We awoke early this morning to discover that the TNTY was engulfed in fog! We had plans to return the rental car and get off by 8AM to catch the lock opening at South Mills at 11:00 AM. The radio said that local school openings were delayed for two hours for fog! So we decided to wait. We finally left at 10 AM for a beautiful ride through the Dismal Swamp Wildlife preserve. We took the Pasquotank River north cruising along with four sailboats also headed for the lock which begins the canal cut through the swamp.

We moored the boat at the NC/VA line to see the only Visitor Center on the Intercoastal Waterway. It has some cool exhibits about the history of the area including prehistoric swamp facts, wildlife in the swamp and an information about the digging of the canal. In 1763, George Washington at age 31 first visited the Dismal Swamp and called it a Glorious Paradise and we agreed. We did see some wild life – a few ducks, 2 snakes zigzagging in the water, a huge blue Heron souring through the tree tops and a Cardinal, but mostly we saw a still water mirror reflecting all shades of spring greens. I sat on the bow of the boat for a white this afternoon and these words came to mind “when I in awesome wonder, consider all the worlds Thy hands have made... Thy power throughout the universe displayed, then sings my soul”. There was such amazing beauty God has made for us.

Tonight we are tied up right by the bridge at Deep Creek, because the bridge doesn’t open again until 8:30 AM tomorrow morning. This was a lucky find. We had a great supper of enchiladas at the Mexican restaurant by the bridge. We also found an auto parts store across the street where we bought me a replacement cell phone charger (I left mine in New York). Tonight we are exercising with our new workout ball... It is great, and we have to do something to work off the calories of just riding all day.