October 8, 2014 Headed to Deltaville.

The weather finally let up and we were able to leave Coles Point and head down the Potomac. We were underway just prior to sunrise at 7:00 AM. We traveled 30 miles down River to Smith Point and again into Chesapeake Bay. Smith Point is notorious for rough water and even on a day with low wind and waves we had an hour or better with 3 to 4 foot waves. Once around the Point the water calmed for the last 28 miles south to Deltaville. We had been to Deltaville early in the summer. We borrowed a car from the marina and drove to the market, purchased two NY steaks to cook on the boat and celebrate leaving Coles Point.

Sunrise on the Potomac. 

October 8, 2014 Still at Coles Point

We are still here at Coles Point, getting low on water, toilet paper, etc., and wondering if this will be another Carabelle (you may recall our 7weeks in Carabelle, Fl. last December and January, waiting for a weather window to cross the gulf), but here we are minus the restaurants, stores, and everything we enjoyed in Carabelle.  There is nothing here but an annoyingly shut-down bar and restaurant, an old condemned log cabin, and a few boats with nobody on them.  On the other hand, the view out our back window this morning was of the lunar eclipse and just last week when we were in DC it was the Washington Memorial... We are grateful to have a changing and always new and interesting view out our window. We have many blessings to count! The weather is supposed to improve tomorrow so hopefully we will be on our way to Deltaville, VA. The Adi Cat is curled up in one of her special spots, which reminds us to be peaceful and patient.

October 6, 2014 Update

Thursday, October 2nd we left Washington DC. We had a great time visiting with friends and seeing the sites. Headed to Belmont Bay Marina the morning of October 2nd down the Potomac then up the Occoquan River. We had a pleasant trip 29 miles. Stayed here until Sunday because of wind and rain. We rented a car to do some shopping; I also did some boat maintenance. Sunday was cold, clear and sunny with light wind. It was 39 degrees when we got up at 5:30. We were off at 7:15 just after sunrise for a 70 mile trip to Coles Point. We arrived at Coles Point at 3:15. We made good time as the tide was going out for most of our trip which gave us an extra 1 to 1 1/2 mph. Got up this morning, October 6th, to light winds at Coles Point but down at the mouth of the Potomac at Point Lookout it was blowing 16 mph and would be a rough ride to our next stop. It looks like weather will not improve until Thursday so we'll stay at Coles Point for a few days. We may be able to leave on Wednesday if things improve.

Sunrise at Belmont Bay October 5th. 

Sunrise at Coles Point October 6th. 

September 30, 2014

Today we were off to the Smithsonian Natural History Museum. I had been waiting to go to this museum to see the dinosaur exhibit. Well, as luck would have it the dinosaur exhibit is closed UNTIL 2019. 2019, what are they trying to do, bring them back to life. Well we enjoyed the museum without dinosaurs. The Hope diamond on display was beautiful.

September 29, 2014 Air and Space Museum

This morning we headed to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. I was equipped with my CVS cane, the pain from my herniated disc is much better but I'm still not 100%. We were ready for a day of airplanes, rockets and space craft. It is amazing to see the progress man has made in the 111 years since the Wright Flyer made first flight in 1903.

September 28, 2014 The National Cathedral

Today we took a cab to the National Cathedral for a tour, a presentation by the choir and an organ recital on the great pipe organ by the resident organist Jeremy Filsell. The cathedral was built in 1907 and has been under construction on and off for expansion and renovation for most of the years since then. It is currently undergoing repairs from earthquake damage a couple of years ago. The architecture, stained class windows and grounds are a must see in DC.

September 22, 2014 My Issues

From Lois here is her version of my recent issues. As of today I'm doing much much better! We are in DC and hope to do some sightseeing later this week.

"Hi. Mike has had several challenges:  first gout, then a herniated disk which was the most painful thing he has ever had. Then one day at Zahnisers he was going to go down in the engine room but because the disk problem weakened his leg, he fell into the engine room. Back to the ER we went (time #3), where x-rays showed a possible break in his upper arm. So they put a temporary cast and sling on and referred him to an orthopedic dr. This dr didn't seem to think the arm was broken, so off came the cast. But he was nonetheless bruised badly and looked like he had been through a war. They asked at the ER if anyone had been abusing him. Bruises are now fading, pain is much better, leg strength slowly improving, and he's hoping none of this will ever happen again."

This prime rib helped to ease the pain!