ICW Boat Trip - NY to Florida ep10 The Dismal Swamp 

This is why I love RU-vid. I had never even heard of the Dismal Swamp. Thanks for sharing your trip. Looks pretty amazing.

This looks like a place where the mosquitos consider something like "OFF" or "Deet" as human salad dressing.

The signs on the 95 through Virginia always cracked me up “ The Great Dismal Swamp”

Wound up taking the Dismal Swamp route by mistake once...at night... a moonless night, on board a 90 foot 60 ton head boat. To say we were glad to get to the lock and tie up until morning is an understatement.

We went thru in 2014 when Robert was lock master. RIP Robert. He told us to just take our time on our journey to the Florida Keys. He also said forget about time. You'll get there when you get there. Enjoy the trip.

Thanks, that was one of the best video logs of a trip on the Dismal Swamp Canal I think I have seen. That trip has been on my bucket list for a while.

I have wanted to see the Dismal Swamp since I was young. This video showed it is like I picture. As if you are the only person on earth. Thanks for sharing.

Wow boats are gas guzzlers, i knew this, just didnt know it was that bad!!

I really enjoyed this. My mother who is 100 yrs old , visited the dismal swamp and went on a canoe tour of the swamp in the 1940's. She said the guide was a older gentleman with a white beard who recited the "Lady of the Lake" from memory. He also insisted that they drink the water from the swamp as it had healing properties. He rinsed out a old tin can and that was passed around.

Bizarre, eerie landscape

That “abandoned” bridge is for access to private property on the other side. Farmland, house, barn. I’ve done some dove hunting there. If you noticed, the bridge is stored on the south (right) side of the canal. It can be extended over the canal when needed.

The reflection makes a good photo

I lived in Elizabeth City for about a year, a little over 20 years ago when I was still in the Navy. Neat little town. Some of the biggest snakes I have ever seen in the wild I saw there in Pasquotank County.

Two true athletes conquering the world!

My goodness that is such a gorgeous view and journey in the channel.

The creek is eerily beautiful with the lush green going right down to the water

Gosh, I think they should rename it, "The Beautiful Swamp." Some nice photography for sure. I like the little Lock Keepers house. The greenery off to the sides is lush beyond belief. Thank you for producing these fine video's without a bunch of hype. Anyone who loves the outdoors gets finger nicks on a weekly basis. We sure have a beautiful nation.

Lambs Marina, and now renovated restaurant in Camden is now open. This Albemarle area is my home. I was also born in Belhaven. Brackish life. Cool to see a video of it. Thanks for the journey down the “as I know it” George Washington canal!

Right about 6:30 in the video, you passed a set of barges that are used to move farm equipment and right after that is the cut to Lake Drummond. Wild grapes in the fall of the year.

This was so relaxing. I thoroughly enjoyed this trip. Thank you.

New subscriber from Italia here!

Great video! "Dismal Swamp" was one of my favorite lessons back in middle school!

thanks for the rarely seen scenery and your calm style.

In my teens in the 80s I worked a sightseeing boat from the James to the Great Dismal Swamp, back then there were four locks and you had to wait there was so much traffic. They have tried to allow the swamp to reclaim, stupid if you ask me will cost Virginia in the future when the ICW is impassable through the swamp. Oh and you noted the color of the water, back in the day we called it the coke a cola river.

When you're reading off the spreadsheet, I got a real strong Teddy from Bob's Buger's vibe. Thanks for sharing!

Stopped at the school also. Was befriended by the school's minister who gave us the use of his personal automobile to go shopping. A super guy! He even ran a water hose out to our boat for our convenience while we were there (3 days I think)

Didn't even know this was possible so many things to do in this life

Just stumbled on this channel... Wow, does this bring back some wonderful memories! Next opportunity you have to stop at the DSwamp Visitor's Center, they keep daily entry book of those vessels and crew who've stopped and registered. My first trip through the canal was with my Dad in 2000. We came back a few years later and they dug out our old entry and made us a copy. For me the really interesting info was about the water that looks like root beer. A little research revealed that sailing vessels preparing for extended time at sea would load up their water barrels with this swamp water. The chemicals in it coming from the swamp made the water great to drink and it would last for months at sea. Be well, be safe!

