Wednesday 21 October, Portsmouth – Dismal Swamp Visitor Center mile marker 27 (30 Miles)

We cast off around 07:30 and headed down the Elizabeth River to catch the bridge openings at 08:30. Perfect timing, we got there just as the bridge opened. Just after the high bridge over Interstate 64 we hung a sharp right in to the Dismal swamp canal.

The dismal swamp canal is man made and maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers.
The canal stretches for some 30 miles and you have to pass thru two locks.

We got to the Deep Creek Lock early and anchored in the canal to wait for an 11:00 locking procedure. The locking was uneventful but the lock was packed to the gills with boats, I think we had 13 boats in the lock. Talked about getting locked!

Once through the lock we steamed for the VA/NC visitor center were you can tie up for free to a bulkhead. The bulkhead is only 150’ long so we had to raft up to other boats. The raft was 3 boats deep for a total of 9 boats, now that’s the makings of a party!

Cocktail hour at 16:30 were we for to meet the rafted cruisers.

We were rafted up to Stan and Judy on Rhumb Runner and sandwiched between had Kevin and Karen on Dream Seeker (a beautiful Tayana 37)

Kevin won the most Coordinated Cruiser award with his orange bandana and orange crocs! Go Kevin

Norfolk at Dusk while sippin morning Irish Coffee:



Mad dash out of Portsmouth / Norfolk to make the bridge openings:



The bridge gauntlet:



The Wife waiting for the Deep Creek Lock to open:



Rafting chaos at the visitor center: