Cruising up the Potomac

6/10 – 6/13 - We have lived in Maryland for over 20 years and have been to DC numerous times, however, never by water. With a very loose schedule and some extra days before our next planned event (an MTOA Rendezvous at Vera’s on St. Leonard’s Creek off the Patuxent) we decided it seemed like the perfect opportunity to do some Potomac cruising.

We departed Deltaville early in the morning and had a pleasant cruise up the Bay, into the mouth of the Potomac and then to the Yeocomico River where we spent the next 2 nights at Olverson’s Lodge Creek Marina (1 night free for MTOAers). Freddie and Cas Olverson are the owners and they really know how to make a person feel welcome. Fred was on the dock ready to take our lines as we arrived and we docked across from friends, Jim and Julie on Insight (also MTOAers).

The next day we took advantage of the courtesy car and explored the local area. That night we were guests of Freddie and Cas at the Lodge Creek Yacht Club toga party. Olverson’s serves as the home port to this yacht club and transients are included in the activities. After waiting out a horrendous rain storm, we made our way up to the club house in our “spur of the minute” togas. Linda’s toga was a lace tablecloth and Gerry’s was made from 2 flags (one was a pirate flag and the other was the Conch Republic flag) along with a pirate hat (instead of leaves) for a headpiece. The food was great - chicken and fish – along with the trimmings. At one point they gave a prize for the best male toga and best female toga. The person selecting the best male toga was a young boy who bee lined straight for the “pirate toga and hat”. Way to go Gerry!!

At this green buoy we were officially in Maryland, but not
for long.  The Potomac splits VA and MD so we cruised
in and out of the two states as we sailed up the Potomac.

Look at all those crab pots !!!!

Approaching Olverson's Marina



Freddie in his toga



Cas and Freddie

The winning "pirate" toga

Osprey at sunset

The next day we had an 8-hour cruise up the Potomac to Mattawoman Creek. As we entered, there were several boats in the anchorage, but within an hour or so they were all gone except for two boats anchored next to us (it was Sunday and those working folks needed to get home).

There had been severe storm warnings all afternoon, but we had lucked out and only encountered a few sprinkles on our trip up. Well, after being anchored for about an hour, that all changed. We were hit by an intense storm – probably one of the 3 worst we’ve encountered over the past 2 years. We couldn’t really agree on the worst – once you have strong wind, lighting, thunder and rain it’s hard to differentiate. Suffice it to say it was pretty strong and we swung back and forth and heeled way over several times as gusts blasted us on the beam, but the anchor held with no problem (fortunately, so did the anchors of the other 2 boats around us). Within an hour, the storm passed and we had a delightful evening in the anchorage.

View from our anchorage at Mattawoman Creek

An interesting sky

Mother Goose, the boat next to us in the anchorage

Mother Goose, during the storm

The sailboat in the anchorage looked like it was heeled over
and underway through much of the storm

After the storm -- a nice evening

The next morning we attempted to raise the anchor, only to find we had several pounds of seaweed, grass and other gunk attached. After a half hour or so of cleaning off grass, the boat anchored next to us dinghied over and helped us pull the crap off the anchor and we were on our way (thanks for the help, Mother Goose). We cruised past some enormous homes, Mount Vernon, under the Wilson Bridge, past Regan National Airport, and into the Capital Yacht Club where we plan to spend a week and see the sights of Washington we have not seen before.

One of the "small" homes on the Potomac



We cruised past Mount Vernon ....



...and Fort Washington



Alexandria, VA

Approaching the Woodrow Wilson Bridge (with plane overhead)

As we cruised under the bridge
we were in Washington DC