06/19 - 06/20 - Potomac River Cruise

Yes, thanks Bill. I just signed up. I recommend as the time approaches, we collect cell phone numbers and nominate a "flagship" (Plan B is my nomination) so that we can communicate when out of VHF range, which will be a lot of the time prior to joining the flotilla. I will offer Cod Creek as a one nighter anytime during that period and provide goodies, lunch/dinner and drinks :cocktail :cocktail :beer . We've got a pier, should have electricity by then and will have water/head/shower in our 28' camper available for those that wants. Will post a position (lat/long) when the time approaches. We should all start doing our sun :hot :hot dance now.
 
Hello All,
A couple of items.
1. I'm not sure of this flagship thing. I am sure that someone with experience on the Potomac and the Chesapeake waters would make much more informed decisions than me. How 'bout you, Charlie? Yo have certainly demonstrated your enthusiasm for this project.

2. What are the needs of the participants? How can we best meet those needs? I, for one, travel with 2 dogs. And, even after almost 10 years, they still won't "do it" on the boat. I do hope to have a small dinghy ready for the trip. Except for the previous,anchoring and docking are OK with us.

3. Location: I initially wanted to be further along on the week-end, but after checking distances, and a little re-thinking, the mouth of the Potomac sounds great. That will give us more time at DC.

Duane, Joane, Mini and Tiny,
aboard the Plan B
 
Thanks Duane and Plan B!

As for the "flagship" that's just a holdover from my Navy days. In my experience, the brains didn't necessarily reside there (no slight intended Duane). It's just that you'll probably be the only boat that will make the entire trip down the Potomac and thence up the Chesapeake. Not sure about Tom on Otter, he might. For those not in it for the long haul, cell phones should be the means of comm until within VHF range.

Where do you plan on putting in now? It was originally Woodbridge I know but if you look at a chart, it's about 30 miles downriver from DC. You could still do that, head North initially, hitting sights on the way up and then do a speed run back down into new waters.

For reference, here are some mileages (NM) from the mouth (Chesapeake Bay end) of the river, starting in DC and working down river.

DC (near National Airport) 95Mi
Alexandria 91Mi
Belle Haven Marina (VA)
(where Otter resides) 89Mi
Mt Vernon (VA) 84Mi
Occoquan (Woodbridge) 74Mi
Quantico (VA) 68Mi
Aquia Creek (VA) 60Mi (Capt's Choice may join here)
Rt 301 Bridge 44Mi
Cobb Island/Wicomico R. (MD 32Mi
Ragged Point (MD) 20Mi
Lewisetta/Coan R. (VA) 8Mi
Cod Creek (Va Side) 7Mi (Capt's Choice will join here if not B4)
Mouth of the River/Ches Bay 0Mi

Won't try to do the same with the Bay at this time, too many options. Probably won't want to miss Smith Island if the Wx isn't too rough though. The guys near Annapolis (Bearh on Snowden + Others, C'mon Guys, sign up!) are sure to have favorites!

Anyway, that's a start, there's gas available all over the place, the nearest one to me in Cod Creek is at Lewisetta you should probably fuel there before coming into the creek.

These mileages were taken from NOAA Chart 12285, if you don't have it or a chartplotter, you should get it. The Chesapeake Bay BlueChart chip for my Garmin 182C has this chart (and 56 others) on it. Not sure what you've got for electronics.

The river is tidal, but not much. I've got about 1.5ft at the mouth and it's about that way all the way up.

Only two months plus a little to go! Wet here but the Cherry Blossoms are awesome!
 
Okay, Charlie--
It looks like I'm already signed up, as the "moderator". Yikes. I've never been accused of "moderating" anything. Is that like being Vice-Chancellor of the Known Universe? Been there, done that, I have, but never "moderated" anything. How does one moderate? Is there pain involved? Could we all just get along, instead? With PlanB's plans in mind, and yours and Otter's locations, I suggest we go with the Otter Creek--Mouth of the Potomac venue (Venue? Oh geez.) for this gathering--and then we could moderate our ways across to Smith Island and on up the Chesapeake as we wish, with as many of us as wish to do so--kinda a floating, meandering party, so's to speak? Yes, as moderator, I shure do think that would be my two cents. I shure hope I get my fuel tanks in time--might have to moderate on fumes and vapors otherwise. Bearh, of "Snowdon", known to many earthlings as Bruce Holly, and also frequently referred to by using several colorful, emphatic, and pungeant sobriquets both in front of and behind that name.
 
Also, whatever happened to Levity's Michael? Didn't they first start this thread? If you're out there, how does this work for you?
 
Bruce/Bearh: I sure ain't "moderate", matter of fact, been accused frequently of being a radical, or was it a radial, can't remember. Sobriquet? Is that something for a grill?

