A memorable day. The closest we have ever come to losing a boat and some of the most beautiful waterway travel we have seen. After an early start we called the Elizabeth City lift bridge - no answer. Then Steve from "Slow Flight" called and got a reply. He said to the bridge keeper, two north bound boats to go through and then the bridge opened. Steve went first and we followed. When he cleared the bridge we started to enter, and then I heard the horrifying warning hooter, the bridge was coming down. The skipper threw the engine in reverse, I rushed down the deck to grab the hand held radio, and must say, started screaming at the bridge keeper to stop the bridge coming down. Fortunately quick thinking on Gary's part and a powerful engine we were able make a quick retreat in the tight space between the piers. The foremast was seconds from being crushed and probably pushed through the bottom to the boat. We were so very lucky and so very angry. The bridge guy didn't even apologise, just claimed we were heading south and hadn't tried to contact him, but changed his tone a little with Steve's back up.

Tranquility returned as we headed into the sunrise and the beautiful winding journey up the Pasquotank River. Tree lined and glass calm we quietly motored through the waterway. The reflections were so perfect that the dividing line between water and land was hard to see. Dragonflies, sea eagles, grey heron and turtles came and went in a dream like calm. One log had a pair of eyes which slowly disappeared into the water as we approached, not sure what is was but couldn't help but think of Gollum.

Out of the river we approached our next excitement, the lock. We went a little too close and started to get pulled towards the lock gates. Another quick three point turn, we retreated with only our dignity ruffled and a few leaves as decoration. Boating is never boring. The lock keeper was lovely and it all went smoothly from there.

The Dismal swamp is the largest swamp left on the eastern sea board and part of it was once owned by George Washington. The irony is that the poor slaves who were made to dig the Dismal Swamp canal by hand then started escaping through the swamp (cause they knew it so well) and later on it became part of the escape route to the north. Edgar Allan Poe is also said to have written "The Raven" in the hotel. I can imagine on a wet rainy day this would indeed be an ominous place. Even today it reminds you how insignificant and vulnerable we are when faced with nature without out our protective machines.