ICW Boat Trip - NY to Florida ep10 The Dismal Swamp

Our boat journey continues from Norfolk Virginia through the great Dismal swamp onwards to Elizabeth City North Carolina. After a stormy day prior, the crew of Happy Ours takes its last few looks at Navy warships before heading up the dismal creek, through its canal and locks and finally to the welcoming Elizabeth City with its free docks and hospitality.
Join the crew of Happy Ours as it travels from New York to Cape Coral Florida along America’s Great Loop and intracoastal waterway down the east coast.
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[@jwl9286]

Drove down 17 many times and wondered what a trip on Dismal would be like! Thanks for sharing. Now I know!

[@guscarlson7021]

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

[@rayb1330]

There is a multi use trail that runs parallel to the water. It's the biting flies that are terrible.

[@guscarlson7021]

@@rayb1330 I can believe it. Horse flies can bite like Hell.

[@Morningfire19D]

A torrent of biting flies is omnipresent.

[@navydoc8695]

It 100% is. I used to live about a mile from there.

[@garyjohnson1970]

Off is on, and Deet is sweet! The Skeeters!

[@mikethedesertrat]

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

[@HeilRay]

Goin on a boat trip from the comfort of inside

[@mikethedesertrat]

@@HeilRay Only if it's bad weather, otherwise put me out there. Too many places to boat all of them, but my goal is to die trying.

[@kylereider54]

Turn that boat around and go back to ny... sincerely a real Floridian🖕

[@hikerhobby1204]

Me too! My son often calls “What are you up to?” “I’m traveling via KZbin!” I’ve learned so much!

[@johnlockesghost5592]

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.

[@kennethhacker3014]

Wow ..did ya do any prop damage?

[@marktinkler6897]

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)

[@chuckfowler8875]

Wow that canal was dug by hand by slaves in 1805 that is the longest known man made waterway in the states.

[@timflynn2136]

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.

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

Wise man!

[@terryt2728]

Do they live in that little house or is it just the office?

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

@terryt2728 I think just the office. Every lock I’ve seen has a sizable operating station but no beds that I saw. 😂

[@direstraights]

Ahhh so true...that's the entire point is to enjoy the journey 🎉

[@rivahlivin]

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.

[@alexandrep4913]

The last part is insane

[@MrJhchrist]

@@alexandrep4913 Well she lived to 100 so...

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

I had read the same claims about the healing properties. It was treasured back in the day. I believe George Washington also had the same beliefs and used it for his troops.

[@phantom7681]

Fun Fast: Tannic water is safer to drink if you dont have access to boiling etc than most regualr water sources due to the high ph? that kills off many bacteria

[@billwashburn8568]

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.

[@hobsonbeeman7529]

The very last ( other 70 miles offshore) that you want to breakdown at. Beautiful swamp..coming from a Floridian!

[@ralphholiman7401]

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.

[@daviddavid5880]

Awesome. I'd love to do this. Reminds me of a book called "Voyage of the Paper Canoe". Nathaniel Holmes Bishop. Dude traveled from Quebec to the Gulf of Mexico in 1874. He basically bet that he could get to the gulf entirely on rivers, canals and the ICW. Fascinating read.

[@bboobb1122334455]

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.

[@keithscudder7136]

The Intracoastal waterway is up and down the east Coast !

[@quidproquo3933]

water color in the dismal looked Amazonian very interesting lil slice of the u.s.

[@virginiastirnweis.6496]

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.

[@RBEmerson]

Yep, nothing more heart-stopping than hearing a "sunker" bang into the hull, or pick up a prop shimmy you didn't have a couple minutes ago.

[@sccharmed]

Congrats on the the first day or leg in your adventure. My Granddaughter still talks about you saying hello to her on the TV lol 6 yrs old and she is extra lol 😂

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

That’s great! Lol

[@kennethdias9988]

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

[@chriscunnane7596]

it is a very dangerous,, place ,our military does not train there it is no joke

[@chefdan87]

I can vouch for the traffic hating you at the George Washington bridge just past the lock. I have to close a lane right there once or twice a year to exercise some valves for the waste water system and i have never been cursed at by so many people than there. People just dont have any patience anymore.That bridge is set to be rebuilt and widened here in not too long and should hopefully ease congestion.

[@great0789]

Blackbeard (the pirate) used to stay in Elizabeth City as his homebase I hear. Lots of cool history for that town.

[@nickgoodall578]

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

[@LSpruill44]

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!

[@76629online]

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.

[@CalciteSerendipity]

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.

