Not So Dismal Swamp

Some people like the Dismal Swamp and some don't.  The Dismal Swamp 2014 was our first day boating on the Loop.  We had minor mishaps and made mistakes.  I was nervous because I didn't know what to do or how to do anything related to docking a boat.  Even so, we thought the Dismal Swamp was pretty and decided to go that way again.  (The Dismal Swamp is an alternate route off the Intracoastal Waterway).

Jump to 2015.  What a difference a year makes.  Sunny and bright.

Dismal Swamp Visitor Center is a wonderful facility with a free dock wall.  Here boats often raft together for the night.  The night we stayed there were only four boats, so no rafting for us.

We enjoyed a tasty picnic dinner with Roundabout, Ken and Teri.  Teri's cousin joined them on their boat from Elizabeth City to Hampton, VA.

Roundabout and five other boats waiting for the lock to open.  There are two small locks and two bridges that must be opened.  The Lockmaster controls the locks and the bridges.

After the Dismal Swamp, the Elizabeth River opens into a very busy shipping channel.  Below is a tour boat.  We should be in the pictures they were taking of us.

Norfolk, VA is on the east bank.  Many large destoyers, tankers and ships.

On the west bank is the town of Portsmouth, VA.  We stayed here last year. However, rules have changed and no boats over 40' can stay on the town wall. We were travelling with Roundabout and they are too large.  So, we took our boats and our dollars to Hampton, VA, to the Hampton Public Piers Marina.