May 1, 2019
A new month and we’re back on the water again after spending
a few relaxing days in Elizabeth City.
Our slip at the Elizabeth City free docks
We had a good collection of loopers stopping here and spending a few
days. Boats traveling with us are
generally a few days ahead of schedule getting to the Looper Rendezvous in
Norfolk which starts on Sunday, so everyone is taking their time. We had a great meal with Russ and Jack from
the boat Cat and Dogs (it’s a power catamaran and they have 2 dogs) at Hoppin
John’s Restaurant. Enjoyed it so much
Martha and I had drinks and appetizers for dinner there the next day. Also found a new pizza place run by a chef
from NY. Very tasty – especially after
spending a few hours on a walking tour of the commercial and residential
historic districts. For $1 we became members at the Draughthouse and enjoyed a
cool beverage. Learned the building had been a speakeasy and brothel during
Prohibition. The line of 8 upstairs brothel rooms are supposedly still
intact. Surprisingly, that little tidbit was not included on the tour brochure
issued by the visitors center. Took a
walk through The Museum of the Albemarle which had a nicely laid out display
going through the area’s history. Overall,
it’s another town with a rich nautical history trying to find its current identity
in a non-nautical dominated society. The
town continues to appreciate the boaters passing through. In fact, there were enough visiting boaters
last night for them to host one of the Rose Buddies evening wine gatherings.
Pasquotank County Courthouse - 1882
Great Historical homes - this being the grandest in town
Todays travel was a planned easy day. Finished going up the Pasquotank
River which winds and twists and reminds me a lot of portions of the Waccamaw
River between Georgetown and Myrtle Beach.
Just a slow flowing natural river with nature on both sides. At 10AM we were off the docks and hailing the
Elizabeth City Bridge tender for an opening.
A leisurely 3.5-hour cruise would move us 18 miles up river to the South
Mills lock. They only open 4 times a day
and we hit the 1:30 opening a few minutes early. After idling in the channel for a few minutes
the gates opened and our band of 4 boats locked through and officially entered
the Dismal Swamp canal.
It’s a 22-mile
man made straight cut started in the late 1700’s and completed in the early
1800’s. Primarily hand dug with slave labor
it served as a safer and shorter connection for shipping goods between Norfolk
and Elizabeth City and was also a critical supply route during the Civil War. It is used almost exclusively now by pleasure
boaters who don’t mind the shallow waters and bumping an occasional underwater
log. The entire length is a no wake zone
so bigger and faster boats simply take the alternative Chesapeake and Albemarle
Canal. We just find this route more
enjoyable than being waked by the go-fast boats.
Weird illusion at times you can't tell the real foliage on the river banks from the reflections
Our destination for the night was the visitor center at the
NC line. They have a rest area, welcome
center and docks as well as the Dismal Swamp State Park. The dock is only long enough to fit 3 boats
so any more and we start rafting up.
Today we were 3 across with us serving as a middle boat. Great homemade Sangria by Russ and in typical
looper style a nice spread of munchies as we all sat around a picnic table to finish up the day.
Journey for May 1, 2019
No comments:
Post a Comment