[@williammahaffy4642]

Very nice.... In the late 1970's, the Corp of Engineers decided the DSC was too expensive to maintain both water and air draft to accommodate traffic (trees were over-growing the waterway and sailboats could not maneuver). Walter Cronkite, an accomplished sailor and prolific author in addition to his other notoriety, was given permission to take is sailing yacht "Wyntje" through the DSC for a "final trip". He then wrote about the trip and the history of the canal for The Waterway Guide- the bible for everyone travelling the ICW. Obviously, the canal has remained open and adequately maintained and should be a bucket list item for anyone making the ICW trip.

[@justintillett]

I’m in Roanoke Island watching your video from Portsmouth to Elizabeth City. Great video!

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

Thanks for watching!

[@BoatingCharlie]

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!

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

Thanks and good luck! Any questions you have, let me know!

[@jb-il3vh]

oh my, howd that Go

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

Went great!

[@ronz101]

@@BoatingCharlie Chas.... Prep. your ride for salt water ahead of time. Lakes are great but salt is briney. 🧂

[@John-ji5bo]

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.

[@TheCastedone]

'Merica

[@beesbythesea8899]

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

[@Night--Shift]

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

[@randyclyde4939]

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!

[@mikegrant8490]

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.

[@BobbyFigliola]

Enjoyed the Video and excursion.... good thin ya had the fun beofe Ian and the Nicole weather stuff ya woulsa been surfin

[@jerrycallender9927]

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.

[@gaugetherage5207]

I cross the deep creek bridge everyday for work - 2 times. Live in EC. They have a new bridge going in NOW!!!

[@markrix]

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

[@artsmith103]

This speed is their high mpg

[@83RBurke]

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

[@lindamortensen7835]

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

[@dgwinc]

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.

[@mikegrant8490]

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.

[@ronz101]

My first trip through the "Great Dismal Swamp". Interesting and it didn't cost me. Thanks for the ride. 🎉

[@watermouse9296]

7:36 - Wow that could be a bit disorienting. What a cool journey!

[@jamesfreach1022]

Nice trip vlog. Now I know what to expect if I take that route

[@Johnnyreb818]

Other than the trees that looks exactly like the GITMO river in Cuba. We were stationed there in the 90s and would cruise up and down the river to catch snook, the river there was lined with mangroves but looked the same.

[@Morningfire19D]

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.

[@ksessa1010]

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

[@ikaikamaleko8370]

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

[@RonnieStanley-tc6vi]

I went to school in Chesapeake. I lived within a mile of the Intercoastal in Deep Creek. We fished and crabbed the loch waters as kids. I lived there so long that I couldn't smell the dredge water at all. I left at 18 and never went back. It's very expensive to live there and it is no longer a suburb. I just enjoy the country too much.

[@johnramsayskier]

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

[@RussellBond13]

When you grab the drone flip it quickly upside down and it will shut off. Enjoying the trip.

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

Great tip thanks!

[@ATLOffroad]

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

[@Huggybear101]

This one was really enjoyable. I have the same drone as you and I would have had that thing flying everywhere through those swamps......beautiful! Always appreciate the shout out you give to the nice folks you meet along the way.

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

Did you Notice the drone hit a tree branch? I cut it off just as it hit but thankfully it didn’t drop into the canal. Lol

[@AllanRothwell]

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

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ItsMeScareCro]

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

[@roadboat9216]

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!

[@stevenikitas8170]

Nice video... I have heard of the Swamp but never seen it from this point of view...

[@kennethhacker3014]

This is incredible, thanks for sharing you adventure

[@kennethhacker3014]

I been wanting to take my cruiser on this trip ..I don't have a good navigation software yet...

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

The Navionics app or Aquamaps are affordable alternatives to use when navigating with a tablet with gps capabilities. Or even you smartphone.

[@hamboozled6007]

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

[@jasonjoseph3975]

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

[@un-commoncents2805]

Dismal swamp- the mosquitoes will drain you dry but the deer flies will kill you. Its awesome to see hometown stuff from the water point of view

[@egomaniac247]

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.

[@EddieM-n3p]

We did the Elizabeth city to Portsmouth in Sep 2020 going north in a Bluewater 53 Coastal Cruiser. Elizabeth City was zero, those finger piers where you pulled up were missing most of their boards, we didn't stop. We had to wake up the bridge operator... by calling his cell phone, CH16, 9 ,11 what ever didn't work, the horn didn't work. Larry Lamb at Lambs Marine was the place!!! Great greeting by Larry and the community. Spent the night, great restaurants across the street from the marina. Great Stop at Lamb's Marina!! Lost a prop in the garbage coming out of the South Mill Locks....1 engine for 27 miles running crab angle. Bad day in a place my 1st mate insisted we go, never again.

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

Yikes. That’s a rough trip!

[@charlespayne1061]

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.

[@knightflyer7968]

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!

