Introduction
For the May-doers, the Have-doners, and the May-do-it-againers
A View Askew is a commentary of life aboard a thirty-two foot trawler with observations, related thoughts and touches of research while cruising from Delray Beach, Florida to Annapolis, Maryland. An abundance of photography along the way includes some fun and unusual interpretations of the sights.
A View Askew is not a Waterway Guide, a navigational aid, a ‘how to’ do the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (ICW), a series of short stories or a blog. It may help you decide whether you want to do the Waterway by reading about our unique or every day situations and sights, but I can guarantee that your trip will not be like mine.
Although this book is arranged sequentially along the Waterway, it doesn’t have to be read sequentially. Select a chapter for its pictures, length, or title as you prefer, and enjoy.
When my husband, Tom, first talked about traveling the ICW, I was intrigued. From the water, I would see and indulge in the photographic beauty of those places with evocative names such as Moon River, The Golden Isles, and The Dismal Swamp that were hidden from the road. Drifting along between the water and sky all day, I would be like Huckleberry Finn, but perched on a nice boat instead of a raft.
Still, I wondered: What does one do on a boat going 7 mph all day for weeks and what would fill up the time at night for an insomniac? I knew nothing about navigation, finding and getting to unfamiliar docks or shores, or a boat’s special needs, much less how to satisfy my petty desire for ice in drinks.
I found that each day was one-of-a-kind, presenting sights that led to diverse interests, even if weather kept us in place. Each place that was a dot on the map became memorable, an experiential part of ourselves. We were travelers, not tourists.
If you decide to cruise, you’ll move on with options to stop and explore, anchor or dock, but know that this way of life is addictive, so be forewarned or fore-encouraged.