Winding Down for the Season

Wednesday, October 4 - Monday, October 9, 2017

We leave our lovely anchorage to travel 58 miles to St. Michaels MD, on the Eastern side of the Chesapeake.  A definite chill in the air makes running the boat from the pilothouse an attractive choice.  Here we approach the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.

Chesapeake Bay Bridge

We have chosen to come back to St. Michaels for a few days after enjoying this spot in the spring.  We are fortunate to have gotten a quick application to lease our house and need good internet to take care of the paperwork involved.  The weekend forecast is for wind and rain with a cold front, so we will stay here until the weather improves.  I take advantage of a very nice farmer's market near our boat to stock up on fresh veggies.  The growing season is almost over here so this may be my last farmers market for awhile.

St. Michaels farmers market

Over the weekend, we notice another Selene trawler anchored in the nearby harbor.  We call them on the VHF radio and they suggest we join them for cocktails on board that evening.  Meanwhile, 2 other Selenes arrive at the anchorage.  So we dinghy out to meet the owners of 3 other Selenes and enjoy exchanging boat stories.  It's very helpful to meet others with the same brand of boat in order to share brand-specific information.  And a good time was had by all, as the saying goes.  We return to our boat and this gorgeous sunset!

St. Michaels sunset

Tuesday, October 10 - Friday, October 13, 2017

Today we have an easy 31-mile cruise to Annapolis.  We are returning, after enjoying our visit last spring, to attend their big, annual power boat show.  We get an early start to arrive just after noon in the hope we can snag a mooring next to the show location, which doesn't start for a couple of days.

St. Michaels sunrise

No problem getting a mooring right in front of all the boat show activity.  We are entertained by all the boats being moved into place at temporary docks for the show over the next 2 days.  And what a great show!  Robert is able to talk to most manufacturers of our on-board systems, always helpful as they send their most knowledgeable people to these shows.  And Robert always has questions!

We dinghy to nearby docks for some nice meals, shopping and to see the show.  Annapolis is very boat-friendly; every street that dead-ends at the water (lots of them) has a public dinghy dock where we can leave the boat for the day.

Annapolis Power Boat Show

Saturday, October 14 - Friday, October 20, 2017

We are having problems with a leaky seal on our davit, used to move the dinghy between the top deck and the water.  An attempt to repair it while in Baltimore has not lasted, so we are heading back to Washburn's Boat Yard in Solomons MD.  We expect the same great service we received on our visit last spring.  Our 54 mile cruise from Annapolis brings us to this very busy boat yard.  We spend most of the next week waiting for parts to be ordered and work to be done.  We also decide to have some paint scuffs touched up, so we spend time waiting for paint to dry, too.

Washburn's Boat Yard, Solomons MD

While at Washburn's, we meet the new owners of another Selene.  This couple has recently moved on board and are transitioning to retirement and cruising next spring.  They have a condo in Washington DC, where they were both college professors, so we plan to get together over the winter when they come to town.

We also see a familiar Kadey-Krogen, the boat with a McKinney TX home port we first met in Harpswell ME back in July.  We crossed paths with them briefly in Northeast Harbor ME (Acadia) and enjoy comparing our summer cruising experience.  This is a small boating community!

Washburn's Boat Yard, Solomons MD

We meet owners of several Nordhavn trawlers, at Washburns for repairs and/or winter storage.  (The boat on the right in the above photo is a Nordhavn.)  We go into town as a group for a fun dinner one evening.  The Nordhavn boats are designed to cross oceans and are too tall do to the type of coastal cruising we do (can't fit under some of the bridges), so their owners have interesting cruising plans and stories.  For example, one couple plans to cross to Europe to spend several years in England near a parent in failing health.  Another couple has just returned from summer cruising in Nova Scotia.

Solomons MD from Patuxent River Bridge

We take a break from boat projects to explore the Solomons area in our dinghy.  Nearby Mill Creek leads to lots of waterfront homes in a lovely setting.

Mill Creek, Solomons MD

Quiet and peaceful this time of year, I suspect this place is packed with boats in the summer!

Mill Creek, Solomons MD

We have given up getting our potential new tenant to sign the lease.  Not sure what is going on, but we are moving on to look for someone else.

Saturday, October 21, 2017

With our repairs complete, we leave Solomons for our final leg up the Potomac River to DC.  Day one takes us 64 miles to an anchorage, a tedious 8-hour day.  We exit the Patuxent River, heading south in the Chesapeake Bay.  Along the way we pass the "Point No Point" lighthouse.  Where do they get these names??

Point No Point Lighthouse, Chesapeake Bay

The Potomac is a very large river, approximately 8 miles across at it's mouth.

Mouth of the Potomac River

We see some wildlife on the river.  Please forgive the somewhat blurry photos.  I still haven't figured out how to take sharp photos from a moving boat!

Northern Gannet, Potomac River

We have a hitchhiker on our windscreen.  Lots of these guys flying by today.

Common Buckeye, Potomac River

We finally arrive at our anchorage on the Wicomico River, a short distance off the Potomac.  There are few sheltered places to stop as we cruise up river and no marinas with deep enough water for our comfort zone.  We are fortunate to have light winds forecast for the next 2 days, but a front is predicted for the weekend so we will hurry to the DC area before then.

Bushwood Wharf anchorage, Wicomico River

Spectacular! 

Sunset, Bushwood Wharf anchorage, Wicomico River

Sunday October 22, 2017

We get an early start on a 70-mile day.  We anticipate 9+ hours as we will be bucking a current in the Potomac all day.  As we go up-river, the waterway narrows and we get a better view of both sides, Maryland on our right; Virginia, on our left.  The trees are just beginning to turn!

