A late start this morning—not in a rush, since today’s leg was short. Once again, we opted for the inside route, avoiding the strong winds outside. First order of business was a pumpout and refilling the water tanks. The marina crew? Absolute legends—friendly, helpful, and making the whole process smooth. By 10am, we were casting off, aiming to make the scheduled opening of the first bridge just around the corner from the marina. The beginning of many more to come.

Ahead of us, another sailboat with a young cruising couple led the way. The usual VHF chatter ensued—where are you headed, what’s your plan? They’re making their way north to the Chesapeake Bay, bound for Annapolis. A cute little dog aboard added some extra charm. They set a good pace aligned with the scheduled bridge openings, only running a little late once, but the bridge tender was kind enough to hold off for a few minutes until we arrived.

Then came the Juniper Inlet—notorious for its ever-shifting shoals. Lately, it’s been the talk of online forums, with sailors swapping tips and routes to avoid running aground. The couple ahead hadn’t looked into it yet, so they asked if we could take the lead while they followed our path. Sure—but no guarantees.

So, approaching the inlet, we took point, weaving through the recommended detour—a seemingly erratic curve leading in and out of the inlet toward the ocean. To onlookers, we must’ve seemed crazy. But crazy works—both boats made it through smoothly, never once touching bottom. Not everyone was so lucky. A southbound sailboat opted for a different line and paid the price—suddenly grinding to a halt in the middle of the inlet. A tense few minutes later, they managed to free themselves.

On the other side of the inlet, the world changed. Gone were the urban surroundings and dense boat traffic, replaced by quiet, meandering mangroves. Tranquil, beautiful, absolutely the kind of cruising we came here for. After securing our reserved mooring early, we settled in, taking advantage of a relaxed afternoon. After the boating madness of Miami and Fort Lauderdale, this was a welcome shift.