Day 39 The ICW and Dismal Swamp Canal

Today, October 25 marks our 34th wedding anniversary. We begin the 35th year on a new adventure and hope to be still married for our 36th!!!! We left Portsmouth, Rhode Island on September 17 and today, we left Portsmouth, Virginia at mile zero of the Intercoastal Waterway (ICW....or the ditch, for short).

This morning we woke to a strong north wind but we slipped our lines at 8.00am and headed into the ICW. What a thrill to go under that first bridge and begin to leave civilization behind, if only for a few days. We parted ways with our friends Dave and Trudy who took the Virginia Cut route south for the next 75 miles and we entered the Dismal Swamp Canal route.

We entered the first lock at mile 10 and waited anxiously for the lock to fill 12'and raise us up to the level of the canal and traveled through with three power boats and three sail boats.

Kinvara crossed from Virginia into North Carolina along the way. We have now moved into the deep South.

At mile 28 on the ICW we stopped for the night and rafted up three deep with 10 other sail boats at the Dismal Swamp Canal Visitors Center. We are all waiting to go through the lock at 8:30 tomorrow morning. As is customary we had cocktails and snacks together at the dockside. Cards were exchanged and plans for the next part of the voyage were discussed.

We were feeling very relaxed until we came upon the "Superintendent's" (of the Dismal Swamp) house along the bank.

Bob and Deanna, it is all you said it was. We are so glad we decided to take this route. The most striking feature so far for us are the "Water Vases". These are clusters of flowers and small trees and shrubs that have grown up on the top of the old pilings that once lined the canal. Not only are they exquisite above the water but the reflection doubles the beauty. Peter attempted to take some pictures but they probably do not do them justice.