With great trepedation we left the dock this morning, headed for Myrtle Beach. Shortly after we left our marina, we were to enter the most feared, and negatively lauded section of the ICW. The "Rock Pile" as it is known is a five mile section promising crushing catastrophy to those who stray off the path and have the misfortune of landing on one of the many submerged rocks in this section. We eased off on the throttle and split our gaze between the chart display and the depth meter. Cigarettes and coffee kept the intrepid crew going at a whopping five knots. Thud and crunch kept invading the skipper's thoughts as every sound and change in a wisp of wind turned white knuckles into alabaster. And then...and then...and then... it was over(!?) No thud, no crunch, just a smooth and steady passage through a cavern of nautical lore. Don't get me wrong. The Rock Pile is not to be taken lightly. We were just glad to continue on our fridged, but merry way at a blazing six knots. Snug and sound at a slip in Osprey Marina, we are hunkering down, waiting for the winds to pick up tomorrow. There is also a rumor of snow in next weeks forecast (rats!). Soon, and we hope VERY soon the warm weather will find us and the dream will become just that much more sweet.