Does anyone have any current information on the Great Dismal Swamp
Canal? Is it operating this year? How are the water depths? Lock
restrictions?

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

Look he

http://www.icw-net.com/DSCwelcome/CGNC/

quoted

As of this writing, the canal is usually open year-round, weather conditions
permitting. The locks at both Deep Creek and South Mills operate at 8:30
a.m., 11:00 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. During winter, the canal is
sometimes closed for maintenance. Call the Corps of Engineers' Waterway
office in Great Bridge, Virginia (804-547-2109), or the Dismal Swamp Canal
Welcome Center ( 771-8333) ahead of time to check on the latest canal
conditions, particularly during the winter months.

/quoted

--
Good luck and good sailing.
s/v Kerry Deare of Barnegat
http://home.comcast.net/~kerrydeare

"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.

Ray

On Wed, 19 Sep 2007 06:56:04 -0400, "news" raydatgisdotnet wrote:


"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.

Ray


Thanks, good information and good pictures.

Wayne.B wrote:

On Wed, 19 Sep 2007 06:56:04 -0400, "news" raydatgisdotnet wrote:


"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.


I LOVE the Dismal Swamp, and Elizabeth City at the end of it. You
stop for the night at the Visitor's Center (free dock) and there is
also a free dock at the north end of the canal (Deep Creek) We
haven't been through it since 2003 in the fall though - right after
Hurricane Isabel. http://www12.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/44693/#TL

http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/tp/b8ed2/ Lots of downed trees in
these pictures. http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/4a9c6/d8698/


http://p.vtourist.com/1248895-Deep_C...Chesapeake.jpg

This one is from our first trip in 2000
http://p.vtourist.com/2454241-Dismal...of_America.jpg
http://www12.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/2af2f/#TL
http://www12.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/2b056/#TL

This is the second trip in 2001
http://www12.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/2b05d/#TL

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/

On Thu, 20 Sep 2007 00:36:56 GMT, Jere Lull wrote:

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.

I'm wondering if the bug situation will be better by mid-October.
That's our most likely ETA.

I've always wanted to cruise Great Dismal but I hate the thought of
missing the prime ribs at Coinjock. :-)

Wayne.B wrote:

On Thu, 20 Sep 2007 00:36:56 GMT, Jere Lull wrote:

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.

I'm wondering if the bug situation will be better by mid-October.
That's our most likely ETA.

I've always wanted to cruise Great Dismal but I hate the thought of
missing the prime ribs at Coinjock. :-)

Our passages were usually at the beginning of November and there was
no bug problem then. It will depend on the weather.

If you want prime rib (although in a more reasonable quantity), then
go to Shuckers in Onancock.

On 2007-09-20 08:48:36 -0400, Rosalie B. said:

I'm wondering if the bug situation will be better by mid-October.
That's our most likely ETA.

I've always wanted to cruise Great Dismal but I hate the thought of
missing the prime ribs at Coinjock. :-)

Our passages were usually at the beginning of November and there was no
bug problem then. It will depend on the weather.

If you want prime rib (although in a more reasonable quantity), then go
to Shuckers in Onancock.

We were in mid-September and didn't note bugs in the log.

There's *lots* of great food along the way. I would rather trade a
waterman for a mess of just-caught crabs or shrimp.... Ambrosia! (and a
good excuse to call for an impromptu party.)

--
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/

Actually, Elizabeth City is at about the same mile marker, so to speak, as
Coinjock, and very good food, and more, can be found there. Of course, the
lock schedule on the Dismal can mess you up some.
The real pleasure of the Dismal swamp route is the Pasquotank River. Very
much like a small Waccamaw, with less traffic.

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 20 Sep 2007 00:36:56 GMT, Jere Lull wrote:

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.

I'm wondering if the bug situation will be better by mid-October.
That's our most likely ETA.

I've always wanted to cruise Great Dismal but I hate the thought of
missing the prime ribs at Coinjock. :-)