The wind piped up in the middle of the night. I got up to make sure that the anchor didn’t drag. The anchor held nicely but I set the anchor alarm ⏰️ to be extra careful. I bought the software from Android store for this purpose rather than using typical anchor alarm that comes with navigation software. I prefer software that does one thing and does it very well versus software that do many things that’re average at best.

We expected the Potomac River to be lined with marinas, docks, Tiki bars, condos and Golden Arches all the way from the Chesapeake to the Washington Monument. In reality, it’s mile after mile of beautiful wooded shoreline, and lots and lots of Really Big Water, with no place to buy so much as a Band-Aid.

The Harry W. Nice Bridge (vertical clearance 135 feet) carries U.S. Route 301 across the Potomac River at mile marker 44, a little more than halfway to Washington, D.C., from the Chesapeake Bay. We motored under the bridge into 10-15 mph winds, had no problems with the tides and currents. Didn’t want to get too close to Quantico, we sailed into the Belvedere cove (in photo) where we dropped anchor near where John Wilkes Booth lay shivering in the swamp for five days in 1865.

We were the only boat in the anchor. As we waited for forecasted thunderstorms, I let out extra anchor chain in case the storm hits us. Claudia made shrimp fajitas for dinner, perfect meal to watch the NFL game of the week, Bucs vs Packers. Go Bucs!

Tomorrow we arrive in Alexandria for a 2 weeks visit with our new granddaughter Shay.