The Great Dismal SwampOct 12, 2005
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Following some sailboats along the Dismal Swamp Canal
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Leaving Norfolk, Virginia boaters have a choice of two routes to the Abermarle Sound, the older, slower Dismal Swamp Canal route or the newer, faster Virginia Cut route. We had decided to take the slower, more scenic Dismal Swamp Canal route. Despite the name, it is anything but dismal.
There are 2 locks along the canal, Deep Creek and South Mills locks and part way between them the North Carolina Welcome Centre with free docks where boaters may spend the night.
At one of these locks we met the friendliest lock master who asks any boats heading to the Bahamas to bring him back a Conch Shell. He has beautiful gardens full of his shell collection and gladly gives a conch horn demonstration.
The sailboats in front of us stopped at the Welcome Centre and we carried on towards the next lock. The canal is a mere 70 ft wide and well protected with towering cypres trees a on shore reflecting in the still, black water. Behind the boat, the water in our wake is a dark brown tanin stained colour. Canada Geese honked ahead of us down the canal, landing safe distance away and then taking flight again, over and over, as we followed them south.
