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Great Lakes Wrap-Up: A Journey That Forever Changed Us

Nicole
Aug 11, 2024
3 min read

Updated: Jan 8

If you had told me months ago that we’d pack up our lives, point Agra2 toward the horizon, and spend 2.5 months exploring the Great Lakes… I probably would have laughed, cried, panicked, and said “sure, why not?” all at the same time.

Now here we are: home. Salty hair washed, laundry done (mostly), the boat tucked in… and somehow, our hearts feel fuller and lighter all at once.

This was not just a sailing trip. It was courage, growth, laughter, tears, storms, sunshine, friendships, fears faced, and an endless parade of “wow… we really did that.”

A Journey of Beautiful Contradictions

We learned very quickly that sailing life is a strange mix of chaos and peace.

There were days when lakes were glassy and kind, the sun was warm, and our souls felt like they could breathe deeper than they ever had. Then there were days when Mother Nature said,“Oh, you thought you had plans today? That’s adorable.”

Cue wind.

Waves.

Panic.

Problem-solving.

Teamwork.

Pride.

And somewhere in between those extremes… we found ourselves.

Moments That Still Make Us Smile

There were the victories:

Making it safely through big crossings
Laughing in disbelief when plans worked out
Those perfect sailing days where the boat moved like she was dancing

There were the hilarious moments:

Accidentally joining the “we’ve run aground club”
Bridge anxiety slowly turning into “okay… maybe I won’t pass out this time”
Learning that sometimes the most heroic piece of equipment onboard is… a folding bicycle and a jerrycan

And there were the heart moments:

Meeting incredible people along the way
Shared meals, shared stories, shared courage
Family stepping aboard and becoming part of the journey
Knowing we were creating memories that will live with us forever

Storms, Squalls, and Strength We Didn’t Know We Had

We’d be lying if we said we weren’t scared sometimes.

There were days when the wind roared louder than our confidence. There were moments when all we could do was trust the boat, trust each other, and hang on.

But here’s the part that sticks with me most:

Every single time things felt overwhelming, we didn’t fall apart.

We figured it out. Together.

We learned…

how to communicate even when adrenaline was high
how to stay calm when it mattered most
how deeply capable we actually are

Those storms didn’t just test Agra2… they showed us our strength.

And while I NEVER want to experience another squall in my life (seriously, zero interest, thank you very much), I also wouldn’t trade what it taught us.

Places Become More Than Places

The Great Lakes gave us:

quiet anchorages
bustling harbours
sunsets that didn’t feel real
towns that welcomed us like old friends

Some stops felt like adventure.

Some felt like healing.

Some felt like coming home long before we ever reached our actual home.

These lakes are massive, wild, breathtaking, humbling, and deeply alive. To travel them by sailboat feels like being let in on a secret world.

Who We Were vs Who We Are Now

We left with excitement, nerves, hope, and a very long list of unknowns.

We came back with:

confidence
resilience
deeper appreciation for safety, teamwork, and preparation
gratitude beyond words
and a whole new chapter of “remember when?” stories

We are braver now.

We are steadier now.

We trust ourselves more now.

And yes… we still have moments of “what on earth were we thinking?” But those are usually followed by smiles.

Gratitude, Always

To everyone who:

cheered us on
checked weather with us
messaged to see where we were
met us in ports
hugged us when we needed it
believed in us when we doubted ourselves

Thank you. Truly.

We never felt alone out there — and that mattered.

Home… and What Comes Next

Pulling into our home waters hit differently.

It wasn’t just “we made it.”

It was: We did something huge.

We did something hard.

We did something beautiful.

We did it together.

This chapter is closing… but it doesn’t feel like an ending.

It feels like the start of a deeper love for sailing, for adventure, for the lakes, for our little floating home, and for the life we’re building.

There will be more miles.

Comments

Fair winds & following seas.

This blog is written with love, lived experience, and a lot of late-night editing.
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