August 2013 – MV Big Smile

Washington DC

Posted on August 28, 2013 by ScottMacDSeptember 5, 2013

Well we just spent a fabulous twelve days in DC. Since it was our first Potomac adventure we enjoyed the long, 95 mile run from the mouth of the river and ending at the Capital Yacht Club. The yacht club is a very funky marina just a short walk from the national mall. It’s situated on the “Washington Channel”, a gritty waterfront area with two other marinas and a spectacular seafood market. The area is in need of a major facelift and according to the folks at CYC one is in the works. When it will start is another matter with no firm answer. We loved the area and would return often if not for the 95 mile Potomac run. Andrew met us the first night as he had never seen Big Smile despite us owning it for a year and a half.

Andrew’s first visit to Big Smile

Our DC visit was perfect. The weather cooperated fully with no rain and cooler, drier conditions not typical of DC in August. The first weekend of our visit we borrowed Andrew’s car and drove to VT for the wedding of our Lake George neighbors daughter. It was held in Shelburne VT overlooking Lake Champlain. The brides were gorgeous as was the weather.

Katie and Tracy’s wedding

After an all day drive back from VT we spent the balance of the week visiting museums and walking the mall. It had been years since we spent any time in DC and it all seemed new. The first museum we visited did not exist when I last visited. The Marine Corps museum is actually located in Quantico VA. We figured a couple hour visit then back to DC. We ended up getting shown the door when the place locked up at 5PM. We had spent 5 hours and not completed it. If you are into history this is a must visit.

USMC Museum

There are of course many museums to see and most are free. We visited the Smithsonian’s, Air & Space, American History and Natural History Museums. We also got to see the US Holocaust Museum, the US National Arboretum and the Newseum.

Smithsonian Institution Building “The Castle”

Jefferson Memorial

The White House

Julia Childs kitchen

One building really made an impression and that was the Library of Congress. A stunning architectural masterpiece.

Library of Congress

A special person in our life currently lives in Silver Spring, MD. We drove up to see Joycelyn and had a delicious dinner. What else would you expect. She is the best. It was fun to see her in her new house.

Cath and Joycelyn

Andrew took two days off from work and joined us onboard. We carry folding bikes and Andrew has a superb road and mountain bike so we spent a day cycling to Alexandria VA. The historic area contains incredible examples of early American architecture including the narrowest house I had ever seen.

Look at the width of this house

Alexandria Virginia

Mitch and Tara also joined for the weekend and on Saturday morning we headed 30 miles south to anchor off a bar/restaurant and give them the experience of cruising. On the way down the Potomac we dropped the hook off Mt Vernon and spent 3 hours touring the grounds and Washington’s home. There is also a very good museum on site.

Mitch and Tara in front of Mt Vernon

Big Smile anchored off Mt Vernon

I think he likes it

Between the kids and the museums we also managed to kayak, buy fish, take long walks and really enjoy Washington. And Nicole, back from a vacation in Italy joined us for dinner onboard.

Morehead City to Washington DC

Posted on August 25, 2013 by ScottMacDAugust 25, 2013

The fourteen day trip from Morehead City to DC was an interesting assortment of long canals and quiet, sometimes desolate rivers. That is of course until you exit the Dismal Swamp Canal and almost immediately come upon the largest Naval Base in the world ie “Naval Station Norfolk”.

Prior to reaching Portsmouth and Norfolk we were entertained and challenged by the narrow and sometimes shallow canals that help the mariner avoid the offshore work around Cape Hatteras and the Outer Banks. The first canal just north of Morehead City was Adams Creek. From here you exit into the Neuse River. The next two nights we spent on the hook, first at Bonner Bay and then on the deserted Alligator River. The Alligator River/Pungo River Canal was a relaxing and easy transit. We did not pass a single boat in the entire canal.

Pungo River Canal

Anchoring on Alligator River

Our next stop was Elizabeth City, the last town before the Dismal Swamp. Unfortunately we pulled in on a Sunday. As with much of North Carolina Sunday is a day to roll up the sidewalk and go to church. The city does provide free docking along the waterfront. There is no electric or water but you can’t beat the location.

Elizabeth City

From Albemarle Sound there are two ways to reach Norfolk. The eastern route is the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal. The western route is the Dismal Swamp Canal. The former is the route of choice for deeper draft vessels. The Dismal Swamp has a project depth of 6′. We draw 5-9 so its a close call. We chose the Dismal Swamp as we wanted to do it at least once. Well it was a day and a half of cringing as Big Smile bounced and bumped off of countless logs, branches and the bottom. The weather was perfect however and not a single boat passed us along the way. The canal is extremely narrow and is cut through a Cypress Swamp. It was opened in 1805 and is the oldest continually operating canal in the US. We did our first lock in Big Smile. Approximately half way through there is a visitor/welcome center. It welcomes boats and cars alike. The visitors center has a book exchange and a friendly and helpful staff. There is a nature trail through the swamp and a bike trail that follows the canal for miles. We were the only boat but plenty of cars pulled in.

South Mills Lock

Our first lock in Big Smile

We left the center in the early morning and bounced for another three hours before reaching the Deep Creek Lock. Again no boats and gorgeous weather. It was a fun trip but one we will not do again due to the depth of the canal. I don’t think any damage was done as our huge skeg took the brunt of the logs and deflected them to the side.

Leaving North Carolina

Dismal Swamp in Virginia

Approaching Deep Creek Lock

Not long after exiting Deep Creek Lock the surroundings take on a different look. The southern branch brings you into the heart of Norfolk and Portsmouth. Our destination was Ocean Marine, a marina in downtown Portsmouth. It was a far cry from the Dismal Swamp tie up. Our view included the Iwo Jima at the drydock.

Iwo Jima in drydock

Portsmouth turned out to be a wonderful three day stop. In addition to easy provisioning by bicycle Portsmouth has a beautiful historic district and very nice waterfront. It also has a dinner theater, “Commodore Theatre” which we took in. It is a restored 1945 Art Deco motion picture theater with dining. There are no seats, only tables and chairs. You arrive at 6PM and order your dinner by the phone at the table. It is served and you eat before the movie starts at 7. Desert, if ordered is delivered half way through the movie. A really fun experience and an awesome projection/sound system.

Leaving Portsmouth you pass only a couple of hundred yards from an incredible display of Navy armament. We were asked to keep to port in the channel by a Navy destroyer approaching its berth. We swung wide.

After two nights on the hook off Mobjack Bay we crossed the Chesapeake on a 6 hour trip to Cape Charles VA. Cape Charles is an old railroad town. For decades it was the Delmarva Peninsula rail port and connection point to Norfolk. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge tunnel’s opening in 1964 hastened the demise of Cape Charles. In the last decade development has taken place and the historic nature of the town is being realized. We spent two nights at the Kings Creek Marina and Resort. It was beautiful and the town was charming. We were even treated to a free concert in the public park called “Central Park” by the Navy’s jazz band. Lawn seating and a perfect night.

Waterman off Mobjack Bay

Kings Creek Marina

Crossing back to the western shore we spent three nights on the hook at three different locations as we made our way to DC. All spots were nice with Little Bay providing the nicest beach we had seen on the Chesapeake. On the 8th we left Fairview Beach and pulled into the Capital Yacht Club at 3PM. The Potomac is a long 95 mile run from the mouth to DC. Not something you do for an overnite. However we had planned 12 days at CYC and were looking forward to it.

Beach at Little Bay

Mount Vernon

Approaching the Capital Yacht Club