As most regular visitors to the Cruisers’ Net know, my “expertise” [grin!], stops at the NC-VA state line, so I’m particularly grateful to Captain Arnold for providing the very useful tid-bit below about a possible overnight stop near the Deep Creek, VA lock. This lock and the adjacent waters are part of the AICW Alternate Dismal Swamp Canal Route. Anyone following this fascinating and historical, but sometimes challenging passage, may very well want to take advantage of this tip!

At the top end of the Dismal Swamp route is of course Deep Creek lock with a half mile approach channel AFTER the bridge. They allow that to be used for a great hurricane hole if needs be. And about a mile after the lock is a great little circular cove to starboard which the locals call the “hole in the wall”. It has a 6ft bar at the approach but inside around 14 ft deep throughout and a good sandy holding bottom – again a good hurricane hole I would imagine – except at such a time maybe a ton of boats hiding in there…….. Strictly speaking you’re not supposed to go ashore – private property – but nobody seems to take much notice – there are no waterside homes there but they tell me a housing develpoment may be pending. The water is crystal clean – though a brown colour due to tannin not pollution. It’s a tad busy at weekends but absolutely pristine and peaceful on weekdays – you share it only with herons. Incidentally you’ll often see Bill there – the nice fellow, ex Navy, who built the dock in memory of his wife Elizabeth – canoeing – which he does fairly often for the exercise.
Arnold