Dismal Swamp, Take 2

I know there are a lot of pictures but we both really loved this place!  One interesting fact we learned was that while we weren't sure about the chocolate colored water, it was so pure due to the extreme amount of tannins that created the color.  Over the centuries before watermakers, large vessels would send supply barges up the river to fill their casks for ocean voyages since it would stay sweet and nothing bad could grow in it.  The only negative were the yellow flies and other bothersome flying pests!  Screens helped but leaving the cockpit to tie up only gave them a way in to bite. 

About half-way up the canal, there is a wonderful stop.  It's wonderful
not just because it was a free tie-up, but it was so lovely as well.   On one side was
the North Carolina Visitor's Center and a long trail to walk.  On the opposite shore
easily accessed via a foot bridge, was the Dismal Swamp State Park with
more trails and a museum/nature center.  This bit of recent deadfall
was along one of the paths we took.

No paved roads were in the state park but this ranger road led to the
headquarters and had miles of trails leading off of it into various
areas of the swamp.  They ask you to sign in with a ranger and let them
know your intended route in case you get lost.

Lots of ripening blackberries along all the paths and canal banks.  Keep
the bears, birds and other wildlife fed.

Not a great picture but I tried.  The flowers around the Visitor's Center
were full of so many butterflies, bees and dragonflies.  Such a lovey
scene of natural symbiosis.

One of the former feeder canals in the swamp.

You can see cypress knees but the water level is now so low in this
area that the forest is not thick.

On our walk, I came across 2 snakes very close together.  I would
never have seen them if I hadn't almost stepped on one.  Not sure
why they were hanging out together.  One was on each side of the tree.
This was the Eastern Garter Snake.

Both our boats filled the space along the dock wall.  Another boat pulled
in behind us as we were leaving.  Free is always popular!

The Eastern King snake.  It was as surprised as I was when I nearly
stepped on it!d

On the Visitor's Center side, the path was paved.  It was over 3 miles
and we didn't have time to cover it all so we walked for about an
hour in then turned around.

Visitor Center's flag and one of it's gorgeous rose bushes.

This floating foot bridge leads from one side of the canal to the other.  It opens
to allow boats to pass.  I was driving when it opened for us so no pictures of it's
opening.

This low shrub is called Pocoisin and is a habitat for deer, bear and
other small animals.  You can see how dense the foliage is with
vines, bushes and other low growing plants.

The State Park from the opposite shore.

This was a still replica. During Prohibition, moonshine was big
business for folks along the canal and in the swamp.

So many places to hideout if you were on the run.

Trumpet flowers added a dash of red all over the swamp.

Click on this picture to enlarge it.  This was the only state border sign
we ever saw along the entire Atlantic ICW route.  This is welcoming
us to Virginia.

One view of the wonderful landscaping of the Visitor's Center. 
Someone sure knew their business!

The center is bordered by a busy state highway to the east and the canal
to the west.  Lots of drivers would stop to look a the boats.

More lovely plants.

They are off to the side but a large group of kids was getting ready
to launch canoes for a day on the canal.  We traveled along with
them for a bit.  It was fun to see them out enjoying the canal.

This was a large hole but not sure who's home it was.

Woodpeckers sure loved this tree.

Splash of yellow along the way.