This morning when we left our anchorage we were still undecided where we were going. We need to take a day or so and get some paperwork done so we initially thought we would grab a spot on the free dock in downtown Portsmouth for a night. However, the posted sign said no overnight docking so plan "B" was to continue on and take the Dismal Swamp route.

This is a historic canal that was built between 1793-1805, it's about 20 miles long and was completely dug by hand. It's one of those things that you need to do so you can check it off the list. However, once is enough for us, it's very narrow and shallow, we bumped bottom a couple of times plus we had a few prop strikes from hidden debris. If concerns about hitting the bottom aren't enough you have to constantly monitor for overhanging trees. What amazed me the most is how straight the canal is, the guys who paint the highway lines with modern equipment can't paint a line this straight.

Plan B also had us pushing on to Elizabeth City for a couple of days, however there is more bad weather coming and the consensus from the group here is to sit for a day or so until it blows through. We're rafted up with 10 other boats at the North Carolina State Welcome Center and I feel a party coming on tomorrow.

Today's picture is of our raft at the Welcome Center.