We did wrench ourselves away from Oriental on the 10th June. Later than we wanted but what can you do. We're just ol' pensioners and don't move so fast any more. Having said that I gotta say we went as fast as we could once we dropped the lines. 5 to 6 mph is pretty fast and we knocked off 47 miles in the 8 hours of light we had left after a late start due to a thunder storm moving through in the early morning. By the second night we had made it across the Albermarle Sound and into the Pasquatank River where we dropped anchor at Goat Island.The water's the colour of strong black tea and it was totally calm and we had it all to ourselves....and then the full moon came up just to put a cherry on top of it all.In the morning we left marker 13 (our lucky number ) and chugged the last 12 miles or so to the Great Dismal Swamp Canal.
It was ,in fact , a dismal rainy day but it didn't take away from the beauty of this place.
So....we got to Norfolk Virginia and anchored for the night and first thing in the morning chugged on past the aircraft carriers and destroyers and every type of battle ship and into the Chesapeake Bay. No wind,hot and muggy , thunder storms likely, all the usual summer on the east coast type of weather. Nevertheless... we motored in to Deltaville unscathed and dropped the hook ready to stay a couple of days while a northerly cold front went through. Before that though, a quick couple of storms to use up the heat.Deltaville is a nice little place and our stop there was made all the more pleasant as we hung out and barbequed etc. with a couple of friends from our first year cruising in the Bahamas. Mark and Julie..and here they are on their lovely Tayana....Rachel.
So 5 days after we left Oriental we slipped out of Deltaville and motored,with occasional help from the sails,the last 25 miles to the mouth of the mighty Potomac.
Just a hundred miles to get to the Capital.
This was on the ol' bucket list for years,so it was reeeal exciting. Weather was still flat calm so there was no need to look for a calm anchorage and in the evening we just pulled over to the side of the river and anchored off some of the beautiful mansions that line the banks here and there.
Sun up and hook up and once again we'd been anchored near marker 13.
Then........excitement....danger.....ooh ah....we were chugging up the middle of the Navy firing range!
A nice young sailor in a 'range boat' advised or ordered us ...nicely...to hug the Maryland shore for a few miles while the range was "Hot". That's navy talk for "we're firing."
If ya look carefully,there's a black dot in the middle of the picture and that's ordinance of some sort exploding. It's very loud and percussive and did start the morning off better than several cups of coffee.
Further on up river we passed Potomac Creek where Pocahontas was allegedly captured. Don't remember that part of the story but Captain Smith probably had his reasons.
Further on again we passed Quantico....subject of the many spy/cop/mystery novels we've read over the last few years. I'm just trying to hold your attention here...I mean if the pics all look the same it's because the river is still 2 miles wide even on the second day!
Another pull over anchorage for the night,interupted by a heavy storm at the usual time of 1 to 2am and off for the last 20 miles to DC.
The river,pretty much from Quantico on ,has a lot of floating logs and branches and big dead fish. I figured the dead fish were none too bright saltwater fish that swam into fresh water without realizing until it was too late.....sounds fair to me.
When I'm talking logs,I'm talking tree trunks and long planks and....and.....you know.
Anyway ,past Mt Vernon,and there's George Washington's old place. Just a medium sized place compared to some of the "palaces" along the way but must check it out while here.
Yep...another 12 miles and we dropped the hook in the Washington Channel. Like everywhere in this marvelous country we're right in the middle of things..Short stroll to all the monuments and museums and art galleries ,park on one side marinas on the other and that's the Washington Monument obelisk in the background.
Of course it's all pretty pricey.To use all the marina facilities,like showers,laundry and dinghy docking....all with security.... is costing us $10 a day
Then you've got to put up with dragon boats practicing every evening.
Sailing dinghy races,helicopters buzzing overheadat at least 10 or 12 times a day,cruise boats sliding past....but we don't want your sympathy...we'll manage.
