Don't get me wrong, the scenery along the ICW this close to the ocean is beautiful and getting prettier everyday. BUT, single-handing a boat through here without running aground requires a lot of attention and effort. (See, I didn't call it work...... yet.)

First of all, its very narrow in spots. Even in the areas where it opens into wide sounds, the depth is often only 2 or 3 feet outside of the narrow dredged channel. Furthermore, there are constant currents due to the tides and they keep changing directions and speed, especially when approaching and leaving an inlet from the ocean. Also, many of these inlets are prone to shoaling so even more attention must be paid to permanent and temporary channel markers, as well as whether the tides are coming in or going out.

It's kind of like piloting a boat down a rushing rain gutter where the flow of water keeps changing direction.

Anyway, all of this has conspired to make my daily trips pretty short but I'm making progress.