Chesapeake Sailing Trip Day 3 - Dismal Swamp

Due to a slightly complicated time-schedule of bridge/lock openings along our intended route, we had to push off at 5:30AM this morning! No problems - set the handy alarm on my cell phone. We were off the dock in minutes and headed towards the Great Dismal Swamp!

This is the first bridge - just yards from the dock at Elizabeth City. The bridge-master is probably used to the 5:30AM calls on the radio requesting opening due to the "up river" schedule.



Hard to see in this light, but we were not alone on our cruise up the Dismal Swamp - several large power boats were ahead of us. Somehow, I had expected this part of our journey to be more isolated.....


The swamp canal was quite beautiful, although, again, I thought it would be more rural - there was a roadway right beside the eastern "shoreline" of the canal. The canal was built in the late 1700's - and at the time - was heavily used for commercial traffic.


Seventeen miles up the canal is the first lock - we had to be raised 8' to be able to proceed on the next portion of the canal. This portion is the drainage for Lake Drummond in Virginia.

Here the boats are just "hovering" waiting for the 8:30AM scheduled opening.

While we were drifting waiting for the lock we spied a field thru the trees on the bank - and caught a glimpse of what appeared to be 2 ground-hogs. I'm sure some farmer is thrilled.....

Hard to see - click on the photo if you're interested. Here the lock gates are opening and allowing the boats to proceed into the lock.


The lock-master helped everyone tie up loosely to pilings on the sides of the lock. Then he closed the gate behind us. Note the water level on the lock sides. This will rise over the next few minutes.


Here you see the water slowly bubbling up under the gates and raising us up. We tightened our lines as we went up to keep us snug to the lock walls.


All the way up! Now we're at the same level as the canal in front of us - 8' higher than we started.

Here, he has opened the gate and allowed us thru.


I wanted to comment about the water - it's really dark, coffee colored. Not polluted - it's said to be due to the acidic nature of the surrounding bogs.


Yaay! We're in Virginia!

I spent a goo bit of time trying to get a photo of a turtle - they were cool looking- had a yellow band around their neck...here on is on a log - never did get a good photo though....didn't really see a lot of wildlife, although we could hear birds calling even over the engine noise, never saw a single one!

The sign says Superintendent's House.....hope that's part of a historical site and not really where they house the Superintendent!!


This was our view much of the way....pretty and peaceful - but always of the boats in front of us. I would have enjoyed it more if we were alone out there! Picky, picky.....


Finally going thru the last bridge before going into the last lock - I won't post photos - but it was the same drill - enter lock - this time being lowered the same 8'.


Full steam ahead to Norfolk! Started at 5:30AM - arrived Norfolk at about 4PM....pretty long day and not a single bit of sailing!


Lot's and lot's of marine commerce going on around Norfolk!! Even passed a Police boat on the channel.


We decided to treat ourselves to a slip at the Waterside Marina. It's right on the waterfront (hence the name) near the USS Wisconsin. I want to tour that tomorrow.

Next to us was "Bird on a Wire". I had read their blog earlier in my surfing of "sailing blogs"....cool to have met them - http://birdonawireboat.blogspot.com/




View from our boat - actually turned out to be a little irritating....the lights from the building were very bright after dark and we're used to it being pretty dark both at home and on the boat. Makes it a little difficult to sleep!!


And there we are - Glory Days all snug in the slip for the night! Tour Norfolk a bit tomorrow!