June 3, 2013
Last Saturday morning, we were up at 6 am ready to leave the dock at Deltaville. During the past week, we enjoyed the annual Boaters Appreciation party at Deltaville Yachting Center and the Memorial Day weekend. During the week several maintenance issues were addressed at DYC. After being docked for a week, we were anxious to get started to Washington. To make our departure even better, the conditions were right for a good day of sailing. After half a day, we turned up the Potomac River from the Chesapeake Bay and eventually we anchored up the Yeocomico River, a beautiful and quiet spot.
Sunday morning at 6AM, we pulled anchor and raced to Cobb Island only 26 miles away. I say raced because we made it in record time with 15 to 22 knots of wind. We were going 7 and 8 knots (8-9 miles an hour) all the way.
June 7, 2013
After sitting out a day because of weather, our next stop is Matawoman Creek, right across the Potomac from Quantico. The place makes my imagination run wild thinking of conspiracies and intrigue thanks to all the murder mysteries I have read or maybe it’s the nightly news. Francie keeps telling me to be careful about what I say because she is sure THEY are listening. Of course we haven’t stopped talking on our cell phones or using the internet. If you listen to the news, maybe THEY really are listening!
Last Saturday morning, we were up at 6 am ready to leave the dock at Deltaville. During the past week, we enjoyed the annual Boaters Appreciation party at Deltaville Yachting Center and the Memorial Day weekend. During the week several maintenance issues were addressed at DYC. After being docked for a week, we were anxious to get started to Washington. To make our departure even better, the conditions were right for a good day of sailing. After half a day, we turned up the Potomac River from the Chesapeake Bay and eventually we anchored up the Yeocomico River, a beautiful and quiet spot.
Sunday morning at 6AM, we pulled anchor and raced to Cobb Island only 26 miles away. I say raced because we made it in record time with 15 to 22 knots of wind. We were going 7 and 8 knots (8-9 miles an hour) all the way.
June 7, 2013
After sitting out a day because of weather, our next stop is Matawoman Creek, right across the Potomac from Quantico. The place makes my imagination run wild thinking of conspiracies and intrigue thanks to all the murder mysteries I have read or maybe it’s the nightly news. Francie keeps telling me to be careful about what I say because she is sure THEY are listening. Of course we haven’t stopped talking on our cell phones or using the internet. If you listen to the news, maybe THEY really are listening!
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After a peaceful night and no wind, we motor our way to Washington with a 1.5 current against us. The Potomac always surprises us. We expect to see the river lined with houses like the ICW, but that is not the case. It is wide, lined with forest and in many places steep banks. As we get closer to DC, there are more clusters of large mansions. Half way through the day we pass Mount Vernon. Last time up the Potomac, we visited Mt. Vernon by boat and then anchored across the river. It was such a thrill. As we passed it this time, we felt the same excitement. We can’t resist taking pictures.
Mt. Vernon from the Potomac River
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George's new neighbors!
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In the early afternoon, we anchor in front of Gangplank Marina, which will be our new home for the next month. Gangplank is different from other marinas we have stayed. It has floating houseboats that are practically buildings. Most of them are office spaces. There are also tour boats here and what was once the Presidential Yacht, the USS Sequoia.
Moments after we set anchor, a helicopter flying very low went over us. A jarring reminder that this part of the river is the path the copters use to go to the White House, Pentagon and other official buildings. This goes on all day and night. The second thing we noticed was the noise. There are people yelling in the park, sirens, and cars. It reminds us of opening the windows in spring and remembering we lived blocks from the train.
Moments after we set anchor, a helicopter flying very low went over us. A jarring reminder that this part of the river is the path the copters use to go to the White House, Pentagon and other official buildings. This goes on all day and night. The second thing we noticed was the noise. There are people yelling in the park, sirens, and cars. It reminds us of opening the windows in spring and remembering we lived blocks from the train.
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Moments after we set anchor, a helicopter flying very low went over us. A jarring reminder that this part of the river is the path the copters use to go to the White House, Pentagon and other official buildings. This goes on all day and night. The second thing we noticed was the noise. There are people yelling in the park, sirens, and cars. It reminds us of opening the windows in spring and remembering we lived blocks from the train.
Our first day after docking the boat was spent riding our bikes trying to remember our way around. We stopped at the White House Tourist Center and caught a video of the history of the White House. After the movie, we watched Presidential helicopter leave the White House lawn. Then we biked passed the monuments that we will visit later.
It was good that we went for the ride because we have not been off the boat since because of tropical storm Andrea. It has rained and rained. At least we aren’t worried about the flood warning.
Saturday night we went to Old Town Alexandria to see John, who we met it Ocracoke, play at the King Street Blues. It was fun catching up with Marlene and John and meeting the others in the bluegrass band. We are learning again how to get around on the Metro. By the time we leave we will be pros.
Our first day after docking the boat was spent riding our bikes trying to remember our way around. We stopped at the White House Tourist Center and caught a video of the history of the White House. After the movie, we watched Presidential helicopter leave the White House lawn. Then we biked passed the monuments that we will visit later.
