Ran the outside up to Daytona Beach and the Halifax Harbor Marina. The Atlantic Ocean was as smooth and calm as I have ever seen it. It was as though we were on an inland lake or river. Forecast was for two-foot seas at eight second intervals and it was that and then some! Got some of the best open water fuel mileage yet.

We’re here for only the night and once we hosed down the boat it began to rain which lasted long into the evening. Forecast is for more rain today. So tomorrow morning once I check fluids and have a quick bite to eat, we’ll be on our way to St. Augustine where we’ll spend the weekend and take a breather. Moving in successive days with little land time can become a little tedious.

Today’s run will be mostly AICW. We’re about six miles up the AICW from the Ponce de Leon inlet (from where we came) and turning around to go south only to go north doesn’t make much sense. The next northward inlet is about 32 miles; St. Augustine inlet is only 14 miles from there. For us the better routes (time travel, scenery, ease) have been the open water route. Traveling the AICW is inconsistent with fast and slow zones. If you have to move on and bad weather or high seas are evident, the safer route is the AICW. Otherwise, we (I) prefer the ocean.