Bellatrix

Dismal Swamp

21 September 2014

We left Portsmouth today at 1300 from Mile Marker “0” of the Intracoastal Waterway.

Battle Ship Wisconson

There is no actual "Mile Marker "0" but his is where it would be

Pucker moment

USS Dwight D. Eisenhower

The turn we missed to the Dismal Swamp Canal

approaching the lock

In the lock

Robert, the most well known person on the ICW

Lock filling, raises us up 8 feet

The day started dreary, wind, light rain but improved to sunshine and near 85 degrees. We passed the Newport News shipyards with large warships in dry dock looking rather weird out of water. Among the ships being refitted was the Nimitz class carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1092 feet long and 101,600 long tons. 2 reactors, 4 steam turbines, 30 knots, really impressive.

Our mast is 62.5 feet from the water, we had our first pucker moment as we passed under the route 64 bridge which is 65 feet high. I was so busy trying to catch my breath I missed the immediate right turn after the bridge to go to the Dismal Swamp route. We had to make a U turn and go back a couple of hundred yards. I’m sure the bridge tender was laughing. 

After a few miles we approached the first of 2 locks on the Dismal Swamp route. The Lock Tender is named Robert and is probably the most well known person on the ICW. He is friendly, helpful and informational. He invited us to coffee in the morning. We elected to stay at a free lay along just outside of the lock for the night.

We expect to make Elizabeth City tomorrow by 1700 (or maybe not).