It was good that we went for the ride because we have not been off the boat since because of tropical storm Andrea. It has rained and rained. At least we aren’t worried about the flood warning.
Saturday night we went to Old Town Alexandria to see John, who we met it Ocracoke, play at the King Street Blues. It was fun catching up with Marlene and John and meeting the others in the bluegrass band. We are learning again how to get around on the Metro. By the time we leave we will be pros.
One Million Bones National Mall
http://www.onemillionbones.org/the-project/
June 10, 2013
Rain, rain, go away!! Andrea is gone, but the prediction for each day has been rain and thunderstorms. The weather has not stopped us from doing a little touring. Everything we want to see is just a bike ride away. Yesterday we went to the Mall to see the Million Bones exhibition. It was presented by variety of organizations to stimulate awareness of the genocide that is happening now. It was quite moving.
Our next stop was the Smithsonian American History Museum. We were there for a tour. Before the tour began the docent asked everyone where they were from. The young family next to us said Chicago and of course we said the same. The woman leans over and says, “We are from Brookfield.” After a short conversation, we discovered that they lived just a few blocks from where we used to live. Yes Disney, it is a small, small world.
June 14, 2013
Washington is definitely keeping us busy. We are trying to take advantage of the different venues. One night we watched the Navy Band perform on Pennsylvania and 7th just a short bike ride from the boat. Another night we biked to the Kennedy Center to attend a free concert at Millennium Stage. One afternoon, we attended a lecture at the National Archive Museum. While there we snuck upstairs to see the original Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Tonight we can choose between the Air Force or the Army Bands.
Rain, rain, go away!! Andrea is gone, but the prediction for each day has been rain and thunderstorms. The weather has not stopped us from doing a little touring. Everything we want to see is just a bike ride away. Yesterday we went to the Mall to see the Million Bones exhibition. It was presented by variety of organizations to stimulate awareness of the genocide that is happening now. It was quite moving.
Our next stop was the Smithsonian American History Museum. We were there for a tour. Before the tour began the docent asked everyone where they were from. The young family next to us said Chicago and of course we said the same. The woman leans over and says, “We are from Brookfield.” After a short conversation, we discovered that they lived just a few blocks from where we used to live. Yes Disney, it is a small, small world.
June 14, 2013
Washington is definitely keeping us busy. We are trying to take advantage of the different venues. One night we watched the Navy Band perform on Pennsylvania and 7th just a short bike ride from the boat. Another night we biked to the Kennedy Center to attend a free concert at Millennium Stage. One afternoon, we attended a lecture at the National Archive Museum. While there we snuck upstairs to see the original Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Tonight we can choose between the Air Force or the Army Bands.
Mike relaxing on a "sculpture".
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Stainless Steel Tree at Sculpture Garden
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"The Spider" at the Sculpture Garden
June 18, 2013
The highlights of the past few days were the Martin Luther King, FDR Memorial and the New York Trapeze School. On the way to the Kennedy Center we had stopped briefly at the FDR Memorial and decided it was worth coming back when we had more time. We returned in the morning and rented a 90 minute iPod tour that talked about his 4 terms in office as you walked through the 4 sections of the memorial. The memorial is composed of large granite blocks, waterfalls, sculpture, inscriptions, and murals. It has become one of our favorite DC Memorials. The Martin Luther King Memorial is vey impressive, the pictures we had previously seen don’t do it justice.
The highlights of the past few days were the Martin Luther King, FDR Memorial and the New York Trapeze School. On the way to the Kennedy Center we had stopped briefly at the FDR Memorial and decided it was worth coming back when we had more time. We returned in the morning and rented a 90 minute iPod tour that talked about his 4 terms in office as you walked through the 4 sections of the memorial. The memorial is composed of large granite blocks, waterfalls, sculpture, inscriptions, and murals. It has become one of our favorite DC Memorials. The Martin Luther King Memorial is vey impressive, the pictures we had previously seen don’t do it justice.
Music at the Navy Yard District
One day during our first week in Washington, we went for a ride to the Navy Yard District. We came across an odd looking tent like building which was the Trapeze School of New York. Once inside we discovered that a person could sign up for lessons. Most people don’t know that Francie has always had a secret desire to swing on a trapeze. (No, she is planning to run off to the circus.) Once back at the boat she was faced with quite a dilemma. “Yes, I always wanted to do this. Do I still want to do this at age …?” After a few agonizing moments, you can guess her decision.
Yesterday, Francie went to her class. Is it a dream come true or a nightmare? I can assure you there is no way that I would have done it. Just watching her climb the ladder to the platform made my heart beat faster. I am sure the first time on the trapeze she was really nervous and then she had to let go and drop into a net. Each time she went up to the platform she looked calmer and more confident. I was really proud of Francie as I watched her, “…fly through the air …. on the flying trapeze.”
Yesterday, Francie went to her class. Is it a dream come true or a nightmare? I can assure you there is no way that I would have done it. Just watching her climb the ladder to the platform made my heart beat faster. I am sure the first time on the trapeze she was really nervous and then she had to let go and drop into a net. Each time she went up to the platform she looked calmer and more confident. I was really proud of Francie as I watched her, “…fly through the air …. on the flying trapeze.”