Deciding to do an outside run in the ocean vs. going inside up the waterway (ICW) has its tradeoffs. We have done the waterway enough times that we don't usually mind skipping parts of it when we have the opportunity but doing the ocean route does come with a huge dose of boredom.

Outside
- is quicker,
- you can actually sail and leave the boat on autopilot,
- but weather may not do what the forecast says,
- 3 hour night watch shifts can be cold, dark, and boring,
- no internet, phone, or TV.

Inside
- has calmer water,
- you can sleep in bed all night,
- but have to go hundreds of miles listening to an 8hp outboard,
- get waked as sportfisher boats pass you,
- bad anchorages with high currents and no wind protection.

Now comes the ICW half of our trip.