Behind already! Day 4

Hi there Friends and Family,
Another beautiful sunny day and warm 72 degrees on the Dismal Swamp Canal. We left mid morning , the sailors (our neighbors for the night ) had got up early to make the 8.30 am lock opening.We decided the 11 am opening suited us fine.In fact we never saw any other boats on today's trip  apart from the odd small fishing boat .One guy offered us a specked trout he had caught.We politely declined.Filleting fish is not one of our skills yet! The South Mills lock had the same arrangement as the other one.This time in reverse.The bridge opened first then the lock keeper raced off  in his car to organize the lock opening.This time we went down 8 ft.This guy was not as friendly as our other lock keeper.No tips or advice or history lesson. The rest of the Canal was idyllic .Graeme had music playing on his I Pod Diana Krall soothed us all the way ! We rounded the last bend and there was Elizabeth City. The dock was right on the edge of town. Elizabeth City became popular after the  completion of the Dismal Swamp was completed in 1805. It's named after a resident innkeeper called Elizabeth Tooley.  After settling in , we made a walk into the town carrying our very dirty fender covers ( caused by the locks)  to find a laundry place.While walking along a lady informed us we were entering a bad part of town and mentioned there had been a drug bust just last night near where we were walking! Great! Well, we were fine .Found a great little coffee house called Muddy Waters .Had the  best cup of coffee , sure beats Starbucks! Lovely old homes here but the area not so thriving  and definitely several places were run down. We decided to eat out and there has a handy place called Groupers right next to our dock. Naturally we ordered fish and seafood! Early to bed again.
Over and Out
Erica.