Dismal Swamp Canal!

206 nm  N36 30.393  W076 21.353

This morning, everyone on the basin got up and left about the same time.  We were all trying to make the first opening of the Gilmerton Bridge after rush hour and get to the 11:00 lock opening.  This all worked pretty much as planned, and just before 11:00 found us all queueing up for the Deep Creek lock into the Dismal Swamp.

Sailboats Queued Up for the Lock

And we're In...

...and Out

The Dismal Swamp Canal is strange and beautiful.  It's miles long, narrow, and straight as an arrow.  The trees overhang the banks, and you have to remain vigilant to not get your mast caught in the branches!  It's so eerie, you're gliding through a heavily wooded forest in a sailboat!

Ahead...

...and Behind

Crossing from Virginia to North Carolina

 About 28 miles in, we reached the Visitor's center dock, our destination for the night.  This free dock allows overnight tieups, but only has space for three boats, so additional boats must raft-up.  We ended up with a total of seven boats.

Five so far...

Towards the dock, we had an experienced cruising couple our age aboard S/V Take Five, and outboard of us, we had a young Canadian couple and their two border collies aboard the S/V Emerald Fire.  We had sundowners aboard Take Five's spacious cockpit before retiring to our separate boats for dinner and sleep.

Tomorrow, we plan to complete the last 3 miles of the Canal, exit via the lock at South Mills, and head down the Pasquotank river to Elizabeth City.

Life is good.