Kayak Virginia Beach

Bridge Boredom - Albermarle and Chesapeake Canal

All I can say is, that it was one of those trips that had to be done. There it is a big long straight stretch of water that I had not paddled...

If you are looking for a 10 mile paddle for exercise, this is the trip for you, not a lot to see, just a big long ditch with lots of powerboat traffic.

I launched from the ramp at the Draw Bridge on North Landing Road, and proceed under the bridge and into the Albermarle and Chesapeake Canal, and into a stiff West wind, with the only bonus knowing that I would have a nice push all the way back. That is about as exciting as it got.

If you do this trip, you are going to want to stay a good 10 to 20 yards away from the shoreline, because there are a lot of stumps underwater there. The problem is, that it pretty much puts you in the channel. For the most part the many powerboats transiting the canal were decent, and gave way or slowed down enough, that their wake was not an issue, but there is always a few in every crowd, the moron in the ~28 footer that is so self absorbed, and only worried about how fast he can make it to the next bridge and wait 20 minutes for it to open. I am pretty sure that type is so self absorbed that they wonder if the bridge operator realizes how important that that boater thinks he is.

Ok the really noticeable thing about the canal is, the difference between the shores. The North side of the canal is pretty thick forrest, while the South side appears to be barely surviving some strange disease.

Just to put things in perspective, when I paddle I usually move somewhere between 4 and 4.5 MPH which turns out to be a good pace for me, and my overall average speed is about 3 MPH, this includes the stopped time taking pictures and such, this trip, overall average speed 4 MPH, not a lot to see.

Well this trip is done, and I doubt I will do it again, unless I need to do a 10 mile paddle, or I do a circumnavigation of Virginia Beach, which is doable.