Things we have learned on our trip down the ICW

As we passed the 500+ mile marker on our way to Beaufort, SC I started thinking about some of the things that we have learned on our trip south via the ICW:

1. It's colder than we thought it would be. I regret giving our long underwear to Goodwill when we cleaned out our closets and moved out of the condo. In hindsight, we might have been better off to leave Annapolis a little earlier.
2. Most marinas don't recycle.
3. People have very creative names for their boats. Two great names that we have seen so far are FESTIVUS, and BODONKADONK.
4. Bridge schedules do dictate how far we can get in one day. Many of the bridges only open on the hour, some twice a day only, some open for the last time at 4:00, etc. Timing (and luck) is everything.
5. Running aground is sort of inevitable. We have done it twice and have met several others who have also. No shame in that.
6. Keeping a constant eye on the depth finder and worrying about bridges has been worth it (although some days Bill might beg to differ). The scenery is amazing, the wildlife awe inspiring. We have met many people in marinas who went on the outside because they despise the ICW. I have enjoyed every minute of it.
7. Weather has put us "behind" by about 2 weeks and that's ok. We have enjoyed each place we have visited even if it was for a few more days than we originally planned for.
8. It's better to call for a slip reservation the day of. When we first started I called each marina three or four days ahead of time and had our reservations all lined up and neatly listed in my notebook. This just doesn't make sense since we have been delayed several times for weather or we traveled more / fewer miles than we thought we would for the day and a second call to reschedule or cancel was necessary.
9. The ICW is diverse; the scenery on each leg of the trip has been completely different. We have traveled through small canals, large inlets, windey rivers, wide harbors. Seeing dolphins almost every day has been amazing.
10. We have had fun meeting lots of fellow sailors, and have enjoyed traveling as a "pack" with the same boats on different parts of the trip. We have run into boats that we haven't seen since Norfolk three weeks later in a random marina bar.
11. I didn't realize how much I would appreciate a good laundry facility (i.e. more than one washer and dryer, change machine, etc.)
12. Mary Elizabeth is a great boat. We have put her through a lot and she has been good to us.