The Dismal Swamp

Dear Blog Readers, I had intended on publishing many more pictures and more frequently, but due to difficulties with the software despite Marla's wonderfully knowledgeable guidance, it has been spotty. So, rather than waiting longer, here is my next installment. Please send your comments (click on the comment button at the bottem of the post) and let me know if you want less description, more about us, more about the boat...whatever: Entering the Great Dismal Swamp route of the ICW was a last minute decision and as Lou says, "Like all last minute decisions, it proved to be the right one." That's Lou, for you. After the enormity and cacaphony of Norfolk, the swamp was quiet, peaceful and calm.

In 1728 a colonel brought a group of surveyors to explore the swamp, and after surviving yellow flies, chiggers and ticks, described it as "dismal" and a"horrible desert". Originally 2200 miles, over time development has eroded the area and today only 600 square miles remain thanks to legislation.

The Dismal Swamp Canal is the oldest continuously running canal in the US and the only canal with locks on the ICW. It was our first experience going through locks, and though it took forever, was fun, interesting and the time passed quickly as we chatted with the other boat owners waiting to go through with us.

The water in the canal is brown due to the tannic acid in the water from the bark of surrounding trees. Water in our faucet and head looked strangely dirty, but in fact, tasted fine and was healthy to drink as the acid prevents bacteria from growing. Further on down the canal, we encountered an enormous amount of what looked like algae but is called duck weed here. It was so thick that it appeared to be a green carpet. Things could even float on it. It had a beautiful luminescence; however, problems ensued. Several boats, including ours, got the stuff stuck in our fresh water intake thruhull. We had to stop and blow out hoses and valves. Lou finally solved the problem by shoving a wire coat hanger through the thruhull. The whole episode delayed our progress and we were hard pressed to get to an anchorage area in the swamp before the sun set. The next morning, as we took off, the sight was stunning: the early morning fog and rising sun gave a mysterious view of the swamp.

A week after traveling through the canal, we were informed that it had been temporarily closed; the dry conditions this summer and fall had caused the water level to fall too low for boats to pass through.