The "America's Great Loop Crusiers' Assn" Rendezvous

250 participants gathered for the America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association (AGLCA) 2016 Spring Rendezvous and Seminars at The Waterside Complex in downtown Norfolk, VA from May 2-5. 50 cruising boats gathered in the marina slips. Wearing name tags with descriptors proclaiming Completed, In Progress or Planning, we mingled for 4 days and soaked up as much info on our upcoming journey as our brains and bottoms would allow. I, for one, cannot sit for long, especially in a chilly air-conditioned room. Even though the weather was mostly overcast and drizzly, it was a relief to get up and get outside and stretch. Throughout the day, the Gold Loopers, having completed the 5,000+ mile trek, graciously shared their stories and accumulated knowledge. Later in the afternoon, willing cruisers opened their boats for visitation...affectionately dubbed The Trawler Crawl. Our 36 foot Kadey Krogen Manatee SUMMERTIME attracted lots of Planners as well as others who were curious about our pudgy home on the water. She always amazed the visitors with her homey spaciousness. From our “back porch” we looked out over the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard where huge military ships were being re-fitted and upgraded. We were captivated by the daily activities of the Elizabeth River...tugs and tows, cargo ships arriving and departing, the ferry scooting back and forth, a three-masted schooner and a dinner-cruise ship taking passengers out for 3-hour excursions. Horns were always blasting to announce: “BIG boat entering the channel!”