Love the videos and the adventure. I also wondered about the route, but I see the responses.

ports... muth. = portsmouth... I'm a local so I know. great vid.

Been thru here a number of times on my 34 ft sailing catamaran. Got stuck at the visitor center for 10 days because high water from a passing hurricane prevented the locks from working.😮

Great video. Thank you.

This stuff has always fascinated me! Very cool little adventure.

In my younger years I was in a Sea Explorer Ship in Norfolk and we rowed from Town Point to Elizabeth City every Summer, over-nighting at the South Mills Lock. Our best time was 13 hours and 16 minutes.

Beautiful scenery for a Dismal Swamp. Loved the extra video.

Secret... Just by the entrance to the Deep Creek locks entrance off to your port side, there is a wild cherry tree. Hit it when they ripen and feast. The cut to South Mills is known as one that George Washington surveyed as a young man, the water exiting from Lake Drummond was coveted for its keeping fresh on long sea voyages. The tannins and tannic acid were responsible for the keeping the water fresh. It's been almost 60 years since the canal became one of my favorite fresh water swimming spots. Don't worry about the water moccasins. Just swim faster.

Incredible excursion! Best wishes for a brilliant future.

Just bought a 2007 341 last week for traveling the Great Lakes with my wife and three small kids and just wanted to say how much we enjoy your videos and how much they have helped us with knowledge on maintenance on this boat. Safe travels and keep them coming, great work!

that swamp is right near one of my fave skydive places

This is incredible, thanks for sharing you adventure

I worked with the local power utility for many years up that way. Many of the sites in your video I have seen over those years, but never from your perspective... always from the banks. It was like a trip down memory lane as you progressed. Thanks for sharing. That was awesome.

I love these videos, thank you so much for making them

I am really enjoying this series! The drone footage is amazing! I appreciate the commentary you provide. You are living the life, brother!

Dismal swamp is quite tranquil

This is the first video of yours that I've seen. Well done. I have a sailboat so it's fun to see how the other half lives.

Very informative. Laid back cruise! Thanks for taking the time to make the video it was awesome.

Brave flying a drone near trees over water! But it's what gave us such great footage. I'm adding this detour to our future plans on the Great Loop.

Just started following your channel. What a great way to see America. Completely different perspective. Very cool.

Looks like a great adventure. Enjoy!

Very cool part of the ICW. I’ll have to explore it myself someday. Thanks for sharing.

Been making this drive pretty often that runs parallel to this! Cool to see what it looks like from a boat POV

Fantastic! Love your video and commentary! Safe Travels!

This is an awesome documentary of your trip! So pretty - we used to drive by the Dismal Swamp canals on the way to the beach...always wondered what the journey looked like.

Greener than I remember but the same seawater strainer problem , stay safe out there 👍👍🇺🇸

absolutely beautiful journey

Awesome view from the camera thank you for Sharing the footage have a great trip be safe

Way cool video. Visited Dismal Swamp once, but your video shows a whole lot more from a boat. Very enjoyable to watch.

Thank you I’m gonna b a shrimp boat captain when I grow up

Enjoyed your video. I subscribed to you. I did the Long Island to Palm Beach and back trips twice back in 2001-2003. It was great.

Really enjoying the series. Excellent work with editing and drone coverage.

This was so interesting thank you for posting, I grew up boating in the Pacific Northwest but this is something special

Well that was different. So interesting the different parts of our country. Thanks for sharing

Oh thanks, great memories. Good job on the video. (Sorry your finger got bit). Have made this trip several times. Always good times. Have stayed overnight and have done it straight through. Over night more fun and relaxing and less pressure on schedule. I have always been able to find a spot. We made the trip from NC to Annapolis once in late april. We encountered snow and cold and rain, but we had a nice warm pilothouse and on the entire trip only saw 2 vessels. A sailboat heading to Baltimore and a navy tug towing a barge. That was it! Really great trip. We could use the autopilot a lot as NO traffic! Again, thanks!

