Thoughts On Cruising the Dismal Swamp Canal
ORINOCO had the privilege to float on the waters of the Dismal Swamp. This was an experience akin to walking quietly through the woods on a nature trail.
The waters splashed in rhythm to the soft hum of the engines propelling mere mortals along in this pristine area of trees and water. The quietness of the journey in a trawler seems in contradiction ,but quiet it was. The slow speed and gentle splash was hardly noticed by the loud and sometimes frenzied call of the birds, unaware of the travel by mariners this cool morning. As I sit out on the bow breathing in the cool, damp air, I feel as the ancient boaters of long ago. The trees are not the same ones, but grew from those same seeds, the dogwood in various shades of pink and white are of the same strands as the first Americans saw on the journey.
The waters at first wind slowly with houses alongside the banks but are soon replaced by the deep woods and very straight and narrow paths of waterway as we head North to a destination. Is this not the destination in itself? The wonder and privilege of travel on a vessel through the swamps and marshes and the hardwood forests makes the act of actually being tied to a dock or anchored just a function ,not the destination. The Dismal Swamp ended too soon with the ancient locks with the old buildings and even older lock operators who drive from the bridge to the lock with no hurry. We are not hurried only transformed by this experience.
Patty Mitchell and Robert with Maggi wonder dog
ORINOCO
I am so happy to hear positive reports of experiences travelling through the Dismal Swamp. We too thought it was magnificent – a truly unique portion of the whole loop. Take it slowly and savour every minute.
Clare
"Rangatira"
A beautiful trip as all have said. We passed through in a N to S direction last year but had the unsettling experience of bumping several somethings during the journey. We never saw anything but the boat actually lifted up a bit with each of the bumps and we draw no more than 4 ft. We were going dead slow the whole way and the water wasn't low, a bit unnerving, but, no damage!
David and Anne Scott
One of the very special experiences of the swamp is if you get the opportunity to meet Robert the lock master at the north end Elizabeth lock. He is a charming and special person dedicated to the canal as a piece of history. Also he plays a mean conch!
Joe
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