Anyway, that sounds like a plan, but don't go to "Otter Creek", go to the other creek, Cod Creek, that's where I is. There's two by the way, one is off the Little Wicomico the entrance to which is at the Southern conjunction (as opposed to the preposition) of the Potomac and the Bay. My creek, and I use that description loosely, is about 7 miles up the Potomac Shore. Will pass out lat/long coordinates as we get closer so you can put them in your GPSs or wherever you put such things.

Moderate away, so far you're doing a great job (I don't care what everyone else is saying!!).

Charlie
 
Hi folks,
Just returned from a trip to CA, to find that my inquiry about cruising the Potomac has cross- pollinated with another inquiry and become a C-Dory flotilla rendezvous and voyage. The June 19-20 dates sound great to my wife and I. We are looking forward to meeting and cruising with all of you. I will check maps, cross reference with charts, set my GPS and attempt to find everyone at the right place and right time! Cell phone numbers would be helpful.
Levity's Michael
 
Michael, welcome back. Look forward to meeting you this summer somewhere on the Potomac or Chesapeake. Read the posts (you may already have done that) and signup on the Event Signup page. That makes 5 and climbing!
 
Cod Creek...Cod Creek...Cod Creek. Got it. Now, keeping it will be my little challenge. Cod Creek...Cod Creek...
For those who wish, almost any direction (except maybe south) from the mouth of Cod Creek (I got it!) will run you smack dab into something interesting if you go far enuf. South will work too (My wife is from the Northern Neck), but is tough on the bottom of the boat pretty quickly. Charlie, we're looking forward to it. May even have my tanks in by then--they're being shipped today. Bruce H.
 
North is the only direction that WILL work. Any other direction will quickly prove LINDSAY'S LAW which states very clearly

WHEN THE DRAFT OF YOUR VESSEL EXCEEDS THE DEPTH OF THE WATER, YOUR VESSEL IS MOST ASSUREDLY AGROUND

However we appreciate your kind comments. If them tanks don't come, I've got a couple of extra 6 gallon ones that will work under that lip on the square end of Snowdon.

Looking forward to the summer (even Spring! Supposed to set a record near 25deg here tonite...BRRRRR...)

Gotta be soon!
 
OK, Cod Creek it is. Where's that? How about a Lat/Long so I can find it on MS Streets and Trips?
Looking forward to the gathering.
Duane,
Plan B

Cell:314-368-7078
 
Plan B et al:

The entrance to Cod Creek is at:

N37 58.861
W76 25.952

My Pier is on the SouthEastern Branch at:

N37 58.449
W76 26.148

My Cell Phone # is 571 213 8687

When in the Creek and on my property, cell phones don't work, we seem to be in a Black RF Hole! They'll be good for non-line of sight comms on the river and during the trip. I'll make up a list of all of them and send separately so folks can print it before the big event.

Sun is shining here today, supposed to get up to 60!

Charlie
 
All, Bluecrab has joined our cruise! :lol: :wink: Welcome, we now have 6 boats signed up. We'll show those left coasters! Only about 20 more to go..... Not sure there ARE 20 C-Dorys this side of the Big Muddy! :?:
 
Do they have digital cameras over in your part of the world? Us left coasters like to look at boating pictures when we're not sippin on the Starbucks :)
 
Hi all! It looks like there will be at least one more C-Dory on the E-Coast not too far in the future. The wife took a shake down ride on a 25' and was very impressed. Hopefully, if all goes as planned I'll be on the Chesapeake this season... late maybe, but this season! Butch
 
Butch, great news!! The 25 is a great boat, can't wait to see it. We'll do a late season gathering too, just for you. Have to figure out how they do the Christening on the left coast and do it for you.

Ken, B~C (finally found the squigelly thing on my keyboard), naw we gots none of that digital stuff over here, you've got all of that technology out there with your silicone valley (I like that silicone stuff, my wife does not). Or is that silicon :twisted: .... I'll get some more pix posted in my album, and we'll be sure to record our first ever East Coast Ramble when it happens! We all sit in envy of you guys on the left coast with your population of CDs. Tom on OTTER and I had lunch at the Washington Sailing Marina today and did some planning for the cruise. It will be a happening! :lol: :wink: :P :)

Charlie
 
I don't make many dates these days, but this is an exception! My better half and I will have been married 35 years on Monday, April 12. But this date is ok for the both of us. I am looking for solitude of the water, some place where a body can make a real difference and still enjoy life. I guess you can say the view from the top of your profession is what everyone with a type A personality strives for, however, that view to retain calls for significant compromises for a lot of things. I have found the trip back down the ladder to be much more enjoyable, set to a place and pace where you can impart values to the folks on the way up.
The C-Dory folks on the two C-Dory sites (the Group and Brats) know exactly what I am talking about. Charlie... you know what I am talking about :wink: .
 
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