We're now in Beaufort, NC, after four days on the water way are wondering where every one is? We left Norfolk on Saturday in overcast/showers conditions, had three other boats at the Gilmerton Bridge all of which turned off for Great Dismal Swamp, never saw another boat until we got to the lock at Great Bridge and wouldn't have seen them if we didn't have to wait an hour for a tug with dredge pipe in the lock. So we locked through late in the afternoon with still plenty of room to stay the night in Great Bridge.

Sunday we motored south through Coinjock (only 3 boats traveling south tied up on each side of the river here), we stopped at the north end of the North Landing River and we didn't see one boat under way all day, no one at the bridges with us, no one passed us, we had the whole ICW to ourselves for over 50 miles.

Since then the weather has improved, we've seen some sailboats here and there but hardly anyone in the anchorages and here at Beaufort Docks we are the only sailboat tonight, there are a few powerboats in but the place is very quite.

In the last 200 miles we have had fewer powerboats pass us than use to go by in any one day. It is nice not worrying about your planned anchorage being to crowded or not needing a reservation at a dock, and it's nice and quite along the way not having powerboats roar by all day. Folks have said here boating activity is down but what we have seen is somewhat of a shock.