Ft. Washington



Mt Vernon



June 15  Leisurely motor the remaining 17 miles up to DC.  Conditions were perfect, with scenic views of homes all along the beautiful shoreline.  As we neared DC, the planes, helicopters, marine police and activity picked up and we knew we were exiting the back waters and getting ready to be immersed in the “city.”  As I write this, I am sitting in the Cantina upstairs overlooking the Washington Channel with beautiful breeze while the clothes are drying.  The marina has some age on it – it is the third largest liveaboard marina on the east coast and has a different feel.  Tomorrow we start checking out DC!



Munions Disposal



June 14 Spent a relaxing day on the hook watching and “waking” the many small fishing boats zoom in and out of the creek.  We were lounging in the cockpit and noticed some activity on the restricted point near us.  Turns out it is some sort of munitions disposal site and shortly there were burning fires and booming shots like large fireworks!!!  What a site.  Calm cool night for resting.  Finished my 4^th book – wonderful.

June 13  Easing out of the Creek following the GPS track we laid down when we entered this tricky place, spouting confidence in such great technology and then “plumph”…really? At 6:45 a.m.?  This was a“nudge” versus a “grounding”…the difference (in Deb’s Wikipedia) is a nudge you can address with reverse and your engine…grounding needs more intervention of some sort.  John backed her off and noted he was just slightly off the track.  The winds were still brisk and gusty with Small Craft Advisory and that became obvious quickly…nothing we couldn’t handle after 3 days at anchor, we needed to move.  So the sail went up for stability and a power boost, the engine went on and we began the 10 hour trip to Mattawoman Creek (fondly referred to by LDV crew at What-a-woman).  Halfway through our journey we were hailed as Northbound sailing vessel between some point and some point (the names are all Indian and I am constantly trying to get my bearings).  We realized it was us they wanted and seeing as there was not another boat in sight, it should have been obvious.  Turns out we have been asked to hold our position so the Navy can do some practice shelling.  They will hail us when it is safe to proceed.  Okay, no problem, right?  We sit tight for 30 minutes and hear the Kaboooms…and move on.  Safely reached our anchorage but didn’t really go in to the creek due to our recent plumphs and a very dicey entrance…so we plopped our anchor at the mouth of the Creek.  A bit bouncy but what the heck – gotta go with the Captain’s gut.



One of many herons



June 12  I lay in my bunk tonight and hear the “mayonk mayonk” of the blue herons settling for the night.  Canoe Neck Creek has been a favorite anchorage with egrets, ducks, herons, osprey and fish everywhere – full of life everywhere you gaze.  We were boat bound today as small craft advisory was still in effect – cloudy with intermittent rain but enough dry periods for us to get to the cockpit and open the hatches periodically.  I cleaned “house” and John regreased the helm after our grounding (uh hmmm) and dropping his breakfast fork down the gunnel where the helm mechanisms are….smile.  We focused on options for moving north tomorrow hoping for an easing in the weather.  It will be a long trip – a solid 50 miles…10 hours + by boat.  Anchorages are sparse in this part of the Potomac, so we will start at day break, rested and ready.


Old farmhouse peaking rhrough trees at Canoe Creek



June 11  Laid back day hanging on the hook.  Took a morning dinghy ride around this creek and it is so pretty…just a few scattered homes and the biggest population of blue herons we have seen.  I have tried to get close enough for a good picture but they fly off quickly when they hear our small engine.  This afternoon I just watched them with the binoculars and their stealth, patience and grace just blew me away.  I kept hearing the Lord say to me – see how patiently they pursue their search for food with no apparent concerns, doubts or fears they will succeed.  Faithfully trusting putting one foot in front of the other.  Hmmmmmm.  Later I watched some waterman perform with the rhythm of a ballet the netting of crabs, each movement precise and fruitful.  Life has a different pace on the water.  The wind has freshened and the clouds hover above as the weather moves in around us.  We have the first 2 seasons of Downton Abbey….tonight the 3^rd show is on the “little” screen.  We’ll see what tomorrow brings. 

June 10  Expected to reach 94 degrees today so we are off early to work our way North.  A bit of a sail down the River but then the wind died and we motored the next couple of hours to Canoe Neck Creek to hang out and try to stay cool.  We laid low and after dinner, John fired up the generator and the A/C to cool down the boat for an hour.  We will likely stay here tomorrow and explore the creek.  Cold front is in store midweek so we will need to be secured to weather out the stormy couple of days – likely around the corner at Cobb Island.

June 9  Percussion night music last night rhythmically slapping wind and current waves on LDV hull.  Captain John positioned lines and fenders strategically to ease us off the dock this morning and all was well until the final line I threw off got snagged on the piling.  John jumped off, unsnagged it and jumped back on.  Whew.  We decided to explore some of the “fingers” of this river and eased down a lovely creek.  I spotted a stick about 6 inches above the surface and reported it to the Captain, who checked his chart plotter, seeing that all was well. Then came that muffled “phlomph” and the immediate knowledge we were grounded.  For those uninitiated to sailing, any sailor that claims never to have run aground probably never left the dock.  It is always an adrenalin rush, no matter.  John went into bounce, roll or power off actions as I moved from jumping on the stern to the bow.  Nothing.  So we put the motor on the dinghy, dropped the anchor and chain in it and John deployed it off the starboard midship.  I wenched her and he powered and after a few times, we cleared the shoal.  Restowed all the gear after our kedge off and 2 hours later, we are on our way!!

 



I am happy to add that we had a delightful sail up the St. Mary’s River, anchored and went into St Mary’s City to take in the history of this first capital of Maryland.  Even got to tour a replica of a square rigger that was of the period.   I never would have made it cruising in one of those for sure.  We toured the old excavated city and returned to LDV to cool off (it did get hot today) and rest.  It was Homecoming for St Mary’s college so the riverside campus was full of young people having a great time all day and night…this college has a heavy emphasis on sailing and all the lasers were on the water today…a lovely site.