Norfolk to DC

We enjoyed good conditions on our voyage up Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac River.  Below is a picture of the helm.  It includes Garmin charts at large and small scale, autopilot heading,  plus our iPad with Navionics displaying detailed sonar charts.

This is a high traffic area for large sea going boats.  They move fast and can be upon you before you know it.

We also saw a lot more ospreys building nests.  Some were much more advanced than others.

Very few boats were moving about for this entire leg.  It seemed we were the only pleasure boat moving on the water.  Temperatures were cool ranging from 50 to 65, but quite comfortable inside out of the wind.  The best aspect was NO BUGS!

 Our secluded anchorage just off the Potomac was very peaceful and offered a gorgeous sunset.

Roosters on shore were our wake up call to a beautiful sunrise.

With a good weather forecast and only 95 miles to go, we decided to reach our destination in one last hop.  Again the water was flat and we were the only boat making waves.  The only hitch we encountered was an interception by patrol boat to have us avoid entering a live military gunnery range.  Didn't see any action, but glad to have been directed out of the zone.

Upon further checking we contacted the marina about their shallow entrance depth.  They recommended that we delay our arrival so that the tide rise would help.  Our intended 4 pm arrival was at dead low, but we would have an extra foot if we waited until 6 pm. That required us to slow down and crawl along for the next several hours.  Even then we found ourselves skimming the bottom silt as we made our way in.  We'll be very sure to leave at high tide!

Here is Fort Washington at the entrance to Swan Creek where Tantallon Marina is located.  It was constructed in 1812 to defend the Potomac entrance to Washington DC.

The marina is fairly basic, but in a nice neighborhood, well maintained, and has locked dock access.

Our first day after arrival, we rented a car and drove to nearby National Mall.  It has many tourist attractions and is filled with restaurants and hotels and a retired Air Force One jet.

 John, hobnobbing with the famous!

Our primary reason for visiting here was to spend time with granddaughter Fancy and husband Patrick.  They live in Arlington which is about 12 miles from our marina closer to DC. 

Our timing was excellent since the Cherry blossoms were in full bloom.  So we joined the madding crowd to walk around the Tidal Basin among all the flowering trees.

We flew home April 8 with plans to return by June 1.  Below is a view of the Potomac.
Where to next we do not know.