Dismal Swamp, NC Welcome Center

Dismal Swamp

North Carolina Welcome Center

Friendly park ranger gives us a walking tour of some of the plant life. The swamp is also home to black bear, fox, bobcat, pine wood tree frogs, deer, and timber rattle snake.


This is a little state park feet from the docks at the visitor welcome center. The park boasted 18 miles of trails and a fantastic little museum. The park ranger informed us that they are infested with ticks so we opted to stay off the trails.




Looking at Hook from a bridge just down stream.


Hook on the docks at the visitor welcome center. Since this is the first stopping point on the canal it gets full. Everyone is heading south.


Emma practicing Chinese, in a boat, in a swamp, in North Carolina...... in a life jacket.


Swampy looking cypress.


Out of the lock and steaming toward the visitors center. Approximately 22 miles up the canal.


Life inside the lock.


This is our first time going through a lock. The idea is that you drive your boat in, the lock is closed, and they fill the lock with water from the other side of the lock. Ten minutes later they open the lock on the other side.



Dismal Swamp entrance. Inspired by Thomas Jefferson, this section of the Intercoastal Waterway was dug to transport people, equipment, and supplies. It connects Chesapeake Bay and Albermarle Sound. The canal was dug by slaves in the early eighteen hundreds. At the half-way point an inn was said to have stood. Supposably Edger Allen Poe wrote "The Raven" on one of his stays on a trip up north.

Dismal Swamp, North Carolina

October 23, 2009

Norfolk, VA

At first light we weighed anchor and headed for the Dismal Swamp. In a couple of hours our surroundings would look nothing like this.



Going ashore, we motored our wee little dingy past the battleship Wisconsin. We weren't scared. Grabbed some groceries and then headed back to Hook. The anchorage was a welcomed site after a blustery approach in to Norfolk harbor.



Arriving in Norfolk. Hospital Point is the anchorage for the night. Another aircraft carrier looms in the back ground.

This is the stretch of of Norfolk Harbor that has aquired the nick name of Mothball Alley. More battle ships, aircraft carriers, and submarines than we could count are lined up and "mothballed" waiting for when the U.S. needs them. From what I understand the ships are sealed and then pumped full of an inert gas to impeed rust and deteriation.

Noodle and Emma wake up together. We have a big day ahead. Norfolk, VA is the destination.

October 22, 2009

Norfolk, Virginia

Deltaville, VA

Deltaville, VA

Deltaville turned out to be a good stop. Its quiet little anchorage not only provided us with calm nights sleep and internet access but a great full service marina catering to transients. We were able to get our 50 hour service done on the new engine.

Look at this guy, is he walking on water?
No, its a paddle board. Steve got a chance to talk with him as he paddled past us. He explained to Steve in a southern drawl that its similar to a surf board but with more bouyency.


Noodle comes with us to the nearby park and maritime museum.
She seemed to enjoy her first dinghy ride to shore.


Have you hugged your Noodle today?


Deltaville in the morning. The night was 37 degrees but the day turned out to be 75, a welcomed temp.



Looking back at the anchorage in Deltaville.

Hard to tell from this picture but the winds were blowing a sustained 25K. Forcasted 2-3 foot seas turned into 4-6 footers. One wave nearly broke over our stern slamming the dinghy into the stern rail but don't you worry all you grandmothers it was all under control. Ha! We were happy to see things die back to the forcasted seas in the late afternoon.

Flying down Chesapeake Bay

Deltaville, Virginia

October 19-21, 2009

Underway bound for Deltaville

Solomon Island, MD

Solomon Island, MD

We were held up in Solomon Island for the better portion of a week waiting for 2 gale storms to move through. With the gale force winds brought constant rain and temperatures in the low 50's during the day and 30's at night.

Besides the nasty weather, Solomon's was actually very accomodating. We were within walking distance of a very nice grocery and a West Marine. It had plenty of restaurants and the Museum. Also available was a public bus system that would bring you into the neighboring towns for only a $1/per person.

Turned out that we had 8 days in a row with small craft advisory. We were told this was a record, quite unusual. On the last day of the advisory the rain stopped and the sun came out. We and the entire anchorage decided to leave. Everyone was fed up with waiting and the rain. Brilliant descision, right?

The Noodle "Spa Day." She actually doesn't seem to mind the water as long as it's warm!


Thankfully there was a museum on Solomon to pass the rainy days.
This is a replica of a ancient fish called a "Megalatron." There are only 2 known fossils in the world.


Snug little anchorage at head of Back Creek, Solomon Island


We'll wish for this kind of fresh water in the Bahamas.

Pumping out the dinghy for the upteenth time...

Solomon Island, Maryland

October 14-18, 2009

How we spend time when its raining for 5 days on end....

Little Choptank River, MD

First day of no pictures.

That is how interesting this place was...

Highlite of Little Choptank was the "Gun Club" with its volly of shotgun blasts that rang into the early evening. You could close your eyes and imagine yourself inside one of the many duck blinds that surrounded our anchorage.

OK, to say one good thing would be that it proved to be good holding ground in the high winds that shook the rigging throughout the night.

Little Choptank River

October 13, 2009

Annapolis, MD October 12, 2009

Annapolis, MD

We arrived in Annapolis late on a Monday afternoon just in time to get caught up with the boats leaving the Annapolis Boat Show. We were lucky to find a berth for the night. Found ourselves anchored in the middle of a channel along with several others. All turned out well since the wind wasn't blowing. Engine ran like a top. Tommorrow we'll head further south. The cold weather is urging us on so no exploring the town this trip. We'll catch it on the way home.

Kirsten catching the sunset.


Chilly evening meal on deck.

Monkeys in the rigging!

Arriving 5pm in Annapolis just in time to miss the boat show.

Steve was able to catch up with friends from Morris though before they headed back to Maine.

Don't let the tank top fool you...the heat is on down below!

Maddie thinking hard over her Math homework. Currently she is mastering her alphabet and adding & subtracting by 1's.

COLD!

Annapolis, Maryland

October 12, 2009

Chesapeake City, MD

Chesapeake City, MD

After 18 days of being in Cape May, Chesapeake City was a nice change of scenery. It felt good to be on the move again. The girls settled right back into "cruising mode."

Town Wharf.


We were able to squeek into the free town dock for the night.
Chesapeake City is hardly a city. It is a lovely restored village on the canal that caters to cruisers.


A long day on Deleware Bay. Thankfully it was a flat day. Evidently Deleware Bay can get ugly. We hit everything right. Some folks sit and wait days for a weather window. C&D canal on the horizon.

nough' said.

Stupid animal hat trick.

Noodle contemplating the guide books to see where we should go next.

Chesapeake City, Maryland

October 11, 2009