I’m at Beaufort! It was only a sixteen nautical mile leg, which is the shortest leg of this journey so far. It was still very challenging. I hope this is it for the Intracoastal! Offshore from now on, baby. With only three hours of travel to do, I was trying to make Beaufort in the morning so that I can have a full day to check out the sights. I also wanted to hit shower and laundry before they all closed. But that was not to be. I had harsh weather and pouring rain early in the morning. I had

I think humans are meant to struggle for survival, even if its just a little bit. Even if you aren’t actually struggling to survive, being in an environment where that is on everyone’s mind is enough. It puts all of our ups and downs, triumphs and defeats in perspective. Of course, truly struggling to survive is horrible. I feel fortunate not to know what it feels like to truly starve, and I do not miss any part of even the mildest hypothermia. But I do think we’re hard-wired to be on the lookout and be in the pursuit of something.

ICW: Alligator River to Goose Creek Today’s leg was the penultimate leg before arriving at my second port-of-call at Beaufort. Now that my mind and body has been used to this environment, today felt like a blur. The monotony of the tasks and the similarity of the environment makes it feel as if I was in some dream. One of those dreams where you can’t tell how much time had passed. I’m seeing the same sights over and over again. Alligator River canal was beautiful, but I am a bit tired of seeing trees all around me. At one part

ICW: North River to Alligator River Day two on the Intracoastal Waterway felt much less remarkable than day one. Nothing crazy happened. No fighter planes, no inconsiderate power boaters, and no strange lights in the sky. The last part actually isn’t true, but whatever was novel to me the past few days, isn’t anymore. When you are long term cruising, you fall in a rhythm. You start being okay about not having daily showers. You stop shaving every day. Your body constantly steadying itself to the ever present motion of the boat becomes normal. The muscle fatigue is there, but

ICW: Portsmouth VA to North River NC I travelled approximately fifty nautical miles* this day, from Hospital Point anchorage at Portsmouth VA to North River, a few miles south of Coinjock, North Carolina. I anchored between markers “135” and “137” on the other side of the channel. I tell my guests at work to dress as if was going to be twenty degrees colder than it is. For example, if its ninety degrees out, dress like it is seventy. It is always colder on the water, especially when you aren’t in direct contact with the sun. This is because wind

I sat at the laundry room at Tidewater Marina, doing last minute laundry and grabbing a shower. And writing a journal entry on my phone. I was enjoying last bits of civilization. The next day, I’d return the laundry room key, which always seemed a bit symbolic, and continue my way down south. I’ve been having too much fun in Norfolk and Portsmouth. The hospitality from my Hampton roads friends give me, I do not deserve. It makes me want to stay here a lot longer. Stay here long enough to be a part of the city. Yet this feeling