Up the Potomac River to Washington DC

         We had planned to cross the Chesapeake and find a nice anchorage in the Pawtuxant River, but the day was so still and the water was so calm, we went ahead and pushed on to the Potomac River.  It was a lovely crossing, and we saw pelicans for the first time.  

Pelicans

The tide was with us in the Potomac and we extended our day a little further to reach Herring Creek just before sunset.  It has a narrow but scenic inlet into a little basin which we had all to ourselves.  Very quiet, very still.  

Herring Creek Inlet

We had a second day of calm water before the NW winds were forecasted to blow 15-18 with gusts, so on Wednesday (Oct 26) we again planned for a long day’s cruise.  It was overcast much of the day, and not particularly warm, but the river was glassy and the cruise was almost boring.  Until we reached our planned destination - a small shallow inlet that on the chart looked like a good place to anchor.  In reality, the point was covered with quonset huts and seriously intimidating lookout towers and big signs in the water declaring “DANGER! UNEXPLODED ORDINANCE! KEEP OUT!”  The next usable anchorage was a little over ten miles up river, so we resigned ourselves to a supper underway and pushed on.  The tide was still with us, which helped us get to Potomac Creek on the Virginia side just after dark.  Very long day for us.

Potomac Creek Inlet, Sunset

Thursday morning, Dan suggested that we just go on up to Washington DC today, since we had done so well the previous two days, instead of the original plan of a shorter cruise day.  Coincidentally it was my birthday and this new plan would mean being able to go out to dinner.  Yay!  We set off just after sunrise.  

This day the water was not calm and the winds were not still, but it was sunny!  It was blowing a steady 20 knots NW and gusting up to 25 and there were whitecaps - all of it right on the nose.  We stayed at the inside helm while waves sprayed over the bow to splatter on the windows.  I was ready for Dan to say we should turn back, but he was pretty sure things would get calmer the further up river we got, and he was right.  It also helped that the river snaked back and forth.

As we neared Washington DC, Dan contacted the CO of the local Coast Guard Station.  She is the daughter of one of his friends from his days at the USCGA.  She arranged for us to temporarily tie up at their military marina dock and was there to greet us when we arrived.  We got a personal tour of the one of their boats and the facility itself.  She even posed for a picture with us.

Lt. Cmdr. Cate Giguere

Then we moved on up river to Washington DC.  Seven years ago we were able to anchor here, and utilized the Capitol Yacht Club for dinghy, shower, and laundry facilities.  There is no anchoring allowed now, and the entire area has been built up.  The District Wharf Marina has taken over everything except where the Yacht Club and the other smaller marinas further up river still have docks.  The entire riverfront is filled with bars, restaurants, performance venues, hotels, and office buildings.  (None of that was here seven years ago!) We goggled and marveled at the businesses and all the choices and finally settled on a Mexican restaurant for dinner.  We’ll be here for the weekend, so we’ll have plenty of time to explore.  

One of the riverfront wharves.