George wrote: The "outside" route to the ICW is definitely through Pamlico Sound, not the ocean, where you have to go way around Cape Lookout then around Diamond Shoals. When it is passible, and as noted previously right now it is not , Oregon Inlet is where north/south transiter came in or out, to / from Chesapeake Bay and points further north.? The Pamlico Sound and adjacent waters are subject to very nasty conditions due to its very steep, close chop. You don't see many boats out when strong winds are forecast with 2-3 foot waves... each wave is like running through a 3 foot brick wall. This is why they built the ICW. When calm, it is a fun cruise, especially if you stop and enjoy Ocracoke, a GREAT cruising destination, and Manteo, another fun little town and area to explore.? This has been our home cruising grounds for a few years now, and we used it a lot when doing our cruising up and down the entire east coast and adjacent waters. Glad to answer ?any further questions.? George - - - -? I fully agree. The following is from our ICW log. "Pamlico Sound was choppy from a brisk onshore wind and, although the water appeared wide and open, the dredged channel was quite narrow. Fortunately we left the open water by midday and threaded our way past several small islands. North of Belhaven there was a strip of canal that terminated in the Alligator River. It seems that every third waterway from Florida is named Alligator something or other. It tends to discourage you from letting your feet dangle over the side. The water in this river was the color of strong tea from the tannin in the decaying vegetation." Larry Z