Great Loop Cruise Video

I've heard about the Potomac entrance, so I took it wide around the point. We had strong winds from the southeast, but the tide was inbound. I felt it necessary to remind the owner that it won't always be like this. Whole first leg, and it looks like the whole 2nd leg are just as good as it gets. 90* here today and sunny. Better lucky than good.

That's a Coinjock shirt, one of many. Always try to pick one up for myself, the wife or the owner when I make the run. Tradition.

Didn't change the shirt unless I also grew some tata's. Our hair's about the same length though, but I've got a better mustache.

On the way down to the Solomons I saw my first dolphin of the trip, and later a school of them. Today my first pelicans. Mass schools of bait fish with some serious feeding frenzies going on all down the Ches.

Tomorrow heading into D.C.

Might check Church Pt. on the way back down river next month, but we're a little pressed for time tomorrow. Much further up the river and this old Hat could become a tourist attraction though.
Thanks for the heads up.

Must be. ETA at our slip in D.C. about 1730. Another calm, clear day, a liittle over 90*.

Nothing quite like almost getting shot to wake you up. I went to the galley to grab a hot dog when I heard "Northbound motoryacht near buoy 27, this is the Navy. You're in our range and we're about to go hot". Anybody think they don't need to listen to their VHF when they cruise?

Just came under the Woodrow Wilson Mem. bridge in Alexandria and can see the Washington Monument 5 miles ahead. Kind of gives a bit of a thrill.

The people thing is all over. My wife works for a pet supply company. She often wears a T- Shirt that reads " I love dogs....People not so much", and she means it.

Unfortunately time and my rebuilt foot will keep me from seeing a lot of the sights (you could spend a month on the Smithsonian alone from what I hear), but I'm thinking of taking a segway tour. Wonder what kind of damage I can do on one of those. Just seeing the Capital dome and the Washington monument in person as we came up the river was a thrill though.

I've got my cane and parking permit.

Going Dark

Well, today will be the end of leg 2. This afternoon we'll move Valhalla down river a short ways to a better marina where we can lay her up for about 3 weeks, and disconnect the bow camera (You'd be amazed what Verizon charges for that). I'll post here when we go live again as we move further south in October. Hope you've enjoyed the trip so far.

Leg 3 begins Saturday morning. Cruising down the Potomac to Pt. Lookout, next day down the Chesapeake to Norfolk. That's where it'll get very interesting for those who have never cruised the ICW. Over the next 10 days or so we'll be cruising down to Beaufort, N.C. (When I do transports, Norfolk to Beaufort is generally done in one day. This will be much more enjoyable.)
The Bow camera will be on from 0800 to 1900 EST at:
Valhalla Does The Loop
and of course you can follow our AIS track on Marine Traffic: Live Ships Map - AIS - Vessel Traffic and Positions.
Enjoy.