At Home in DC!

It's hard to believe it has been a week and a half since we returned to DC. 

The picture was taken Saturday September 7, just before sunrise. The fog was hanging low on the water. There was a definite Fall chill in the air. The morning was reminiscent of many early departures we made from anchor on our journeys South for the Winter. We are anxious for that life once again. 

Our trip up the river was totally under motor, we had a definite lack of wind. The last leg is always a difficult one on a weekend. Every power boat in the area is out to enjoy the day traveling at break speed and creating a wake from hell. 

It's not so bad when we have wind full in the sails to keep the boat level. Needless to say it felt good to be finished. 

Sunday the next day we spent cleaning all the salt off the boat. Where we are in the Washington channel it is fresh water. The bay and lower Potomac is salt and brackish water. It's not good to leave the dried salt on the surface of the boat. We found that out the hard way. After arriving  in DC three years ago we didn't lower the entire anchor chain in the water just the portion we used to anchor and flushed the rest with fresh water. That wasn't enough the chain rusted on the portion not lowered into the water. After a dissection by Larry we now have 120 feet of chain not 200 feet. That amount is fine for the anchoring we do in the US. New chain is on the shopping list for when we leave for parts unknown. 

This last Saturday a dinghy ride up the Anicostia River was planned by the club fleet captain. We joined in the fun with our dinghy. It was a perfect day for a dinghy excursion. Sun was shining and it was not too hot in fact it was a bit cool. The ride ended where the water became unnavigable, too shallow to transit, the area is Bladensburg. There is a public boat launch, much needed restrooms and picnic area. We had brought our lunch with us and found a spot in the sun to enjoy it. The return trip was a faster ride than on the way up. We didn't take as much time to site see. 

Larry and I have traveled up that direction before but not quite as far. We plan to do it again in the future and this time stop at the Arboretum with our lunch. 

Heading Up The Potomac River!

Tuesday morning we lifted our anchor and headed into the little town of Reedville. The picture is of us at anchor just off the main road into town. There is very little to do in Reedville. What is left of a once thriving fishing community are residential homes, a maritime museum, a few marinas and a few restaurants. None of the restaurants were open after Labor Day during the week.  This town is the center for Manhaden fishing. At one time several factories operated here. Now there is only one operating factory. 

We took the dinghy up one of the creeks for a visit to the maritime museum. After Labor Day it was very quiet there also. We had several helpful descents giving us a tour. 

These boats were just a few of the many restored by museum volunteers. 

Time was growing short on our vacation and we wanted to see Tangier Island. It would have taken us the better part of a day to get there and the same again to get back. A ferry operated out of Reedville to and back from Tangier Island. We decided to stay another day and take the trip. What fun it was. 

When we entered Reedville on our boat I was too busy at the helm to take pictures. I took these as the ferry exited the Reedville channel. The chimney above was once an exhaust for the cooking of the Manhaden fish by several of the factories. It now just serves as an icon for a once thriving and wealthy community. 

These were a few of the fishing boats used by the Omega plant for netting the Manhaden fish. You can see the two purse boats on the stern. They help launch the fishing net, then draw it closed like a purse. 

I took these pictures as we entered the channel into Tangier Island. The boat you see in the center is called a dead rise. These boats are and were very popular on the Chesapeake bay with waterman. They were also manufactured by boat builders on the Chesapeake bay. 

The little shanties in this picture are what the waterman use to tend to there soft shell crab business. They are considered the largest supplier of soft shell crabs in the country. 

Thursday morning we lifted our anchor and sailed north to the Potomac River. We took a short day and went up the St Mary's river. The first river off the Potomac. We anchored just off St Mary's College. We went to shore by dinghy to get water, get rid of garbage and go for a walk. 

We were the first into the anchorage but by evening we were joined by one power boat and two sailboats. 

The sunset picture was from last night. 

We lifted anchor around 7am this morning and were underway to stiff winds and waves. We are now several miles up river and the winds have lessened and waves have flattened. It's very pleasant to sail and not have the noise and vibration of the motor but if the wind continues to lessen we will have to invade the silence. 

Headed to Reedville!

Yesterday we stayed at anchor in Jackson Creek. We were still recuperating from all the work on the boat but we decided that we neglected to clean the dinghy. It like our sailboat has taken a beating from the DC atmosphere. After we gave her a little TLC we took another dinghy ride. We wanted to see the Deltaville Maritime Museum. They had suffered a major fire last year but have made great strides to recoup. They had added a new building where the old one that burnt was located. The gardens were lush and the butterflies were enjoying feasting on the flowers. 

On our way back to our boat we stopped off to visit with an old friend. He was at anchor around the bend in Jackson creek. We met Michael a few years back in No Name Harbor, Key Byscane, Fl. He was in his 80's then and still sailing his catamaran to the Bahamas for the winter months. He plans to haul his boat this month and head to the Bahamas October 1st. I hope we have that same attitude at his age. 

We returned to the boat and gathered our shower stuff and went into FBYC for a refreshing shower. It felt great after a very humid warm day. 

Larry fixed us a cocktail and we relaxed in the cockpit before dinner. 

This morning after breakfast our friend Jack Dozier let us borrow one of his cars to get some provisions. When we returned we hoisted anchor and headed to the bay. We were able to sail most of the distance to the Great Wicomico River. We are at anchor behind Sandy Point. It's very quiet here and we are sharing this very large anchorage with one other boat. The picture is of tonight's sunset as it sets behind a house on shore.