July 13, 2014 Coan River anchorage, The Glebe

Leaving the Corrotoman River

True to our word we left the Corrotoman River anchorage at 7am.  There was 13 drops of rain last night so we have a salty boat.  But we'll be at a marina tomorrow and can use the dock water to wash the boat down.  Much easier to let a rain storm do it though.

The river was rather calm but once out into the Bay we had swells from the south which were beam on to us causing some uncomfortable rolling.  Once we turned on to a more northerly course we had following seas and a much gentler ride.  I only mention this because the dinghy, held on the boat with ratchet straps and lines, was wobbling around before we changed course.  Watching it wiggle in the swells was a cause for concern but it turned out to be unwarranted. 

We eventually rounded Smiths Point turning up the River right by Smith Point Light and entered the Potomac.  The river here is so wide the opposite shore is barely discernible in the distance.  

We ran up the western side to the Coan River.  We're going to a place up the river called The Glebe.  Its a little basin about a mile up the river so I'm told, and it's supposed to be a protected and quiet anchorage.  And now that we just heard it's forecast to rain tonight, we're hoping that description is accurate.  Although the rain would be welcome.  But usually rain is accompanied by strong winds which aren't especially welcome.  But we’ll see.

We arrived at the Coan river and found the channel entrance well marked.  But beyond the entrance markers all we have to guide us are the charts showing depth contours.

The Glebe behind the fish stakes on the right

The prescribed entrance to the Glebe is a little tricky with some winding turns to avoid the shallows.  There are no markers except for a single, private green buoy placed to demarcate the worst of the shallow areas.  And the crab pots!  They are scattered everywhere.

We went lowly up the river and made the abrupt, 90 degree turn around the private marker and entered the small basin which is The Glebe.  Aside from Field Trip, we were the only boat there.  Depths were 9-10 feet and the shoreline did provide some wind protection from a few stands of tree's and several homes.

Field Trip anchoring

We dropped the anchor and it held right away even in the stiff southerly breezes.   Field Trip anchored next to us.  

Bob and Martha took their dinghy down and came over for cocktails.  We had  a great time on board telling stories and reliving previous adventures when we traveled together on the rivers.  Wonderful!

They went back to their boat and hunkered down for the night.  We had the crock pot going all day so  dinner was ready.  And I’ll get the generator running around 8 to make water and to charge the batteries.   After yesterdays conflagration of disasters, life is good again!

Looking out towards the Potomac

After we ate I started the generator and water maker.  And since it was particularly hot and muggy we took a soothing dip in the semi-salty, 85 degree river water.  Nice.  Since we had the water maker running we did some laundry too.

We’ll probably leave around 9 or 10 tomorrow morning.  We have 37 miles to travel up the Potomac to Colonial Beach and the Boathouse Marina where we plan on keeping the boat for the 18 days when we'll be in Wisconsin.

Colonial Beach is on Monroe Bay and I'm attempting to time our arrival to coincide with slack water.  Much easier trying to squeeze into a tight slip without current pushing the boat around so we usually try to arrive close to slack water.  Delicate timing.  And in the past I would make similar intricate calculations trying to time the traffic flow so I could make it home in less than 2 hours.

The winds are still blowing strongly tonight and the latest forecast has 2-3 swells on the Potomac tomorrow.  But I think as we travel further up the river the waves will calm.  NOAA seems to think otherwise.  Wonder who's going to be right this time?