ICW – Elizabeth City, North Carolina

There are two locks in the Dismal Swamp before arriving at Elizabeth City, North Carolina.  There is also a bridge that needs to be opened either before or after the lock which results in about a two hour lock through.  Elizabeth City is a wonderful, friendly city that has free docks to all transient boaters of the Dismal Swamp.  The town has a Rose Buddies party for the transient boaters and provide free drinks and snacks and a rose for all the women.  Leaving Elizabeth City we passed by the factory that makes blimps – this is quite secretive but we did get a picture of the factory and one of the blimps being made.  Every blimp operator in the US except for Goodyear is made and serviced in Elizabeth City.  

We sailed across the Albemarle Sound after leaving at dawn – what a beautiful sail!