Not So Dismal, Dismal Swamp.Run

We started the ICW on Sunday. We sailed from Norfolk right up to the Gilmerton Bridge, dropped the sail, under the bridge we go, then raised sail, sailed down to the first section of the Dismal Swamp Canal and right up to the first lock. Beautiful sailing day with a tail wind the whole way. Jim and Laurie were talking about how nice the North wind has been for sailing, so we plan to take full use of it ourselves. We tied up to the Elizabeth dock, right after the Deep Creek Lock. It was close to a town, so we stopped a bought a few things we forgot and had a dinner at the local Mexican restaurant. Nice quiet place to spend the night. We had 5 other boats with us there.

Off we went the next morning to North Carolina Visitor’s Center (18 miles) to dock for the night. The Dismal Swamp Canal was beautiful with the foliage changing and warm temperatures. We had to motor the whole way, but sliding along at 3 knots, on a nice day, isn’t so bad. At 3 knots we are not pulling from our batteries. The little Honda runs a 15 amp charger that gives us that speed. We put it up on the bow, so we barely hear it.

The next day we motored and motor sailed down to Elizabeth City, NC. When we got there, the 6 other boats that had locked through with us at the South Mills Lock, were tied to a wall near the bridge. The bridge wasn’t working and it took to 1:00pm the next day it get it fixed. We wound up rafting off of a Swiss boat and it was an enlightening experience. He had been involved in designing electric power boats in Switzerland. Unfortunately, he could not speak English, but his wife interpreted for us and they gave us some contacts to call on. They said we should be running a special prop for electric drives. It reduces your battery consumption and also gives more regen. Think of the props on the Torqueedo electric outboards. They gave us renewed hope that maybe we could stay electric only.

After going under the bridge, we didn’t have time to get to the Alligator River, so we just to the city docks. The town puts on a wine and cheese party for new guests and they told us the hot spots to hit. We did that in a couple of hours. Nice place to stop and shoot the breeze with other boaters and townspeople. One nice guy, Joe, came down and offered to bring us to breakfast and the to the mall to do his walk with him. But, we were leaving. We told him we would see him in the spring. 3 more days of North wind, so we hope to sail most of it before it turns to SW again.
Dismal Swamp Canal!

Leaving Deep Creek Lock.

Welcome to North Carolina!