Friday the 13th! Last night we were tied up at a small dock between the Lock and a swing bridge at Deep Creek. There are only fixed opening times, and we wanted to catch the first bridge opening, so we were underway at 8 am and lined up with about six others for the opening. We passed through and into the historic Dismal Swamp Canal. And in the still morning with mist rising off the water it was truly stunning. We are beginning to notice changes in the vegetation with maple trees no longer common and cypress lining the canal banks. But the nighttime temperatures are familiar! This morning we awoke to frost, and heard that the nighttime low temperature set a new record. It is supposed to be cold for a few days and then return to more seasonable values. About noon, we landed at the visitors Center, tied up, registered and got our bikes out for a ride through a nice trail into South Lock where, not surprisingly, the southern lock of the canal is located. The canal itself is about ten feet above the tidal level. Tomorrow we will pass through it, and again, as it has fixed openings, we will get an early start to catch the first opening. By nightfall we were accompanied at the dock by 12 other boats, and since it is not a large dock, we had two others rafted outside us.

October 14, 2006
We got away from the Visitors Center at 7 am this morning to catch the first lock opening, and it was another frosty morning, with the mist on the canal making a beautiful setting. At the lock we dropped down 12 feet into another canal called Turners Cut, which carried us about six miles down into the upper reaches of the Pasquotank River. The river was a bit wider than the canal, and about twice as deep. But it still required keeping a sharp eye on the depth sounder. And if possible, it was even more beautiful. We motored slowly down enjoying the scenery in company with a boat from Castine Maine, where we have visited a number of times. We met them last night at the Visitors Center. As we approached Elizabeth City, we ducked into a marina to refill our propane tank which was verging on empty. It lasts us for about 30 days, and it was day 28, so we got it filled and carried on to Elizabeth City. Elizabeth City has a number of free docks, and they were full when we arrived, but we found spot next to someone sailing from Florida to Norfolk for the winter. He has had enough of the Florida heat! We also attended their small cocktail party which they host for cruisers daily, and did a bit of shopping. Tomorrow we're off to the Outer Banks.