{"id":1401,"date":"2012-12-22T15:18:31","date_gmt":"2012-12-22T15:18:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/?p=1401"},"modified":"2012-12-22T15:19:01","modified_gmt":"2012-12-22T15:19:01","slug":"icw-the-first-time-a-great-journey-thats-for-sure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/?p=1401","title":{"rendered":"The ICW for the first time. It’s a great journey, that’s for sure."},"content":{"rendered":"

For several years prior to our departing on Pandora to make the run to Florida and winter in the Bahamas, Brenda and I spoke to everyone that we could find that had done the run down the ICW to get their thoughts on the trip. \u00a0How long should we allow for the trip? \u00a0Should we make the run inside all the way? \u00a0What about shopping for food? \u00a0Laundry? \u00a0What does it cost? \u00a0What were their must stop places? \u00a0 As y0u would expect, there were just about as many different answers as there were those with an opinion.<\/p>\n

With all of our questions and often conflicting answers, what’s a cruiser to do?<\/p>\n

For now, I’ll tackle the issue of leaving the dock.<\/p>\n

The only really universal answer that we heard was something like, JUST DO IT!!! \u00a0Yes, the advice from everyone was to cast those lines off and go. \u00a0 As I used to say to my boys when their rooms needed to be picked up “now’s a good time”. \u00a0 As we have often heard, “you are never any younger or any healthier” which gets you back to the “now” part.<\/p>\n

As I look around at all of the non-cruiser folks we have met, many with much bigger boats than Pandora, often mortgaged to the hilt, it’s easy to see how they will never be able to make the plunge. \u00a0One basic truth is that the more “stuff” you have the harder it is to leave. \u00a0When we moved from NJ to CT we tossed a ton of stuff that we had accumulated over the years. \u00a0Unfortunately, we still have tons left. \u00a0 Oh Well. \u00a0 Someone once said that you spend the first 50 years accumulating stuff and the next 50 trying to get rid of it. \u00a0In our case, the\u00a0accumulating\u00a0part seems to be a lot easier than the disposing part. \u00a0Why is that? \u00a0However, I am still cautiously optimistic as we are only early in the second half (I hope).<\/p>\n

So, I’ll set aside the issue of stuff for now. \u00a0Many of the folks that we met along the way, perhaps most of those that cruise, have chucked the shore-side attachments and moved aboard full time. We met plenty who have been living aboard for a decade or longer. \u00a0 Some were taking a year off to see the sights with the plan of heading back to shore after they spent their cruising kitty or had used up all of the good will from a patient employer that granted them a leave of absence. \u00a0 However, the vast majority have retired, many at a fairly early age. \u00a0Perhaps the choice of boat and home verses boat alone is often a matter of economics. It’s painful to pay all those bills for the shore home when you are afloat.<\/p>\n

Having the ability to maintain a home and boat can work although it’s much more complicated than just tossing all your stuff and casting off the lines. \u00a0For me and Brenda, we will be splitting our time between Pandora and our home in Essex CT. \u00a0Of course, for us, the $64 question is what the balance of time will be between our time afloat and on the hard. \u00a0 As is so often the case, the guy (me) in this\u00a0equation\u00a0wants to spend more time aboard. \u00a0However, I have learned that there is truth to the saying, “when the Queen is happy, there is peace in the kingdom”. \u00a0So…we will have a more reasonable split of shore verses afloat. \u00a0 Got it? \u00a0Of course, getting a good definition of “reasonable” will likely take some time. \u00a0 Patience is a good thing.<\/p>\n

One common theme that we also observed in the couples that had been cruising together for years is that, as a rule, they seem to get along very well. \u00a0 It’s possible to spend a two week vacation with someone that you don’t get along with that well but it’s entirely different kettle of fish to spend many months in a small space together if your thoughts turn dark too often.<\/p>\n

Thinking of the short time folks, I am sure that you have seen, rather heard, guys screaming above the wind, at their partner up on the bow, when they are anchoring. \u00a0Those are probably not going to be long term cruiser types. \u00a0 It seems to be a badge of honor among the cruisers we have met to use hand gestures,usually subtle, but not always, and never (well mostly never) raise their voices.<\/p>\n

