Tuesday morning was a bit gloomy. I did some laundry and made deviled eggs with the already peeled hard boiled eggs 😃🥚. Larry the marina owner, let’s guests borrow his car, so Don made a run to the hardware store for some extra supplies. I worked on travel plans up to D.C. and that evening we went over to ‘Faith’ and played cards. We both planned to leave for the Dismal Swamp early in the morning.

Up at sunrise Wednesday, we headed for the Dismal Swamp Canal. The locks only open on a set schedule at certain times of the day. We got there for the first, 8:30 am opening. There is a visitor center halfway through the canal that we both planned on stopping at and staying overnight on the dock right there. The plan was to spend two nights in the swamp. One night at the visitor center and one night at the other end of the canal on the dock right before the second lock. The weather in the Chesapeake didn’t look appealing until Friday.

As we made our way through the swamp canal, ‘Faith’ was in communication with the boats that had left the day before, intending to go straight through in one day and get to Norfolk, VA. They were now saying that because of the weather they were going to also spend two nights in the swamp, and since the other end wasn’t far, they were having a lazy morning and were going to wait a while before leaving the visitor center…..I do believe we all had this discussion back at the marina and that’s why we stayed there another night. But I digress.

While the swamp canal docks are first come first serve, it is common practice and courtesy to spend one night at each location and move on to make space for the next group of boats traveling through.

So when we arrived at the visitor center, the dock was full. Typically when that happens boats will just raft together. Well the other boats didn’t want to do that because they still planned on traveling to the end of the canal. Mind you it was after 11:00 am when we arrived, not super early, and they knew the first lock opening was at 8:30 am. One boat was just pulling out and ‘Faith’ was able to squeeze in-between two boats, then we rafted to them. It wasn’t too long until the other boats decided they were going to move on to the other end of the canal.

So we untied from ‘Faith’ and scooted back along the dock. It’s easier for Skia to get on and off that way. After all the rigamarole trying to find space by the end of the day we were the only two boats at the visitor center. There were actually two visitor centers, one on each side of the canal. We went into both, got some maps and information.

There was a boardwalk on the other side that goes through the swamp. We took the fluff for a walk over there to check it out.

The boardwalk was cool but not very long. On the side we were docked on, there was a paved path that ran for several miles along the canal. So we walked a bit further down that way. We saw a few snakes and on the way back there was fresh bobcat scat in the middle of the path (the visitor center had a whole display on scat found in the swamp), so we quickly made our return to the boat. That evening we played more games with ‘Faith’.

Thursday morning the boats at the other end told us they didn’t intend to leave until the last lock of the day, 3:30 pm. We wanted to leave the visitor center dock to make room for new boats coming through. There is another small dock in front of the next bridge before the lock. It is along a busy intersection, so not the best spot, but we figured we could at least have a place to tie up while we wait for the other boats to move out.

That morning going along the canal was beautiful. The sun was shining through the trees and the water was so calm it was hard to tell where the water ended and land began.

Along the way we crossed into Virginia. The canal was nice enough to have a welcome sign 😄. I’ve said throughout this whole trip that I wish the States would have signs along the water like they do on the highway. So I was excited to snap a pic.

When we got to the next dock there was a giant sailing catamaran already tied up there on the end. It was an awkward and tight squeeze fitting in front of it. Then ‘Faith’ had to raft to us, but at a funny angle as not to bump their bow on the piling bundle in front of us. It was a pretty amusing looking situation we ended up with.

It was indeed a busy and noisy section of town here. Right next to the dock was an empty lot that a work crew was clearing with weed wackers and leaf blowers on top of it. We ended up with debris all over the back deck. We also soon realized that it was a convict work crew, with several armed sheriff officers supervising them. Even better.

Now the boats docked down by the lock were reporting that a railroad bridge with only a 5ft clearance just past the lock was having mechanical issues, that they didn’t know when it would be working, and if it wasn’t fixed soon they were just going to stay another night on that dock. Which would mean we’d have to stay where we were 🫤. Not ideal.

There were a few restaurants just across the street so we decided to go get lunch and come up with additional back up plans. We went to El Puente Mexican Grill. It was very good! We ordered guacamole with our chips and a guy came to our table with a cart and made it fresh right there! I’ve never experienced that before, and it was delicious!

