In the Dismal Swamp Canal

Monday, Oct. 15

We decided to stay another day in Portsmouth and enjoyed our time here. We walked
around "Old Town" which has many old houses from the 1700's and 1800's, very historical.
In the afternoon we took the ferry over to Norfolk on the other side of the river and
walked the riverfront area, which is very nice. The battleship "Wisconsin" is there and
is awesome. It was not open for tours on Monday but just viewing it from the dock was
great. There is a beautiful Taiwan garden on the waterfront that we enjoyed and the
ferry beween sides was reasonably priced.
In the evening we decided to celebrate our anniversary a day early - 36 wonderful years!
We had scallops and wine at Lobscouser and then dessert and a movie at the Commadore
Theater, a renovated old theater, watching "Trouble With the Curve" with Clint Eastwood
and Amy Adams, which we enjoyed.


Tuesday, Oct.16

We left at 8:30 to make the 9:30 opening of the Gilmerton Bridge and there were 15 -20
boats waiting in the gusty wind for the opening. The turn for the Dismal Swamp Canal
was tricky and everyone else missed it and then followed us. Nine of us sailboats went
through the lock together and four of us spent the night at the visitors center, where we
enjoyed Happy Hour together getting acquainted. The canal was very narrow and we
bumped on the bottom once. The overhanging trees made us watch the clearance aloft
as we went through. We had a beautiful day and I felt blessed to have a wife willing to
accompany me on this dream trip after 36 years of married life.
By the way, Sue and Terry, we enjoyed the second bottle of Winsome Old Vine Zinfandel,
one of our favorites from the collection.

27 miles