I studied both routes back to Chattanooga from Baltimore. The route around Florida is shorter, but not by much. I estimated 42 travel days through the Great Lakes back to Chattanooga. But that was in delivery mode.
The gotcha for a next spring leave from up north and going through the Great Lakes, will be the Illinois River for 2022.
Lock closures in 2022.
Brandon Road Lock and Dam (Mile 286) on the Illinois Waterway – Upper Bulkhead Recess Installation
Restriction period/partial closure (70’ width restriction, pass traffic during overnight hours only): 9 May 2022 thru 14 Aug 2022
Full closure: 15 Aug 2022 thru 4 Sep 2022
Final restriction period/partial closure: 5 Sep 2022 thru 8 Sep 2022
Okochobee is scheduled for closure from January 2, 2022 through March 31, 2022. Going around the tip of Florida will add a few days to your trip, though I doubt you will get there by March 31st coming from up north.
Due to the restricted operating period and the commercial traffic taking precedence over pleasure boating, it will be a little tougher to get through the restricted lock, but you will get through, with the best way to do so, staging above the lock and arranging the best time with the lock operator. After it closes completely, 15 Aug thru 4 Sept, there will also be a restricted period, complicated by a large back up of commercial craft. So getting through prior to the closure would be best.
The Erie Canal opened May 22nd this year if I remember correctly, and folks traveling through dealt with limited lock closures and some flooding. A couple of folks had a two week long delay at one lock. Could be the same for next year. If what you are doing is just trying to get her home, then traveling down the coast might be best.
My suggestion would be to get part of the trip completed this fall, if you can leave fairly quickly, and operate in delivery captain mode, at least to the Chesapeake or further if you can make it. Weather is a bigger factor now, so that should also be a consideration. Weather days will slow your trip. Be aware that finding winter slip space or a haul out spot will be a little more difficult due to the surge in purchased boats this year the further south you go. For example, slip space for extended stays in southern Florida for this winter is almost non-existent. The transient spots are available, but loopers are reporting a lot of issues finding winter dockage. Coming through their in the spring should not be the same. And, of course, at this point in the northern climes, you are dealing with limited availability of water, pump outs, and shorter days.
The TomBigBee will be manageable with the only real issue being spring rains and flooding. That may slow you down some and there will be more debris in the water. The key to safety is to try to stay away from a schedule.
