             to stand on the bow for a pic                  Jim loving the cats in Catskill

Jim shocked to drive from bow of boat.

Jim learning to lock

As father's day came, Jim and I decided to be the quaint gay couple and celebrate it together.  We didn't do too bad for two very very spoiled heterosexual men cooking on their own.  

Setting a Land Mine

There is no better practical joke than one that happens when you are nowhere near.  Dear friends John and Terri Donofrio have embarked on the Great Loop in a boat very similar to the Shorebilly.  Their boat is named Captain Kidd II.  Jim and I were in Catskill NY and stumbled into a bar named Captain Kidd.  Since we were several days ahead of John, I knew it would be simple to lure him into the place.  Jim bought us both Captain Kidd shirts and I sent John a picture saying he had to get some "logowear".  

I then got the owner and his wife to agree that when someone mentioned their boat was named "Captain Kidd" that they would demand payment for a bill I had left behind.

No way he would be able to resist.  And he couldn't!  John walked into the bar and found an irate Brooklyn transplant screaming at him for payment.  I am pretty sure I nailed the joke:

Farewell to Jim

Jim was with me from the 6/10 until 6/21.  It was a pleasure the whole time.  Due to weather, it took him 3 days to get out of Burlington, but he finally made it.  Thanks for joining Jim. 

Terri was not due to the boat until the 26th.  This gave me a spectacular opportunity to explore Lake Champlain.  WOW!  What a great place.  So many cool places.

   

The Admiral Returns

Admiral Terri is BACK ON THE BOAT!  The world is back on its axis.  Yea!

We have now ventured into Canada and will officially begin our DECL.  Next post will be from Quebec city where everything from there forward will be a stunning new adventure.  

Until that time!

Aubrey and Terri

PS:  Thank you SO much to the Kilmarnock friends that jumped in and helped us out when we lost our house tenant.  You are the VERY best.  Seriously.