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.