Reality is it was already closed indefinitely, they just formalized indefinite. Now, it's just running into the scheduled work on the Deep Creek Lock which is planned to take 2 1/2 months. So, April or so looks like the earliest possible reopening to me.
........ But we would have to rethink a route south were the canal to reopen as "The TRUMP Dismal Canal".
Wes, just a bad joke.
Which is what the lady at the visitor center told me back before Thanksgiving also.
But she was pretty sure all phases of the project were a go.
But we would have to rethink a route south were the canal to reopen as "The TRUMP Dismal Canal".
The competition was going to rename it "The Deplorable Canal".
In Sept. we did the Albemarle Loop, leaving from Hampton, VA. From the beginning of the canal to the visitors center, we encountered submerged logs close to 30 times. One encounter stopped my starboard engine. I was running at idle speed, so no damage, but still . . .
The swamp is pretty, but the Virginia Cut not so harrowing.
Gordon
I swear by the Dismal for many reasons...but obviously not suitable for all boats.
I have used it 7 times over the last 5 years and never touched a thing...and I travel late and early after winter storms have had their way with trees.
I draw just a hair over 4 feet and have a full keel so if I did...not too big a deal.
Now, Robert the lock master did describe how a trawler ran up on stolen SUV that got dumped in the canal....but that's not common.
If you draw 5 feet or less and the canal is reopened....it is worth one trip in a boating career.
In Sept. we did the Albemarle Loop, leaving from Hampton, VA. From the beginning of the canal to the visitors center, we encountered submerged logs close to 30 times. One encounter stopped my starboard engine. I was running at idle speed, so no damage, but still . . .
The swamp is pretty, but the Virginia Cut not so harrowing.
Agreed. We bumped things 8 times (at idle, no damage) on our trip through the Dismal north in August. It was fun to do once, the Virginia Cut was much less stressful on the trip back south in October.
Is the canal ever dredged or cleaned or otherwise maintained?
Is the canal ever dredged or cleaned or otherwise maintained?
BandB, polite question, if you don't like this Canal, will never travel unless your boat has no Propellers, will not ever travel at the charted speed limit ? If charted depth is six feet, why would anyone navigate any channel who draws more water? If a sailboat has a 65' mast I would expect the operator would avoid 65' bridges
By way your boat is very pretty and I enjoy most of your posts.
Thanks. That encouraging after the horror stories being told here.