On 2007-09-19 06:56:04 -0400, "news" raydatgisdotnet said:

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
Does anyone have any current information on the Great Dismal Swamp
Canal? Is it operating this year? How are the water depths? Lock
restrictions?

My wife and I did a southern transit the first week of July on our
Sabre 386. Although the depth meter never went below 6', there were a
couple bumps. I suspect that they were caused by sunken debris. Pix
at http://mywebpages.comcast.net/mad0430/dismal.htm It was interesting
but I doubt I'll do it again. It's aptly named. The bugs are hungry.
Don't miss the lock schedule. I wouldn't choose to spend the night on
a hook. Too creepy.

Ahhh! That's the *charm* of the place. (Bugs weren't any worse than the
Bay for our passage.) We anchored outside of the northern lock
overnight and found it absolutely lovely the next morning.

After a leisurely putt-putt through, stopping at the visitor's center
dock for a bit, we enjoyed the real pot of gold: Elizabeth City. We
stayed there for a couple of days though we'd intended to push on after
a quick top-off and pump-out.

The Virginia cut may be faster, but Dismal Swamp is the real cruiser's path.

--
Jere Lull
Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD
Xan's new pages: http://web.mac.com/jerelull/iWeb/Xan/
Our BVI pages: http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/