The skinny on the ICW......The Intracoastal Waterway

Today’s Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) reaches between Norfolk, VA and Miami, FL, continuing down through the Keys. Interest in creating an East Coast protected inland water route for industry and commerce began in the early 1800’s. It took 100 years before a study was made by The Army Corps of Engineers. Recommendation: a canal 12 feet deep. The first cut was made right here in coastal North Carolina where we are now. It connected the Newport River at Morehead City to the Neuse River at Oriental. Over time, more rivers and creeks and sounds and cuts made through land masses were dredged 80 to 150 feet wide. Red and green day markers, most on poles but some floating in the water, were added to show the edges of the deepened water. Many of the bodies of water look expansive, but often have less than 5 feet depth of water. Over time, shifting sands have caused sections of the dredged waterway to become quite “skinny” in places. To allow passenger and commercial vehicles and trains to cross the ICW, mostly to reach barrier islands, bridges span the waterway. Recent construction has favored the 65 foot high fixed bridge, allowing most boats, including sailboats, to pass under the span. Earlier lower construction requires a bridge tender to open a section of the span by lifting or swinging. The openings can be on a schedule or by request. Making progress along the ICW even more difficult, swing bridges cease to operate in winds over 35 mph. Transiting the waterway spanned by bridges can make a day’s travel complicated because timing is everything. The ICW is now 3,000 miles long. It crosses from Stuart on the East Coast of Florida to Ft. Myers on the West Coast. To accomplish this amazing feat, the Atlantic waters of the St. Lucie Canal connects to Lake Okeechobee then on to the Caloosahatchee River, emptying into the Gulf of Mexico. Five locks lift vessls up to the lake level and down. Another section allows safe inside passage up the West Coast from Ft. Myers/Cape Coral to Clearwater/Tarpon Springs. The last section begins across the Gulf of Florida at Carrabelle/Appalachicola and continues through the panhandle of FL, then along the coasts of AL, MS, LA and TX, ending at Brownsville. It takes continuous attention fueled by taxpayer money to keep the ICW system flowing smoothly. Hopefully Americans will see the ICW as a National Treaure worthy of their time and money for many years to come. Today the recreational cruising community has joined the commercial vessels: fishing boats, cargo ships, barges/tugs/tows, tour boats, etc. on the ICW. With access to internet and modern communication technology, cruisers can communicate with each other. We identify and report problems to each other that can help prevent damage to boats and injury to the boat handlers. Those timely “cautionary tales” have saved money, time and heart-ache. Commaraderie amongst cruisers is legendary.Now we share a collection of our ICW photos taken during our 2016 cruise.

Kindred Spirits----staying connected with people along the way

We are heading into a part of The Great Loop that we have never traveled. While we are about to greet a great number of new friends at the Rendezvous for Loopers in Norfolk, Virginia, we are also parting company for a while with friends who are not doing The Loop. It’s tough to say “So long.” We have just bid adieu to a cruising couple from Maine. We first met Rob and Tricia just two months ago in Ft. Myers, but we feel like we’ve known them for years. Luckily for us, texting with the smart phone will keep us connected. It’s already the way we keep in touch with Jim and Lori that we first met in the Franklin Lock Marina on the Okeechobee Waterway in January. Even though they are back directing their workforce in Virginia, we feel like they are right here with us. Wilma and John put their boat up on “the hard” near La Belle, FL and drove back to PA for the spring, summer and fall. Wilma phones us every Monday. We delight in hearing each other’s stories and she marks our progression of locations on her Rand McNally road map. Darcy's sister Val and her husband Rick live in a Myrtle Beach,SC community with a marina. We've connected with them on the water and at their home... good times all around. We also have kindred spirits who do not have boats. What they do have is an interest in becoming involved in our trip with us. Our long-time friend Carole back in Maine tells us that she is already keeping a map of our progress. “I’m having so much fun doing this. It’s showing me places I have never heard of before.” Darcy’s classmate Bobby out in MIchigan is hoping to learn about the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (ICW). When he was doing his early studies in Houston, he used to watch the cargo ships ply the waters of the Gulf ICW. We certainly have alot of stories and photos to share on that subject. Alan and Pat, friends from back home, winter over in the Ft. Pierce area. We love the chance to be with them. Sometimes SUMMERTIME just brings attention to herself. Being a Kadey-Krogen Manatee trawler, she can connect us with others of the 99 owners. She flies a burgee proclaiming our America’s Great Loop Cruisers Association (AGLCA) membership and another for MTOA, the Marine Trawler Owners Association. Birds of a feather flock together and it’s no different amongst our family of cruisers. Her hailing port of Lakeville, Maine proclaimed on her stern is another sure way she can start a lively conversation. Many is the time that we have answered the question, “Where is Lakeville, Maine?”

Staying connected to our daughter and family is another big consideration. As Nan and Pop, we look forward to hearing the stories of their daily lives. Sometimes its in a Facetime event, but mostly its through the excited voices of our six and nine year old granddaughters and the updates from Mommy and Daddy.

This Easter was especially memorable. Joined by cruising Mainer’s Tricia and Rob, we attended church with my sister and her husband in Mrytle Beach. Then we got to spend time with their extended family as we shared all our contributions to Easter Dinner. Close to fifty of us mingled, with a dozen or so being under the age of 13! with rain pelting down outside, we were able to spread out in the spacious family home. Our new Maine friends were welcomed in as family and we all enjoyed the moment. This was an Easter celebration that we won’t soon forget.

Great Loop Map

Alan and Pat

Baby Cakes----Jim and Lori

Jan and Bob

Jan and Bob's---"Swanee"

Rob and Tricia

Summertime and Linda Jean

Rick,Val,Darcy and Wally

Otter---Keith and Jane

John and Wilma