Making our way south from Chesapeake Bay back to the Caribbean, Andy and I decided to try taking Coromandel with her 6 foot draft through the Dismal Swamp Canal route. After all, who can resist going somewhere with such a beguiling name.

The result was a magical week between Portsmouth and Elizabeth City, chugging down the Canal, watching the mirror-like reflections of the trees in the water, one night at Deep Creek, three nights at the visitor centre (yes, three - there is so much to see and do within walking distance, one night in Lamb 's Marina (good laundry) and two at Mariners ' Wharf in Elizabeth City.

True, the depth gauge showed 0.0 much of the time, but we ran aground and came to a halt only twice and got off easily. It was splendid!