Anchored at Washington DC - Oct 11-17

Our current home in D.C.

That's us (view from East Potomac Park)

That's us (view of Washington Monument)

We are anchored in the Washington Channel.  For $10/nite, we can use the dinghy dock and bath facilities.  We could even take our dinghy down the channel to the tidal pool in front of the Jefferson Memorial (how cool is that!! except for the gates that control the tidal flow ... it seems that you could get trapped on the wrong side when the locks close to regulate the depth -- and stuck there for 6hrs until the next tide!).

Monday, 10/11:   Our first day started with lunch with Bob and Sue (s/v Seahorse III).  We haven't seen them since they left Brunswick in mid-April, so it was a fun reunion.  We got a tour of the local area (including the Pentagon where Bob worked for 5 years -- cool, huh!).  Then off to Alexandria, where we had lunch at the Old Dominion Boat Club (founded in 1880).  4 hours later, we emerged from the club!  

Beautiful view of the Potomac.

After lunch, we realized we were about 9 blocks away from where Michele Casey works, so that was our next stop.  We spent the evening at Michele's home, which included seeing the Vikings play on Monday night football (bah!) as well was some fabulous Cosmopolitians! 



Tuesday - 10/12:  Our day with Michele Casey.  What a blast to have a personal tour guide! 

We had only one item on our list -- See the WWII memorial. 

After touring the memorial, Michele began her personal tour, which included a pub crawl around D.C. and Chinatown. 

Start the route by passing the White House!

At Hotel Washington (or W), we had an over-priced, delicious cocktail on the rooftop lounge with a million-dollar view of the city. 

At Old Ebbitts Grill, we had the best artichoke/crab dip EVER.

In Chinatown, we had the BEST wood-fire pizza at Matchbox. 

It was a day of pleasant extremes -- including the weather which was unseasonably warm (~80+ degrees).   We ended the day on the Metro, where Michele gave us a lesson on using the train to get around town.   

Wednesday - 10/13:  Our day with Ed and Connie Dooley.  What a blast to spend the day with two real "Washington Insiders" -- Ed worked at the Capitol (as the Washington Bureau Chief for UPI) and Connie worked as an economist with the World Bank in D.C. We went to the new Visitors Center at the Capitol (very nice -- our tax dollars at work!), and we even got to see Ed in one of the photos covering Watergate!. Next to the Supreme Court Building, and then the Library of Congress, where we could have spent hours.  Vowing to return, we moved on to the National Press Club ... we were really looking forward to having a  drink with a Press Club member (Ed!) at the Reliable Source bar, tour the many photos and newsprint hung on the many floors.  What a piece of history.  And what a tasty dinner at the Fourth Estate

Ed and Connie

Requisite tourist pictures!

The Sequoia, the presidential yacht was docked at the marina we are using!

Thursday - 10/14:   All week, we've been debating whether or not we should move Maja over to the marina.  It would be nice to have shore power to run the electric heater at night and fully charge the batteries, but at a cost of $65/night, we continue to debate!  It's $10 to use the facilities ... and don't forget, we've have two anchors down, so moving isn't all that hassle-free.  Anyway, the debate was resolved early this morning, while it was still dark outside, when it started to rain and kept on raining and raining and raining all day.  Who wants to move a boat in the rain?  Rain days at anchor take on a whole different schdule, especialy when it's cold outside and you can stay warm under the comforter and read in bed until noon.

Friday, 10/15:   Thursday had been our "intended" departure date (that would get us to Hampton VA by Monday).  But the rain took that option off the table.  Following that storm system, we are facing 2 days of high winds (20-30 knots).  Today was a clear and blustery day, blowing 17knots at our protected anchorage.  So we stay put for another day in D.C. 

Today we bought an all-day pass for the Metro.  First we went out to Arlington Cementary to honor our nation's soldiers.  Today is the memorial service for my Uncle Harvey in Bath, NY, and since we couldn't attend, we had our own service for him at 2pm at Arlington.  We brought a dozen roses and left them throughtout the cementary. 

We sat for the longest time at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  It's such a moving ceremony to watch the guards.  Uninterrupted since 1930.... 24/7.

We took the Metro from Arlington to Alexandria VA to do some more sight-seeing and meet Michele and her friend, Ally, for dinner. Then a another short Metro ride back to the marina. We like this town!

Saturday, 10/16.   Delay day #3.  We really thought we'd be leaving today, but the forecasts of another day of 30knots wind from the west dampered our spirits (our anchorage for tonite has a western exposure).  So we debate over coffee, in our snug, warm, enclosed cockpit, and the steady whine from the high winds wins out, and we vote to stay another day!  It's so weird to consider the weather "too nasty" for travel when the day itself is beautiful!  Clear, very blue sky, temps in the 70s, sun shining, and wind blowing like stink! 

Time to finish our sightseeing.  We can easily walk to the Botanical Gardens, The Air and Space Museum, and the new Native American Museum.  Capped off by an ice cream cone for the long walk back to the marina!  We are optimistic that we'll be leaving tomorrow, so before sunset, we raised the 2nd anchor we were required to drop (what a bitch that was!  no manual windless helping with that anchor!). 

We return to the boat every day, amazed that we are anchored with a view of the Washington Monument! Wow.