Dismal Swamp Canal

The Dismal Swamp Canal is anything but dismal.  When first dug it was a commercial venture that attracted significant investors, one we all know was George Washington who invested in it in 1760's.  He later sold his interest in the Dismal Swamp investment company and that first venture failed.  The ditch that payed off for investors was dug by hand and opened up the swamp land from Virginia to North Carolina in the early 1800's.  This allowed flat boats to haul goods without going into the Atlantic. Not much wider than the Stones River it is now for recrecreational boaters and boasts having the only welcome center that serves both cars and boats.  Boaters are allowed to dock for the night and walk the trails or visit the Nature Center run by the federal park system.  The picture shows the beauty of this canal.  We had to go through one lock to get into the canal  and parked on the side under a tree and had lunch.  This 50 mile stretch of wilderness is the most beautiful part of this trip so far. Next stop Norfolk.