Friday 23 August 2013, Washington D.C.

We departed Quantico Marina at 0805 after dropping off our slip contract with Phil at the marina office.  We have about 33 miles to go today to get to Washington D.C. and the Capital Yacht Club.  Weather was forecast to be rainy but it was clear when we started.  Travel up the Potomac continued to be scenic. Places passed today were George Washington’s home, Mount Vernon, Fort Belvoir Army Base, Old Town Alexandria waterfront, Reagan National Airport, 

Bolling Air Force Base, and Anacostia Naval Base.  About the time we were passing Mount Vernon it began to rain.  After we came around the river bend just upriver from Mt. Vernon, the Washington Monument came into view.  Stirring view. Here we are passing under the Woodrow Wilson Bridge.

 We needed to top off with fuel and attempted to do so at the Bolling Air Base marina, but it must have been their furlough day as no one answered either the radio or telephone.  Instead we stopped at James Creek Marina, on the mouth of the Anacostia River.  The dock attendant was more than happy to stand out in the rain while we refueled.  Once fueled, it was only another mile to the Capital Yacht Club.  This marina is located as close to the National Mall and all other tourist attractions as you can get.  Once the rain stopped we went sight seeing, sort of.  Debbie, of the Capital Yacht Club, told us that we might get a rain poncho next door at the Washington Marina. To get to the Washington Marina, you walk through the waterfront wharf fish market. 

 Smells great.  There must have been about 20 or so seafood vendors selling all kinds of stuff (seafood related). A particular delicacy that Beth was interested in were the Tuna heads.  On to the marina store.  Of course there were many other items we bought, in addition to the rain suit, which now required us to take back to the boat prior to continuing the sight seeing.  Off we went and went and went.  After a couple of wrong turns, we were off.  Went in the front door of the Smithsonian Castle and out the back onto the National Mall area.  Then it was down the mall towards the Washington Monument,  

then a right turn to head to the White House. 

  The President, nor his dogs were sighted. Since we were so close, 1 mile, it was off to the Reflecting Pool and the Lincoln Memorial. Prior to getting to the Reflecting Pool we toured the World War II Memorial, neither of us had seen that before and it was very impressive.  

While walking down the side of the reflecting pool, I noticed that preparations were underway for come kind of event. 

 I thought it was some Hispanic event as there were playing Santana music on the loudspeaker system. On a boat you are really out of touch with current events. I “googled” the event was pleased to discover that it was a multiday celebration of the 50^th Anniversary of the Civil Rights March on Washington.  It begins on Saturday and climaxes on Wednesday.  Notable speakers such as Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rev. Al Sharpton, Travon Martin’s family and such. Unfortunately for us we will be elsewhere. The White House needs to start serving more goose meals to its visitors and there were many at the Reflecting Pool, crapping everywhere.   After milling around the Lincoln Memorial,  

we decided to go even further away from the boat and see the Viet Nam Women’s Memorial. 

 Now that were at the farthest point possible from the boat, it was time to return. On the way back, we passed through the Rev Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. 

 On the way back to the boat we passed by the Jefferson Memorial.

 I was about to die from walking forever and hunger.  We passed through the Wharf Fish Market and I crumbled under and bought a pound of jumbo spiced shrimp, mmmmmmm.  Back to the boat finally and we collapsed. My son Jason lives in the D.C area and he and his friend were going to stop by after work and we were to eat dinner at the Phillips Flagship Seafood Restaurant which was about 50 feet from where we were tied up.  They arrived about 9:00 P.M. and we all selected the “all you can eat” buffet.  After stuffing ourselves and making additional plans we said good night and really collapsed.  More sight seeing on the schedule for Saturday.