The Great Dismal Swamp straddles Virginia and North Carolina, covering 111,000 acres south of Norfolk. The land once belonged to George Washington. Today its wetlands and wildlife await hunters and nature enthusiasts.

Washington fell off his horse one day trying to mount. His body landed on the dirt like a large sack of grain.  His slave Caesar laughed at this misfortune, and Washington, incensed, sent him off to work in the Dismal Swamp. Which demonstrates a critical truth: Do not offend the King.

We walked along a paved hiking trail with water standing in a canal to the right. A park employee in a gray pick-up drew alongside us and warned us about bears. “They come out in the afternoon.”

Should one appear, we were resolved to turn and head back to the car. It’s not wise to offend the bears either.