Sept 14, 2022 Heading up the Potomac

 Mon Sept.12 - 61 miles

We stayed put for a rainy Sunday at anchor in Carters Creek.  Peaceful, lazy day.  By Monday we were ready to head out and the forecasts held true with a splendid day on the water.   Long stretches of open water on the bay and up the Potomac so not too much to see. Calm seas, calm winds, and a bit warm by the time we were docking at Olverson's Marina on the Yeocomico River.  

Wonderful calm seas as we head for the Potomac

Passing Smith Point Lighthouse.  Built 1897. 52' tall

We belong to the Marine Trawlers Owners Association and this marina offers one free night's dockage annually to each member.  We opted to stay 2 nights so they could make a little money on us. Plus, they have a courtesy car and we needed to make a provision run. A cold front was forecast to move through with heavy rain and winds late in the afternoon and it finally arrived just before dusk. Didn't last maybe an hour but sideways rain always gets our attention.  Glad we were tied to the dock and not anchored out.  This is the Northern Neck of Va.  A bit remote and mostly small towns and agricultural, but a lot of history based on all the historical markers we saw on the 7-mile drive to the grocer.  Great sunset on Tuesday.  

Someone at Olverson's had too much time on their hands
turning this old cruiser into their private Pirate ship

Finally got that nice sunset 

Journey for Sept 12

Wed. Sept. 14 - 26 miles 

The day started off with a great sunrise - then things went south for a while.  Supposed to be a short day - just across the river and up a creek but things took longer than expected.  We were in need of a pumpout and had made arrangements to use the one at Olverson's before departure.  Off our dock at 8 and over to the fuel dock.  Tie up, get the hoses set, turn on the pump, it comes to life but nothings pulling out of the holding tank.  Verify the pumpout is working by sucking a 5-gallon bucket empty on the dock.  Change fittings. Still no go.  Attendant finally says they've been having issues with the pump not building up enough suction to pull from the depths of bigger boats.  Works OK on small boats at dock level. They've been trying to get someone to come out and work on it.  Anyway, no go for us. Our plan had been a quick trip across the Potomac to Breton Creek. Go to the headwaters and launch the dingy and have some fun exploring Leonardtown.  Now we're informed the next pumpout is at Coles Point Marina.  Up the Potomac on this side.  It's a little choppy, windy and cool.  Need to put on an extra shirt then we call them to verify the pumpout is working.  "Yes. Self-Serve.  20 bucks".   Check the charts and it looks like skinny water getting in.  Told "no problem". We're coming in their very narrow channel and I'm seeing less than 2' under the keel on the depthfinder.  Hoping for "no problems". Get no answer when calling on the radio so head straight in and tie up to the fuel dock.  Noone's around and I'm not seeing a pumpout station. Martha finds the office, pays the $20 and is told the pumpout is over at the end of C dock. Self-serve.  Just needed to stop at the fuel dock to pay.  So, more maneuvering in more shallow water - kicking up mud swirls.  Not helping that we're at low tide.  Find the pumpout station.  It works!!  It's slow. But we finally get it done.  Just one of the non-glorious activities of liveaboard boating.  That chore completed we're now 2 hours behind our planned arrival.  But winds and waves have abated making the crossing easy.  We enter another scenic waterway and shelve the plans to go to the headwaters.  We pick out an anchorage in Breton Bay in a little cove called Paw Paw Hollow across from Lovers Point.  High wooded shoreline is offering up great protection.  Decide to just relax for the remainder of the day.  Work on a few little projects, read some, and plot out tomorrows longer run up to Mattawoman Creek. 

While some of us were working on projects, others were working on their tan

Journey for Sept 14