Up the Potomac to Washington, DC

Day 9 – 13 nm (passage total: 236 nm) We could have spent at least another day visiting Mount Vernon, but we were excited about arriving in Washington, DC and wanted to spend as much time in our nation's capital city as possible. As we hauled anchor and rejoined the channel, the views of Mount Vernon were majestic.

It was only 13 miles to DC and we enjoyed the short trip. Not far from Mount Vernon, just around the bend on the opposite shore is Fort Washington Park, Maryland. “Built to defend the river approach to Washington, DC, Fort Washington has stood as silent sentry for over 200 years. As technologies advanced so did Fort Washington, from the brick and stone of the 19th century to the concrete and steel of the 20th century.” Obviously, a strategic place for a fort, but from our vantage point, there wasn't much to see other than walls and a small lighthouse with a designated red marker.

We passed the Spirit of Mount Vernon, headed to Washington's home with a boatload of tourists.

The Woodrow Wilson Bridge, aka I95 lay before us, the last bridge before the city.

There's something very special about arriving by water at a world-famous port city. It's much more exciting than arriving by plane or car - perhaps it's the time it takes to get there and the anticipation that builds en route. We've visited this city many, many times. Perhaps, cities just look differently when approached from the sea. Heading up the Potomac and seeing Washington, DC come into view was awesome. The Washington Monument and the Capitol Building dominated the skyline.

We stayed to port at the fork in the river and headed up the Washington Channel. Our plan was to pick up one of the new moorings at the Gangplank Marina if it was available. The riverfront is being totally “gentrified” in this area and the current anchorage area is further down the river and not as convenient. As luck would have it, a boat that we passed entering the channel had just dropped a mooring that would suit us. We did a quick recon, picked up the mooring and just relaxed in the cockpit for a few minutes, enjoying the view. The location was outstanding … in the shadow of the Washington Monument, only a 15-minute walk to National Mall.

We allowed no moss to gather on our shoes, but that's a story for tomorrow and the days to come. In the meantime, I thought you'd enjoy sharing our view from Nine of Cups' cockpit this evening.

Chesapeake - On to Mount Vernon

Day 7 – 43 nm (passage total: 223 nm) We were up by 0600, drinking coffee and waiting for enough light to haul anchor and be on our way. Today makes a week since we left the marina in Chesapeake and we've fallen into an easy routine. We were up anchor and cruising towards the Harry W. Nice Bridge by 0650. On our trip from the Baltimore airport to the boat a few weeks ago, we paid a $6 toll to cross this bridge. Luckily, there's no toll for passing under its 105' high span.

It was another grey, hazy morning as we passed by the “Ghost Fleet of Mallows Bay”, rotting hulks of WWI military vessels that weren't completed in time to be of use during the war and later abandoned.

The Potomac River is quite circuitous in this area and the channel narrows considerably due to shoals. As we rounded Maryland Point, we noticed a pair of birds perched on a green can. We'd seen lots of gulls and cormorants and figured that's what they were.

It wasn't until we got closer and I took a pic that we were amazed to see two bald eagles. What a treat!

The Potomac is a natural boundary between states …  Maryland to starboard and Virginia to port. We passed by Quantico Marine Base and the FBI training center. The facility doesn't look like much from the water although they do have a nifty marina there reserved for marines. We weren't invited to stop for a tour, so we carried on.

Another change in plans. We were making good time and instead of stopping at our intended anchorage at Mattawoman Creek, we continued another 12 nm and anchored just off George Washington's Mount Vernon. We were all ready for a visit to George Washington's historic homestead in the morning when we heard a Coast Guard broadcast on the VHF radio advising that there would be fireworks at Mount Vernon on this very evening. Really? In honor of our arrival?

We enjoyed a spectacular sunset and expected several boats to join us in the anchorage.

By 1945, when the fireworks barge began shooting off rockets, we remained the only boat in the anchorage and we appreciated the display all by ourselves.

Tomorrow we head in the dinghy to the wharf and plan to spend the entire day exploring George Washington' Mount Vernon.

Chesapeake - Smith Creek to Bank O'Dees

Day 6– 32 nm (passage total: 179 nm) It was still wet and the slate sky was thick and heavy with clouds as we headed out of Smith Creek about 0730. After we raised and washed down the anchor, Paul stood at the bow watching for crab pots, of which there were many. At low tide, it was skinny water crossing the entrance bar.

Though the day was grey, it wasn't raining and there was enough to see to keep us occupied as we motor-sailed along. There was a small, but conspicuous white country church on shore just before Piney Point that caught our attention.

Ragged Point Light was probably efficient to build and functional, but it certainly wasn't attractive.

Then the Piney Point Lighthouse came into view. We learned later that it is the oldest permanent lighthouse on the Potomac River. The 40' white cross next to it commemorates the landing of the first Maryland colonists.

The fishing must have been good because the hungry gulls descended en masse to several spots close to the boat.

Once again, we had a change in plans. We had thought to stop at the tiny community of Cobb Island for a night, but the inclement weather kept us moving along to Bank O'Dees near Cuckold Creek, in sight of the Harry W. Nice Bridge and the billowing stacks of the Morgantown Power Plant. We were off the channel and positioned for an early, easy exit back into the channel.

The guys attacked the leaking head with a vengeance. They could not find the leak in the pump assembly nor the hose connections. They deduced it was probably at the bottom of the head or the basin itself. In the end, they removed the entire aft head which we seldom use and moved it forward and then re-installed the forward head aft. A long procedure, but ultimately successful. The forward head is working perfectly now … it pumps and no leaks. The leaky faucet and hatches will wait till another day.

We ate dinner, played cards, watched a movie, drank a little wine and hoped for better weather tomorrow. Not a spectacular day, but not so bad either. That's how it goes when you're sailing.