Down the Potomac

May 19-22, 2015  Horseshoe Bend Anchorage

From Canoe Neck Creek, we headed on down the Potomac to anchor in the St Mary's river.  A week since we left DC, it was time to fill the fresh water tank and pump out.  Fortunately, there was a strategically located small marina along the way.  Good thing we had plenty of time ---- due to technical difficulties (the marina's not ours), a fifteen minute pump out took 2 HOURS!  Good thing it was only a short 26-mile trip!

We were securely anchored in Horseshoe Bend by 2:30 on a lovely sunny afternoon.  Once the dingy was deployed, we headed to shore to explore.

You can't really call St. Mary's a town, even though there is a post office.  It is home to St. Mary's college, a beautiful campus housing about 2000 students.  Situated right on Horseshoe Bend you find the boathouse and docks supporting the college water sports ---- sailing, rowing, etc.  A great place to tie up the dink  for a walk through the campus.

After a tour of the Student Center with coffee shop, cafeteria and free Wifi, it was back to the dinghy.




"Nearly Perfect", the only other boat in this large beautiful anchorage, was flying a "Looper" flag, so we stopped by to introduce ourselves.  Jack and Pattie are on there way north,  and will be making their way through the Georgian Bay and Great Lakes this summer.  Next thing you know, we're sharing our Great Lakes knowledge over a bottle of wine!

They were off early the next morning, so we had the anchorage to ourselves.  I took advantage of a latte and wifi to catch up the blog, while Garry did some guy chores aboard.  After reconnecting for lunch in the cafeteria, time for  a walk.




St. Mary's City was Maryland's capital before it was moved to Annapolis.  The old statehouse and some of the other buildings have been reconstructed on the site, while others are in varying degrees of the process.

A reproduction of the Maryland Dove, a wooden sailing vessel is also docked on the property.


Thursday we woke to the sound of a steady rain that would continue throughout the day.  Great day to sleep in, read a book and bake a batch of chocolate chip cookies!



Our plan was to head out on Friday, but stiff winds had the Potomac all riled up --- all plans are in pencil!

Where's Waterford???

An alternate path took us through a new part of the campus, then back to the boathouse.












                                                             
This was a lovely, if quiet, spot to drop the hook and chill!