[@keithscudder7136]

Get a boat with a enclosed wheel house unless you like the mosquitos !

[@richardcasey4439]

Very interesting trip. Please show more.

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

We have a whole 1500 miles of more! Keep watching our series!

[@williamwebb7917]

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

[@michaelford746]

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

[@krisholden5365]

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

[@mikeboone4425]

Canal boat speed that won't hurt anything. Stay safe guys

[@marktinkler6897]

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.😮

[@socal33]

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.

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

Brave or stupidity. Lol. It struck a branch and luckily didn’t crash. You can see that footage in the video. I cut it just as it hit branch. Lol

[@AndrewOvenden]

You’ve definitely got to avoid using the “return to home” button. I’ve seen a few boating videos where they forgot that their boat had moved on from the launch point 😂

[@zacharymohrmann4329]

I have always wanted to do the full circle all the way around from Fort Pierce, Florida just north of the Saint Lucie Canal to New York thru the Great Lakes and down the Intercostal connecting to the great Mississippi River across the Southern Intercostal back thru the Saint Lucie Canal up the Indian River Back to my home port in Fort Pierce again... Who knows maybe some day...! Best of Luck and smooth sailing fellows..

[@davidfalcone4736]

When I was 18 I jumped on a long line boat in and had Thanksgiving in the dismal swamp that trip hooked me on Long lining and I went from Venezuela to Newfoundland sword and tuna fishing for 20 years

[@wolfkremen]

thanks for the rarely seen scenery and your calm style.

[@mattheweburns]

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!

[@Hurricane0721]

That tea colored water is due to a chemical called tannin. It’s a natural chemical that the plants surrounding the water slowly leak into the water. Tannin producing plants are very common to the swampy areas of the Southeast US.

[@robertjohnson4784]

Hey guys I ran across your channel and I absolutely Love vou're video I live in central Florida on the West CoastI have been around boats all my life I have owned many boats I buy and sell and fix them up I would love to do your trip someday big thank you for the video

[@darronlemell224]

You'd absolutely love the California delta system

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

I have to look into that! Sounds interesting!

[@jimmybritt9537]

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

[@isaacroda]

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!

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

Wow thanks for the binge watch! We have so much more pre Ian video to get out. Hard to keep up.

[@garneauweld1100]

Beautiful footage. You two are brave!

[@riproar11]

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.

[@jarrodforet3557]

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

[@robertberry1033]

Loved that trip, alway liked the Dismal Swamp.

[@BaldwinBay]

Incredible excursion! Best wishes for a brilliant future.

[@ronaldharmon9891]

The swamp transit was very cool looked calming too.

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

Except when we hit things. Lol

[@markswishereatsstuff2500]

Interesting. Of all the deliveries through the years, I've never gone this route. I usually do Great Bridge to Coinjock to Albermarle Sound.

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

I wouldn’t take the swamp route on deliveries unless the sound is whipped up bad.

[@davidcarter805]

It is called the George Washington Canal. Yes our 1st president was also a surveyor and carved out the route. Along the shoreline there are many buried or toppled granite posts that were used to tie the barges and horses that pulled them through the canal back 200+ years ago. No motorboats of course, and sailboats wouldn't work.

[@sochinese]

WOW the river is so calm. beautiful reflections

[@hansrenker2923]

Looks like a great adventure. Enjoy!

[@tigerphid9677]

How surreal, with that perfect reflection....

[@Va.2Az]

I grew up in Chesapeake, me and one of my old friends used to go out and kayak the dismal swamp all the time. It’s was eerie but cool as well. A lot of smoking for sure. Lol Seen bear, deer and all other types of wildlife. Sometimes you’d see random bubbles coming up out the water. 😬 We just acted like we didn’t see it. Lol The 5:30 mark (boat ramp) is where we would put in the kayaks. The footbridge that you see at 6:50 belongs to an old couple who live on the swamp, they have to use that to get to their home. Met them a few times as well…

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

Cool! Thanks for the local info!

[@jamesrose1191]

I’m one of those landlubber who loves the swamp and to stop at the rest area and park.

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

Looks like a fun place to visit. Wish we had time to stay overnight

[@PaulsVlogs42101]

beautiful views, living in A houseboat is my dream.

[@AdventuresofHappyOurs]

Life’s too short. Do it!

[@bradwhite6254]

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.

[@kevinlyons4545]

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

[@davideide2403]

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!

[@john3242]

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

[@dinkoverstinkcatfishing5722]

Absolutely Beautiful I would love to do something like this I honestly knew nothing of this kind of deal. Wow 👌

[@jeffmotley6400]

This is near me, the water is like root beer. The boat rail is neat. Fishing is surprisingly tough.

[@timmycLA287]

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