I used to live in Elizabeth City. I miss it tremendously. What an amazing area.

This is Awesome!

I have seen SO many boat tours and I haven't seen what is built into this special boat, but it looks like it packs all the essentials in the right size! Interior space isn't wasted, like on many pricey Finland-made boats, with just enough walkway space along the sides to gain access to and from the bow or to secure fenders while docking.

Enjoying your videos - thanks for doing them! Safe traveling. Cheers...

Spectacular! Thank you~

That was cool. Stay Blessed!!!

This is a cool video, I live in EC myself. I'm surprised to see this video recommended to me lol

How surreal, with that perfect reflection....

Watched every one so far...excellant.

What you thought was an old train track is a bridge that a farmer extends to move farm machinery across the canal. Those little floats you passed have a chain running across the canal usually on the bottom so they hop on and pull themselves across.

Really enjoyable watch. As a UK based boater I'm envious of how beautifully maintained everything is. The facilities on the inland waterways in the east of England where I'm based are shocking in comparison.

I was a little kid had in the early 60's when my dad brought me and my brother through here in our little 17 foot Thompson. I remember seeing snakes and that made an impression. Would love to revisit. Great video

Thanks for the ride!

Well just subscribed and looking forward to watching your adventure. Looks like you have a good size boat with nice accommodations on the journey.

Thanks for the trip captain

WOW the river is so calm. beautiful reflections

I pretty much take this route (By land) every day at work! Awesome to see it from the water's point of view. I'm dying for a boat! LOL! Great Video!

The swamp transit was very cool looked calming too.

Great video, brings backmemories of when I was stationed at at USN comm. base on the Virginia/North Carolina border. Spent many days on the "swamp river". The only down side is you have to be very careful and not get too close to the bank and over hanging trees. Many many many snakes (water mocasins, and others like to hang on the the branches waiting for prey. Other than that and the nasty green/orange crap in the water have fun!

That looks like a interesting part of the loop.

Absolutely awesome 👍 Made the trip from Cape May NJ to Ft. Lauderdale in 1991 on my parents brand new 45 Viking Yacht. Your videos bring back awesome and cherished memories. Like taking the trip all over again. Not much has changed. Keep up the amazing videos. Tight Lines and fair seas

Wow this was interesting to watch, a real different environment from what I grew up in on Oahu.

It was good seeing this video. I used to go canoeing in the canals there back in the mid-80s. The water looks like coffee.

Really enjoyed this trip with you. Very well presented, excellent production quality.I hope to do this one day.

I really like your spreadsheet, great information! Enjoy your videos! Peace.

Thx for vids

GREAT VIDEO!!! 🙂👍

This is a nice little cabin cruiser nice trip on the water soon pleasant

Great boat man, I went to school in front of the deep Creek locks and bridge. back in the 70's the water was 6 ft lower.

The water looks like tea lol! So glad to see some canal rides in the states for once. I’ve been fascinated with the long boots of England for years now so it’s really neat to see that we have waterways like this here in the southeast. Safe journeys, cheers!

Great video. Thanks for making and sharing...

So beautiful so green!

Norfolk, my hometown. Enjoy your trip down "the ditch"

I was born in Long Island & reside in Florida Thank God! I've built boats for Meridian and some of that green crap may be Cyanobacteria which is very common in fresh water

Awesome video. 👍👏 Nice boat 🛥 BTW

Over the past week I watched your entire trip and issues with Hurricane Ian. Great videos! Really appreciate it as I hope to make almost (PA to FL) the same trip sometime soon. Thank you, hope you are enjoying sunny Florida, and keep up the great work!

Tom - what a fascinating journey. Seems so remote and distant - until you put the bird up into the air. Thanks for posting.