Being a native of Washington DC (yes, I was actually born there) and having grown up in the metropolitan area as a kid, the 4th of July always held a unique significance for me. While it is a obviously a national celebration, for us Washingtonians, it is considered a "local" event that the rest of the country also observes. I have been to many 4th celebrations in Washington over the years including watching the fireworks from Virginia side of the Potomac River near the airport looking back over the city. Always impressed, always mesmerized, there is something incredibly special about it all. But the one thing I have always wanted to do since I was kid was see it all from the water. Up close and personal.
This year, I finally got my chance.
When we decided to base our "Endless Summer" this year on the Chesapeake Bay, the first thing on the "must do" list was taking the boat down the Chesapeake Bay and up the Potomac River to downtown Washington, DC for the 4th of July celebrations. And I wanted to be close,
really close, and there was no better vantage point than the Capital Yacht Club right next to the Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument. Knowing that getting a slip there for the 4th would be like wining the lottery, my initial dockage request was made in November of last year. Their response was "we can't commit right now but have you on our waiting list". As each month past, I would check-in to see if there were any openings or options. The general manager of the yacht club couldn't have been nicer in telling me, "no, nothing yet" -- for almost seven months!
As the summer approached, the Capital Yacht Club indicated that they just might have an opening for us, but would not be able to confirm until early June. Really, early JUNE? My patience was near the bitter end of the rope. And then it happened, and email from out of nowhere -- "the Capital Yacht Club looks forward to welcoming Endless Summer for the 4th of July". Holy crap -- it is going to happen!
We left our home port at Bay Bridge Marina on the Eastern Shore of Maryland on a very hot and humid Sunday morning and cruised down the Chesapeake Bay toward the mouth of the Potomac River. The Bay conditions were ridiculously, calm. The kind of seas you dream about.
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| Hazy Hot and Humid |
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| The Chesapeake Bay at its calmest! |
The run was 100 miles to a quaint little marina in Virginia called Coles Point Marina. Part marina, part RV resort, part campground with a tiki-bar and restaurant that could easily be featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (except the food sucked). And as the marina part, well, lets just say "basic" may be a generous assessment.
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| Tim's Tiki Bar & Cafe |
After getting through the night in our bug-spider-mosquito-midge-infested marina-RV-campground "resort" (a.k.a. "the trailorhood") we were anxious to get underway on Monday morning for our run up the Potomac River to Washington D.C.. Even the Admiral was more than happy to get up early and get going. Now THAT is progress!
Our 100 mile run up the Potomac was not quite what I expected. While the water was flat calm and the weather was cooperative (no rain or wind), the floating debris in the river was overwhelming. Floating tree branches, logs (and I mean LOGS), and tidal trash was everywhere. So much so that we had to slow down to idle speed multiple times just to get through some of the debris fields without damaging the hull. Little by little we worked our way through it all for over 5 hours.
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| Tidal debris along our route -- slow going through this stuff! |
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| Approaching the Woodrow Wilson Bridge |
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| Reagan National Airport |
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| Washington Harbor Resort |
The approach to Washington D.C. was nothing short of "oh wow". Passing by Fort Washington and then Mt. Vernon on the hillside took us back to our US History lessons and the beginnings of our country founders. We passed by the National Harbor Resort, the Naval Research Laboratory, the National War College, Alexandria Virginia and Reagan National Airport before making our turn into Washington channel. Seeing the US Capital, Washington Monument and Jefferson Memorial come into view was extraordinary. I've spent a lot time in DC over the years, but never seen it from this unique perspective.
After refueling from our 200 mile journey (320 gallons of diesel), we safely docked at the newly renovated Capital Yacht Club and Wharf Waterfront (a major upgrade from the previous night), washed down the boat and poured ourselves a congratulatory cocktail before heading off to dinner.
