Deliverance From The Great Dismal Swamp!

Thursday we departed Oriental, NC early for a long travel day. It turned out to be a 75 mile trip one of longest on the Loop. A beautiful day spent motor sailing most of the day across the Sound and rivers. We found a beautiful anchorage on the Alligator River off Tuckahoe Point.

Friday, we made it to the Great Dismal Swamp after a great morning motor sailing on the Alligator River and across the Albemarle Sound. We had to dodge a lot of crab pots (was like a mine field at times) but a beautiful sunny day on the water. Arrived at Elizabeth City and the Pasquotank River the entrance to the Dismal Swamp. We wanted to top off our diesel fuel and Lambs Marina was the only place we could find it. We should have known we were in trouble when Billy Bob had difficulty telling port from starboard. When we tried reaching them on the VHF radio we found out their radio was not working, but we went there anyway, down a very narrow channel with minimum depth. We tied up at the only dock deep enough for us and had to wait for the fuel truck to come to our dock. When we saw the fuel truck (an old 1970 Ford F600) that wouldn’t start (because it was out of fuel!) we started to really get worried. After Billy Bob spilled diesel fuel all over the hose and himself, we decided to use our diesel jugs to top off and depart ASAP. Interesting but not one of our best fuel stops just part of the adventure! We did find a great anchorage behind Goat Island; it was so quiet and peaceful.

Today we crossed through the Great Dismal Swamp Canal and into Virginia. It is the oldest operating man made waterway in the US, first used in 1805 to transport flat bottomed vessels with grain and farm animals the 22 mile length. Our trip started early in dark flat water the appeared as a mirror reflecting the trees from each bank. The canal in narrow, only 60 feet wide in some sections with over hanging branches made it interesting. We made 3 stops, 2 locks and a stop at the NC Visitors Center dock. After we left the 2^nd lock we had an engine problem. The engine was running hot due to not enough water coming through the intake. Had to stop and emergency anchor and Captain Brad had to go down into the dark water (zero visibility) with his pony SCUBA tank and clean the intake port under the boat. It was almost like the Great Dismal Swamp was saying “Not so fast Northern Light, I am not finished with you yet”. We did make it passed the Swamp and stayed at a dock at the Chesapeake Yacht Boat Yard near Norfolk, VA.

We are all looking forward to tomorrow when we will enter the Chesapeake Bay!