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.

Full Circle.....

sv Mary Elizabeth entered the Chesapeake Bay today nine months, one week, three days, and one hour after leaving the Bay for the Caribbean last November. Over the past nine + months, Mary Elizabeth has been in four countries and has traveled easily over 4,000 miles. She has been visited by many of our friends and family from home and lots of others who we have met along the way. A few things have needed repair, but all in all she is an incredible boat. She has kept us safe in bad weather, sailed beautifully, crossed the Gulf Stream twice, sailed past the Statue of Liberty, and has been good to us in every way possible. We have enjoyed yahtzee games in the cockpit, meals on the grill, books in the sun, happy hour with cruisers, snorkeling in the afternoons, amazing sunsets, and exploring each and every place we have been. It is nice to look back as we have come full circle - and to look forward to all of the new exciting adventures to come. We are very fortunate indeed.

Oh, the places we've been....

These are the places that we have been in the past few months….

Jost Van Dyke: White Bay ***
Jost Van Dyke: Little Harbour
Jost Van Dyke: Great Harbour
Tortola: Cane Garden Bay
Tortola: Soper’s Hole/West End
Tortola: Nanny Cay
Tortola: Road Town
Tortola: Marina Cay
Tortola: Trellis Bay
Norman Island: The Bight
Norman Island: The Caves*
Pelican Island: The Indians
Peter Island: The R.M.S. Rhone
The Dogs*
Virgin Gorda: The Baths***
Virgin Gorda: Spanish Town*
Gorda Sound: Saba Rock

Gorda Sound: Bitter End
St. Thomas: Charlotte Amalie
St. Thomas: Red Hook
St. Thomas: Megan’s Bay
St. John: Cruz Bay
St. John: Maho Bay***
St. John: Francis Bay
St. John: Leinster Bay
St. John: Caneel Bay
Anegada
St. Croix: Christiansted**

*Bill only **Lauren only ***Favorites!