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| The Capital Yacht Club and downtown Wharf |
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| At dock with the Washington Monument from the aft deck |
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| Cheers!! |
Now I know the whole 4th of July picnic-fireworks-parade-decoration thing may seem a bit overdone these days, but being in the Nation's Capital gives me the privilege (and I mean that more than one way) to do it all and revel in the occasion. So first thing this morning I set out to "dress" Endless Summer in her proper regalia. Red, white and blue flag bunting on both port and starboard rails, a long string on international signal flags from the top of the mast to the bow, and of course a large American Flag hanging from the stern. Now, that looks more like it!
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| Dressed to impress |
So on Tuesday morning Rachel and I headed out to the National Archives Museum to see first hand, and hand written, the original Declaration of Independence, The US Constitution and The Bill of Rights. I don't think in all my years growing up in the Washington metro area that I had ever been to the National Archives so this was a first-time for me and I was duly impressed. Well, not just impressed, but moved, awed, appreciative, respectful and humbled.
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| The National Archives Museum |
Since the outside temperature was 95 degrees with a heat index of 105, we opted to come back to the boat early to rest up for our night out on the town. And what a night it was!
Fortuitously, I was able to secure two tickets to the broadway show Hamilton appearing at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Tuesday night. After a delightful dinner at the Roof Top Terrace Restaurant, we headed downstairs to our box seats in the Opera House to enjoy the show. To see this musical, in this city, during the 4th of July festivities was very special. I always pinch myself when I realize that we get to do these kind of things while living out our "Endless Summer".
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| The stage is set for the start of Hamilton |
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| Great seats in the Box Tier of the Opera House |
On the 4th of July, it was another hot and humid day. So much so that there were multiple warnings for both air quality with a heat index of 105 degrees. We decided to stay close by the Wharf with a visit to the Washington Fish Market, the oldest continuous running market in the country. The bounty and quality of fresh fish, crabs, shrimp, oysters and clams was incredible. It was obvious, this was THE place to get quality seafood in the District.
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| The Washington Fish Market |
That evening was the main event -- the fireworks over the water at the Washington Monument. But before that was to happen, the folks at the Capital Yacht Club began to gather and assemble their party gear for the big night. Chairs were set up all along the dock, tables with food, ice chests full of adult beverages, even an inflatable swimming pool to cool off is! And of course the boats, docks and club house were all decorated in their red, white and blue finest. Needless to say, it was quite the celebration.
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| A busy District Wharf of the 4th of July |
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| And an even busier dock at the Capital Yacht Club |
From our position on the dock, we were able to enjoy a spectacular display of of the fireworks. At times, it was almost surreal to be there with our hearts full of American pride and patriotism. After the arial "finale" the boats at Yacht Club and all along the Washington Channel joined in by blasting their horns -- a very fitting (and loud) end to the 4th!
On Thursday morning we decided to get underway for the start of our return journey to Bay Bridge Marina back on the Eastern Shore. With 200 miles to travel we planned to break it up by stopping at Solomons Island for the night and completing the trip on Friday. As we worked our way down the Potomac River we found less debris in the water with fewer incidents of having to slow down. Rachel had done some detailed historical homework and gave a running commentary of all the the sites and events that took place along the river. The weather was cooperative but clearly starting to change with storm clouds building and winds picking up.
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| Saying farewell to Washington DC |
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A final glimpse of Mt. Vernon heading south
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As we neared the mouth of the Potomac, the wind and seas were stronger and forecast to get worse over the next 24 hours. The National Weather Service had issued a Small Craft Advisory starting at midnight and running through Saturday morning. While Endless Summer could more than handle the the 2-3 foot forecasted seas, it is not a pleasant ride, especially over a long distance. Since we had made relatively good time to that point (about 110 miles and 4.5 hours), we decided to press on and go the entire 200 miles in one day. The winds and seas were at our back which made for a better ride north. Finally, after the long run back up the Bay and refueling in Annapolis, we made it "home" in 8.5 hours. Tired (well, actually exhausted), we hosed the boat down from the sea spray, made dinner on board and collapsed into bed early.
I think this was the best 4th of July of my life. So far!
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| A welcome and familiar site coming home - Thomas Point Lighthouse |
