Alpha Tau Omega - Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

| | | | | | Alumni Update | | | | | | 12 As we were retiring I began to realize the need for a new goal, a challenge for "ADHD Lee", and the project I settled on was the "Great Loop". This journey entails traveling by boat a loop of the entire eastern United States. There are vari- ous paths to be taken for this challenge so here is an example. Starting in Chicago you would take the Illinois River down into the Mississippi River. When reaching the Ohio River it would be taken to connect to the Tennessee River. Subsequently you would take the Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway all the way down to Mobil, AL and into the Gulf of America. The next leg of the journey is traveled along the eastern United States to Chesapeake Bay. Finally, you will travel up the Hudson River to the Erie Canal and into the Great Lakes. And finally "crossing your wake" and arriving at the great city of Chicago, thus completing the loop. Ap- proximately 250 boats complete the loop every year and conqueror this 6000 mile expedition. When we began our preparation we learned that the loop was usually done in small yachts or trawlers. Consid- ering all six of our boats combined less than just a 100 hp, we knew we needed to make a change. We took the time to research, learn, and prac- tice big boat living, including a week long adventure in the waters of Scotland. After all of this we decided on the purchase of a 39 ft 2004 Mainship 390 in the early summer of 2023. The name it was given came from our high school nicknames for each other "Redbow V"." We were then ready to begin our journey by setting sail into Lake Michigan. For the first summer we traveled extensively around the states of Michigan and Illinois, but we decided to put the boat up that winter. To my heart's dismay Kathy passed away that winter, suddenly and unex- pectedly. I took some time to recover from this loss. However in the sum- mer of 2024, through the support of many family and friends, as well as the "looping community," I once again embarked on the journey of the "Great Loop." I coordinated a rotat- ing crew that has helped me get all the way to Titusville, FL as of this writing in March 2025. Titusville represents nearly 4000 miles of water travel and is well over halfway to completing the loop. With Kathy onboard in the Summer of 2023 and since her passing, we have had numerous Brothers and wives visit and jour- ney with Redbow V. I miss Kathy fiercely and I know she is with me and whomever the crew may be as we journey through what lays before us in the completion of the loop. -Lee J. Warner '82 Journeying the Great Loop Here are all of the brothers that have been a part of this great journey: Gary Quick '82 and his wife Jill have joined us 4 separate times with around 1000 miles traveled. Gary was my roommate senior year in the house. Dan Wolokiewicz '82 and his wife Janet were a part of one of our first trips into Lake Erie. Terry Schuster '83 joined us to watch the An- nual Navy Pier Airshow from Lake Michigan. John Gregor '82 and his wife Michelle joined us twice as well as hosting us after a 20+ hour overnight trip across the Gulf. Rex Phillips '82 and his wife Janie boarded Redbow on a day trip to the Everglades. Mike Mazur '82 and his wife Kim visited the Redbow during our stop in Titusville. Dave Blair '82 stopped by Redbow in Venice, FL for a "Docktail" and dinner. Troy Snider '82 and Randy Hancock '82 are planned to connect with Redbow in St Mary's, GA and help the vessel get to Myrtle Beach. Map of Great Loop routes Janet and Dan Wolokiewicz with Kathy and I on Redbow prior to a midday trip into Lake Erie. Kathy and Jack, one of our two canine compan- ions on the Loop. Sadly Kathy and Jack are only with us in spirit. Janie Phillips, Gary Quick Rex Phillips and I on Redbow's flybridge after a day trip to Everglades City Florida.

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