As a former sailor, I certainly appreciate our new baby, Ruby Slipper, an American Tug 34. The last 4 voyages south we were exposed to the "outside" environment all day long. November temps often hovered in the low- to mid-30s. We snuggled behind our dodger, bundled in long underwear, ski parkas, face masks & helms gloves with handwarmers. We would wear this same outfit for SEVERAL DAYS, even sleeping in them because we were to cold to take them off at night not wanting to risk frostbite. A hot water bottle was always at our feet as we slept. And, Murphy & Trapper, well, they (long-haired Cairn Terriers)donned fleece to keep their inactive bones warm too. Somehow visions of St. Somewhere kept us all going along with copious quantities of grog at the end of the day. Now, we cruise in comfort...heat, protection from rain & wind and the promise of arriving at our daily destination in a reasonably good mood. But today, we rocked & rolled our way to Norfolk for 56 nautical miles. Warm, dry but not too comfy. Anchored off Hospital Point in Norfolk we await the REAL start of the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) at Mile 1. 999 or so miles to go! Tomorrow, several bridges to wait for & a lock to pass thru until our stayover in Coinjock, NC. This kind of adventure REALLY builds marriages! Team work galore!