Fall color, Potomac River

We pass the sprawling grounds of the Marine Corps base at Quantico VA.

Marine Corps Base, Quantico VA

As we get closer to DC, the waterfront homes turn into mansions!  Hmmm ...

Near Mt. Vernon VA

Soon we pass Mount Vernon, George Washington's home and now a museum.  The museum has it's own dock and encourages visits by boat, either by commercial ferry or private boat.  Unfortunately our boat is a little too large for the private boat dock so we can't stop for the tour.

Mount Vernon

We finally arrive at National Harbor Marina in Oxon Hill MD.  We are across the Potomac from Alexandria VA and about an hour by boat from DC.  We are almost a week early for our winter reservation and our slip is not yet available so we will hang out here until we get the okay to move on.

National Harbor Marina, Oxon Hill MD

Monday, October 23, 2017

National Harbor is a new development with a marina, Ferris wheel, high-end shops, restaurants, condos and convention center-type hotels.

National Harbor, Oxon Hill MD

This pedestrian walkway is lined with sculptures.  We do not find much to do here, although we did have wonderful crab omelets for breakfast at the Westin next to the marina.

National Harbor, Oxon Hill MD

We meet more Nordhavn owners who dock behind us.  Their 72' boat (yellow hull) dwarfs ours (dark hull)!  See what I mean by "tall"?  We enjoy docktails and a boat tour and learn all about their past few summers cruising Canadian waters, seeing Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland.  They had decorated with wonderful photos taken on their travels in those cold, icy waters.  Brrr ...

National Harbor Marina, Oxon Hill MD

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Today we get the go ahead to move to DC.  We get a late start in order to arrive after lunch, allowing ample time for another boat to leave our spot.  On the hour-long cruise we begin to recognize many well-known sites.

"Old Town" Alexandria, VA

This is "Old Town" Alexandria where we ate lunch with our Denver friends last spring.  Looks very different from the water!

"Old Town" Alexandria VA

Reagan National Airport lies just across the Potomac from DC, in Arlington VA.

Reagan National Airport from Potomac River

This menacing-looking Osprey flew directly over our boat.  He was really low, too!

V-22 Osprey over Potomac River

Our first good look at the taller national monuments from the water.

Washington Monument and Jefferson Memorial from the Potomac River

Fort McNair is an active Army post, established in 1791 to defend Washington DC from invasion by water.

US Capitol and Fort McNair

From the junction of the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers, we turn into Washington Channel and our winter stop.  The tall buildings are the newly opened Wharf development.  We are staying at the Capital Yacht Club, right in the center of the action.  And there is a boat, still in our assigned slip.  What???  We frantically try to reach the harbormaster by phone and VHF radio, to no avail.  We finally talk to the boat that was supposed to leave and learn they are having engine trouble.  Not good!  We decide to snag a nearby mooring while we wait.  As soon as we tie up, the other boat gets underway and we can move to our slip!

Our first night here and we are already invited to "Taco Night" at the yacht club.  We meet lots of members; about half the boats here are live-aboards.  Looks promising for our stay!

The Wharf, Washington Channel

Wednesday, October 25 - Friday, October 27, 2017

We spend the rest of this week getting settled into our spot and learning our way around the neighborhood.  The Wharf has lots to offer:  a variety of restaurants, a live music concert hall, two marine supply stores, hardware store, bike store, CVS and more businesses opening every week.  The closest grocery is a Safeway, a long 3 blocks away.  Looks like I'll be biking or taking Uber for groceries.  Next door to the Wharf is the Maine Avenue Fish Market.  Home to a group of open air seafood vendors, both fresh and cooked, it has been in continuous operation since 1805!  Robert is picking out fresh flounder for dinner in the photo.

Maine Avenue Fish Market

An easy bike ride takes me to the Metro office to buy our subway passes.  My route takes me across the National Mall.  We don't plan to keep a car while here as we can get around easily by walking, biking, and an excellent public transportation system.  The Wharf runs a free shuttle to the nearest Metro station and to the Mall.  I've signed up for Zip Car so we can rent cars by the hour when needed.  Several Zip cars are parked near our marina are are much more convenient than renting by the day, unless we are planning an extended excursion.

On the Mall, Washington DC

We take a late afternoon walk to the National Mall, then back along the river.

Washington Monument

On the Mall we find this display by the Moroccan Embassy.  What a surprise!

Moroccan Bazaar, National Mall

The "Magic of Morocco" is set up in the middle of the Mall with the area delineated by ethnic rugs laid on the ground.

Moroccan Bazaar, National Mall

Tents surround the rugs and showcase various aspects of the country, from music ...

Moroccan Bazaar, National Mall

... to goods for sale.

Moroccan Bazaar, National Mall

We return to the Wharf to find the fire pit going, so we sit and enjoy the sunset over the water and warmth from a roaring fire!

The Wharf fire pit

Saturday, October 28, 2017

Today is my 70th birthday!  Wow, that sounds old!!  Today's weather is beautiful with a high near 70,  but we are indoors, working on projects to get ready for winter on the boat.  We will need supplementary heat and other considerations.  I'll encourage Robert to do a post after he figures all this out.  We plan a walk this afternoon, then dinner at one of the Wharf restaurants to celebrate my birthday.  No complaints - we're living our dream!

Next week we fly to Fort Lauderdale FL for their annual boat show.  After 2 days back in DC, we leave for Houston, stopping in Alabama to visit Robert's brother.  We will spend a whirlwind 4 days in Houston for annual medical checkups and to visit as many friends as time permits.  Once back in DC, we plan to stay put for several months.  I likely won't do many blog posts over the winter so no news is good news!