Meandering the Intracoastal Waterway

We travel mostly along the 3000 mile Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) while in the US.  The ICW runs along both the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.  The waterway consists of manmade canals, rivers, inlets, bays and sounds.  The waterway provides a navigable route from Boston to the southern tip of Florida and along the Gulf Coast to Brownsville, Texas.  The United States Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for waterway improvements and maintenance.  

The waterway consists of three segments:  

      1.  Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway AIWW from Portsmouth, VI to Key West,                 FloridaGulfcoast

      2. Gulf Coast ICW from Tarpon Springs to Fort Myers, Florida            

      3. Gulfcoast ICW from Carabelle, Florida to Brownsville,Texas.  

The ICW has a great deal of commercial activity.  Barges loaded with petroleum, food, building materials, manufacture products and vehicles can be seen at any of the major ports.  The waterway is used also when the ocean is too rough for travel.  We prefer seas 2-3 feet in height when we venture out into the ocean. The ICW on the east coast has a good deal of traffic in the fall by snowbirds who move south for the winter.  We are currently a part of this snowbird flock.  

While cruising in the ocean is often quicker because there are no bridges and no NO WAKE ZONEs to slow us down, we love the view from the ICW.  Dolphins frequently ride alongside us.  Manatees go under when they hear us coming. The osprey was preening today as we went through the Haulover Canal at the south end of Mosquito Bay.  

One day closer to the Bahamas!

Joy