The Dismal Swamp...Deep Basin, VA to Goat Island, NC

Left the anchorage about 8:00 am as we only had two miles to go before the Deep Creek Lock which opened at 8:30am.  We were first in line to go through but I dropped a fender overboard as I was tying it on so Bob had to do some curly cues to get it back.  The Creek has a narrow channel so we were lucky to get it back before it floated into the shallows.  A little tug passed us while we were maneuvering so we became second to enter the lock.  He had also stayed overnight in Deep Basin.

Bob the Lock Master

Our first lock experience was today and I could not imagine having a nicer person than Robert the lock master.  Of course we tied up with no incidents and Robert offered us banana bread and powdered sugar donuts before serenading us with his conch playing.  After opening the lock he drove down to the next bridge to open it for us.

Not much room.

We continued down the Dismal Swamp Canal in bright sunny but chilly (40’s) weather.  It was nice in the warm Pilot House but unfortunately we were not inclined to stop at the Visitors Center which would have cost us a day in time due to the locking and bridge hours. 


We traveled at 5 knots from the northern bridge to the southern lock, catching it at the 1:30pm opening.  Twice we hit something that went “thump” on the hull but never did see anything.  All along the canal trees had fallen into the water though most that were a navigation hazard had been cut off by the canal maintenance crew.  

 

Lining up

We were hoping to make it to a slip in Elizabeth City but would have arrived at sunset, and also would have missed the bridge opening, so decided to stop thirty minutes earlier instead and anchor off Goat Island.  Maybe someday we will feel comfortable enough to dock in a strange place after dark but now is not the time.  One nice thing about traveling so late in the year is that we frequently have anchorages to ourselves.  I was looking forward to walking around on land and checking out the restaurants, as Elizabeth City is reported to have several quaint eateries.   Maybe next year on the return trip.

Morning behind Goat Island

 Dinner and showers were finished early so we could bundle up with throws to keep warm.  We could turn on the generator but neither one of us wanted to listen to it run.  As a result, we did hear several owls doing their thing.  It is empty and dark here despite the full moon though we did pass two houses along the bank just before the last bend.  

 

 Just upriver from our anchoring spot there was what looked to be an abandoned double high dock that I would have loved to check out if the weather was warm and if we had extra time.  I’m guessing there was a building not too far off at one time which probably doesn’t exist anymore.  Looked  like a ferry dock.  

Yes, that is frost!

 This area must have been very hard to live in a hundred or more years ago with freezing winters, hot and humid summers, ticks, venomous snakes and minimal dry ground.  Plus the fresh water is as dark as burnt coffee.  Looking at the satellite view of Google Maps shows modern housing tracts are not very far away, probably only limited in distance from the river by environmental concerns.