Another basic truth in cruising is that your biggest enemy is your calendar. \u00a0The ability to wait a day can make a huge difference in how enjoyable a trip is. \u00a0Motoring into 20kts on the nose is a lot different than sailing on a broad reach in the same breeze. \u00a0Happily, wind direction changes on nearly a daily basis so a flexible calendar makes for happy cruising. \u00a0I have some cruising friends who almost never sail with wind ahead of the beam. \u00a0They just wait a few days till the wind clocks around. \u00a0Yes, that’s the true cruiser or at least the mark of someone who’s not in a hurry.<\/p>\n

Before I break, I’ll touch on a few of our favorite spots along the way. \u00a0We loved the Dismal Swamp Canal. \u00a0Meeting the ever friendly lockmaster Robert was a particularly special treat. \u00a0He was clear that he wanted us to bring him back a Conch shell to add to his already\u00a0prodigious\u00a0collection. \u00a0 Here’s a link to my post about our experience<\/a> with Robert.\u00a0\"\"<\/a>The canal’s primeval look and remoteness was a special treat. \u00a0We highly recommend it. \u00a0And, don’t forget to stop at the visitor’s center near the southern end of the canal.\u00a0\"\"<\/a>We also loved seeing the landscape change as we headed south including the live oaks that graced every place that we went. \u00a0Perhaps some of the best examples that we saw early on were in Charleston where we spent a week. \u00a0\"\"<\/a>There area \u00a0few key things that cruisers look for, beyond other cruisers to hang out with. \u00a0These include access to groceries, laundry and great spots to dine. \u00a0There are plenty of spots that fit these criteria but perhaps none that fit the bill like Charleston. \u00a0 Beyond having a great grocery, there is\u00a0plenty to say about Charleston, that’s for sure. \u00a0 We were most impressed with the gardens<\/a> and many of the details of the architecture, especially if you like doorways<\/a>.<\/p>\n

We loved so many places along the way it’s hard to say which cities were the best. \u00a0 It was also an eye opener to see how much of the ICW is still fairly wild with it’s barren remoteness. Perhaps this was most typified by the abandoned rice fields near Myrtle Beach and the meandering channels heading through Georgia. \u00a0I’d also recommend a visit to Brookgreen Gardens,<\/a>\u00a0as we did,\u00a0although you will need to rent a car to get there.<\/p>\n

Georgia is much maligned for it’s shoaling but we had not trouble because we were able to time our trip to coincide with rising tides. \u00a0With a 9 1\/2 foot tide, there is plenty of water at least half of the time. \u00a0I do not recommend trying Georgia when the tide is low in the middle of the day. \u00a0As annoying as the winding channel can be, the views are worth it with soft grasses in every direction. \u00a0\"\"<\/a>While some said that we should avoid GA at all costs, others said it was great, perhaps their favorite part of the trip. \u00a0We loved it.<\/p>\n

I have to say that a list of\u00a0favorites\u00a0could go on and on but perhaps it’s best to leave it at that for now. \u00a0If you have considered doing this trip, I’d say that “now’s a good time”. \u00a0 Just go.<\/p>\n

Besides, where else could you be treated to sunsets and sunrises that rival those you can see when aboard? \u00a0\u00a0\"\"<\/a>It’s hard to say what was our favorite part of the trip. \u00a0Perhaps it’s less about the individual places that we visited, and more about the journey itself and such a journey it has been.<\/p>\n

So, what has been our favorite part so far? \u00a0It’s hard to believe but I expect that the best is yet to come. \u00a0Bahamas? \u00a0I’m thinking that’s gonna be pretty good.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For several years prior to our departing on Pandora to make the run to Florida and winter in the Bahamas, Brenda and I spoke to everyone that we could find that had done the run down the ICW to get their thoughts on the trip. \u00a0How long should we allow for the trip? \u00a0Should we […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","_s2mail":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1401","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1401","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1401"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1401\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1417,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1401\/revisions\/1417"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1401"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1401"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1401"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}