Mon Sept 21: Capt John's Crab Shack (and bird poop) and Marina to Port Tobacco River anchorage

In which we don't get blown up ...

Rick speaking:

We awoke to something very very strange: cold weather!  It was about 51 degrees this morning.  We had hoped for cooler weather but what happened to the 60's and 70's?  We went from 93 and 85% humidity to 51?  Who's in charge of this thing anyway?  Tomorrow morning is supposed to bring temps in the 40's!!

The route today was through a naval surface weapons testing area.  There are big notices on the charts that say "Danger Zone" all over where we needed to go.   All boaters are supposed to check in the the Navy Range Control boat by radio before entering the restricted area.   We called once, then twice and then three times and did not receive a reply.   So that gave me something to worry about.  Although there were other boats happily cruising through the area so we decided to go for it. 

As we moved through the "Danger Zone" and approached the other side we began to see fast moving "range boats" moving out into the target area and then the radio called out for another boat in our area telling them they needed to move out of the area (Mel speaking:  Rick about had a heart attack).  We called on the radio and were informed that 'yes, we were in the firing range, but that they were going to wait for us to move out the other side before they went hot'.   So we did not get blown up.  As we moved on we cocked our ears to see if we heard any booms or explosions as we wanted to see our tax dollars at work...but nothing happened and nary a rocket was observed. (Mel here: I did say something snarky about our tax dollars and their range activities on the radio, but fortunately they said I was breaking up and they couldn't hear what I was saying...)

We continued on under the Harry W. Nice bridge that was flanked by a number of giant cranes on barges (its actually amazing the number of cranes that are on barges!) and was clearly under construction.    

 

The Potomac at this point became more narrow and began to look like a river as both sides are clearly visible.  We didn't have much further to go to our anchorage on the Port Tobacco River.   We dropped anchor on the north side of the river in a protected area in view of the St. Ignatius Chapel, founded in 1641,  and one of the oldest continuously operating catholic churches in the country. 

After lunch we did some work and some of us took a short nap - I won't say who, but the excuse was a need to warm up under blankets.  Later in the afternoon as we were reading, a small dinghy with 4 people aboard slowly approached the boat.  I thought it looked like we were going to receive a visit from water-based Jehovah's Witnesses, but it turned out to be other cruisers anchored close by us.  They came over to say hello!  It was again nice to meet cruisers and we spent 20 minutes talking and getting information on anchorages, marinas and restaurants!  The things that all boaters want to know about.  A nice surprise. 

This call to action cheered Mel up - and then there was the usual obligatory lovely sunset.  The world goes not.