NCJun1

JUNE 1

DAY 25

Bernie and Nancy left Norfolk today
via airplane for Salt Lake City.

Bill, Donna, Glenn and Ruth
are still another day at Deltaville due to rough seas.

Karen, Walt, Janet and Ken
are able to scratch off the Dismal Swamp
from their bucket lists.

GEORGE WASHINGTON & THE DISMAL SWAMP

In May 1763, George Washington made his first visit to the Swamp and suggested draining it and digging a north-south canal through it to connect the waters of Chesapeake Bay in Virginia and Albemarle Sound in North Carolina. Joining with several other prominent Virginians and North Carolinians, he formed two syndicates known as the Dismal Swamp Land Company and the Adventurers for Draining the Great Dismal Swamp. This group hoped to drain the Swamp, harvest the trees, and use the land for farming.

The company purchased 40,000 acres of Swamp land for $20,000 in 1763. Washington directed the surveying and digging of the 5-mile long ditch from the western edge of the Swamp to Lake Drummond, known today as Washington Ditch. In the late 1700's, Riddick Ditch was completed. Together these ditches provided a way to transport logs out of the Swamp and drain it as well. The Adventurers soon realized, however, that the task of draining the Swamp was enormous and gave up that part of their plan to concentrate on lumbering. They cut much of the cypress trees for use in shipbuilding and the cedars for shingles and other products.

By 1796, Washington had become disappointed in the management of the Dismal Swamp lumber business and contracted to sell his 1/12th share to "Lighthorse" Harry Lee, father of Robert E. Lee, who never was able to come up with the purchase price. So Washington's share passed on to his heirs upon his death in 1799.

Report by
Pat and Paul

FINAL
REPORT
FROM
CAMEO

CAMEO arrived in Coinjock Saturday, May 30. After fueling, washing boat, taking hot showers, having delicious meal we turned in for a good nights rest, knowing we would be making a long leg of our journey home on Sunday.

We left Coinjock, 6:15 A.M. Sunday morning. We arrived at Albemarle Sound and guess what??? Two and three feet seas, winds out of the Southwest, first mate Pat says "Do we do this again?", Captain Paul says, "Waves only half as big as last time."....so we go. Fortunately, as we crossed the sound after passing middle marker, the seas dropped to two feet. After entering the Alligator River, we were able to pick up weather forecast giving the Pamlico Sound information. It was soon evident that our schedule for going around Maw Point was going to coincide with bad weather...twenty knot Northeaster, three feet seas, waves on port beam. Not a good ride. The weather at Maw Point for Sunday afternoon was Southwest winds 10-15, 1-2 feet seas. So, a quick decision was made....skip the Pungo anchorage and proceed at flank speed to Maw Point and get around Sunday afternoon. We knew we were in for a long ride in one day. We turned Maw Point at 4:00 P.M. Sunday afternoon. After passing Broad Creek, we met the famous Neuse River chop...wind coming straight down the River, 2 and 3 feet waves on the bow. A bumpy ride. We proceeded to Club Foot Creek for overnight anchorage. Distance traveled in one day-122 nautical miles, a whole bunch.

Monday morning we up anchored and the predicted Northeast winds had arrived. Getting across river in the lee shore of Minnesott, we had a smooth ride up to Northwest Creek and home dock--arriving at 10:15 A.M. Monday morning, June 1.