On the morning after I arrived in Norfolk (Oct. 17th, 2010), we left port and headed south along the Elizabeth River, turning at Deep Creek and the first set of locks. Passing through the lock would then put us onto the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) and into the Great Dismal Swamp which is positioned between Virginia and North Carolina.
The ICW, which is maintained by the Corps of Engineers, is cut wide enough for two boats traveling in opposite directions to pass each other comfortably. This is also wide enough for faster vessels to overtake slow moving traffic. In some areas, such as the swamp, the route is much wider.
Of the wildlife most visible along the route, there are painted turtles and black vultures. The occasional fish could be spotted leaping out of the water, no doubt in pursuit of some small winged morsel. They were everywhere in the swamp, midges, mosquitoes, and other bugs, in multitude.
Other animals included this Great Egret (Ardea alba), foraging in the tidal salt marshes.
Deep Creek Lock is located at the northern end of the Dismal Swamp Canal. This was the first lock we would need to pass through along our route.
While we were waiting for our turn to move through, I recorded a video of a Dachshund that was playing near the historical operators shack along the dockside. There was also a poodle, or something that looked like a poodle, I’m not good with dog breeds.
While tied up at the dock before we passed through, we went for a walk along the park trails.
These large wooden raised footpaths branched off into the wooded shoreline. There were deer foraging for green shoots and ducks and other water fowl were also seen around the area.
We continued to motor down the ICW until we reached the mouth of the Pasquotank River and our first evening at Mariners’ Wharf Park in Elizabeth City, NC.
