The Deep Creek Bridge opened up at 8:30. There was no hurry to get from there to the lock, as the lock keeper does both jobs. This lock, the last of two on the Dismal Swamp canal was a real treat. As we descended eight feet to the level of the Elizabeth River, the lockmaster, Robert Peek, brought us fresh coffee, told us that the water from the Dismal Swamp was some of the cleanest and longest lasting in the world (due to the peat and acidic nature, it had been considered by NASA for lunar missions before reverse osmosis was invented) and told us the best places to go in Norfolk. He even played “When the Saints Go Marching In” on a conch shell for our amusement. What a great way to start a day!
Emerging from the swamp, we were rapidly propelled into the metropolis of Norfolk as we passed by the huge shipyards and freight terminals that serve the Navy and commercial shipping. We anchored at Mile Marker One on the ICW, which is at hospital point between Portsmouth and Norfolk.
The afternoon brought a trip to Nauticus, the National Maritime Museum where we enjoyed the NOAA exhibit, participated in singing some sea chanties, toured the Battleship Wisconsin and had a generally good time. It was Pirate day, in conjunction with the opening of Pirates of the Caribbean II. Pirates did some fun science demonstrations showing how canons worked that Noah really enjoyed. We dinghied from the Nauticus over to Waterside and enjoyed dinner at Joe’s Crabhouse where the slogan in Peace, Love & Crabs.
Spent the night at anchor. It is a little bouncy due to all the shipping traffic, but it is fun to watch all the boats. The anchorage is right off a huge Navy Hospital, part of which was used in the civil war. It has a large dome, much like a planetarium, that was used to illuminate the operating rooms back in the 1800’s.
update 2020-10-1: Sadly, the SSCA announced Robert Peek died today.
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