The Potomac

A cruise on the Potomac is not complete without seeing our first presidents chompers!

From Tangiers Island we crossed the Chesapeake Bay and took a 3 week “side trip” up the Potomac. Our primary goal was to visit with family and friends in Washington, D.C. and as it turned out we made it there for Memorial Day and Terry’s brother’s birthday too! We were very lucky to get the last of 7 visitor slips at the prestigious Capital Yacht Club and were berthed just blocks from the Mall.

Along the way there were several nice anchorages and we were again lucky to be following the softshell crab season north, And of course Maryland seafood is always fresh. And either way eating is a big part of cruising.

The weather has continued to be variable and like the Chesapeake, the Potomac is a big, wide stretch of water so we again had to be vigilant about making sure the winds and tides were favorable for traveling. Our crossing of the Chesapeake was smooth, but having westerly winds to cross the Chesapeake meant 3-4 ft seas on our beam once we started up the mouth of the Potomac. We quickly ducked into the first bay/anchorage we could at Smith Creek and in a 2 day wait for the winds to die down, weathered an afternoon thunderstorm with reported 50 mph winds and hail and had our anchor pull out and drag several times (not a comforting time to be getting pulled into the shallows during a lightning storm!). Most of our travel days were in calm, flat seas and we continued to have perfect temperatures 70/80’s during the days and 50-60’s at night.

There is a large, noticeable military presence all along the Potomac. Lots of bases and “research” facilities and on the way back down to the Chesapeake we ran into several days of “hot zones” where patrol boats and live fire exercises were going on. Seeing a jet fighter scream by a couple hundred feet above the water and then hearing bombs exploding was a memorable experience.

Entering the mouth of the Potomac was a dicey proposition.

.........and later our first nights anchorage in Smiths Creek was host to a storm with winds that pulled the anchor up!

The next day was a chill experience.

............ a sign of things to come!

Crabs!

Crabs!!

..........and more crabs!!!!!!!

Happy Happy visited Mt Vernon by pulling right up to the docks!

I had a little talk with George about the Donald.

Of course Mt Vernon is not the most luxurious house on the Potomac anymore either!

On our last night on the way in to D.C. we stayed at the Ft Washington Marina and were treated to karaoke night at happy (Happy) hour!

The Interstate 495 bridge over the Potomac is an operating draw bridge! Can you imagine stopping 8 lanes of traffic on I-495?????????

Coming in to the nations capital by boat is a majestic thing!

The Washington Channel is the official helicopter flyway into the city. We're pretty sure we saw the Donald come in from his historic overseas trip.

The seafood market 2 blocks from the marina was an added special treat! All of these "markets" are actually barges tied to the docks. When the tide goes out you have to reach down to the counters to get your seafood!