Well, the debate is over ... we paid our bill for 4 days at Salt Ponds Marina, deciding not to stay one more day in order to get two days free (and get this: the price for a week at the marina is just $20 less than the cost for a whole month!). We've got a couple of nice days to travel before the weather turns sour so we figured we'd better take advantage of the warm temsps, clear skies and southerly winds and get moving.
Leaving Salt Ponds Marina.
It's a very tricky exit. That's shallow water on the left.
Following the markers out the channel.
Our first stop was Norfolk to fill up on diesel. I thought that a return visit wouldn't be as exciting as our first trip, but seeing the huge naval vessels from the water was still quite a thrill. Mile 1 - formal start of the ICW.
Of course, nothing beats the thrill of looking over the stern and seeing this bad boy coming up on us!
Our destination for today is the Dismal Swamp Canal ... one of George Washington's better ideas and one of the Army Corp of Engineers genius feats! It's 52 miles from Norfolk to Elizabeth City (other end of the canal), and we'll pass thru 2 locks that control the depth of the canal to 6 feet. The locks operate 4 times a day, and after making the last lock of the day at 3:30pm, our best option was to tie up at the lock pier and spend the night. Gorgeous, calm, warm, and we even have TV reception so we can watch the Vikings' football game tonight.
Entering the Dismal Swamp. The canal itself is 22 miles.
Entering the Deep Creek lock with two boats behind us. Mile 10.5
Robert - the lock tender. A man who truly loves his job! He knows all the history of the canal, can play actual music on a conch shell, and invited us over for coffee and donuts in the morning.
Maja at the pier.
Fall in coming!
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