While sipping on a much needed cocktail, we discussed other options for the night. There was a marina after the lock just down another branch of the river. We figured we could go through the last lock of the day and to that marina if need be. I called them to make sure they would have space for both of us which they said they did. They also said though that they got word the train bridge was back in working order. We messaged the other boats and let them know. After confirming, they indicated that they would be going through the lock and on then.

So we were back to plan A. When we got back to the boats the work crew was gone and so was the giant catamaran. The lock tender came over to talk with us. The bridge only opens after the lock so he let us know that after the 3:30 lock he would come open the bridge for us and we’d have room to park on the dock at the lock. Perfect. There was also a grocery store next to the restaurant and we had been able to grab a few things before the bridge opened, plus having had a delicious lunch. So in the end it all worked out.

When we got down to the other dock it was a much nicer spot. There was nothing but a park right there that we took the dogs too and they could run around. That evening we played more cards and I discovered that Linda says kielbasi the same way my family does, she is the only other person I’ve heard say it that way. She said that’s how her family has always said it too 😄.

Friday morning we were ready for the first lock opening. We got through and made our way to Norfolk. Passing the Naval shipyard there were so many large Naval vessels lining the river.

As we got out into more open water the engine panel gave a low turbo pressure alert, decreasing the amount of power the engine was putting out and the speed we could travel. We hoped the water conditions would stay decent the rest of the way to Yorktown so it wouldn’t be an issue.

We made it to the York River Yacht Haven and got set up in our slip. The bar was having a Cinco de Mayo party and gave out some festive wear.

Don checked on the new engine issue while I took Skia for a walk.

Saturday we met ‘Faith’ at the Eggshead Diner for breakfast. They had a whole selection of specialty waffles that all sounded delicious, and I went with the very berry. From there we set off to see downtown Yorktown. We took the free city trolley to the American Revolution Museum. It had a lot of interesting information centering around the Battle at Yorktown, the last major battle of the Revolutionary War, which spoiler alert, we won.

Outside they had a camp set up exactly how it would have been during the war. We got to watch a live musket firing demonstration too.

From there we went to the actual battlefield. It is mostly a driving tour but the rangers gave us a short hiking trail map that took us to the main battle points where the Americans and French took the two major Redoubts: a temporary or supplementary fortification, typically square or polygonal and without flanking defenses.

We were close to the main part of town from here so we just walked back, passing the Victory Monument, erected to celebrate the Yorktown victory.

We also passed by the Nelson house. Home of Thomas Nelson Jr. One of the original signers of the Declaration of Independence. Nelson was one of the few citizens that stayed during the battle of Yorktown but General Charles Cornwallis of the British Army appropriated the house for his headquarters during the siege.

We got back to the main waterfront area and grabbed dinner at the Yorktown Pup. They had a nice outdoor patio with a view of the river.

Sunday morning we left the marina and were aiming for the Potomac. The York River was pretty calm but when we got out into the Chesapeake the wind had kicked up the waves a bit. Though they were coming from behind us we were still getting pushed around a little. The low turbo pressure alert came back on so we decided to stop sooner in Deltaville.

We went to the first marina inside the breakwall, Walden’s Marina. They were very friendly and helpful. The owner came down to talk with Don about our issue and let him know they do have a diesel specialist mechanic that would be in tomorrow if we need further assistance. Don found a kinked hose that he hadn’t noticed before which he believed to be the problem. He replaced it while Skia got lots of attention and treats from the dock neighbors.

Afterwards we took the marinas smart car to the grocery store. It felt like driving a fully enclosed golf cart 😄.

Luckily the local market wasn’t far and on the way back we stopped at Nauti Nell’s Nautical Gifts. I got my kitty fix from a very affectionate resident who liked my jeans.

We came back and took our own fluff for a walk. I had to call and cancel our next few marina reservations because we were not sure where we would be when now. Hopefully I can rebook them on the fly as we once again try to get up to the Potomac River.

So today we set back off towards our intended destination for yesterday. Once out into open water Don tested the boat. We were back to working at full power and speed 😄. The water was much calmer out on the Chesapeake this morning as well. So it was a much nicer days journey. We made our way into the Potomac River to Cole’s Point Marina.

This is an interesting area, where the whole river is considered Maryland, but landing on the West side of it we are still in Virginia. So one day behind our planned schedule, we are back on track for D.C.