COLONIAL BEACH, VIRGINIA - WHO'S EVEN HEARD OF COLONIAL BEACH, VIRGINIA?

After nearly three weeks on the hook, it was time to get into a marina and get some things done such as laundry, that is logistically difficult to do while anchored out.  It is also a good opportunity to wash the mud off the foredeck.  The bottoms we have been anchoring in generally consist of this gooey, black-grey, sticky, stinky mud which, in spit of all efforts with a pressurized hose, still gets all over the deck.  So, every once in a while, it has to be washed off with a brush, some Comet, and a little elbow grease.  I cannot recall the last time the chain came up clean.  In fact, the chain appears to be permanently colored black. 

The weather cooperated with us pretty well until we got here, and then it started to rain.  It has been raining on and off for the last two days and this morning, as I write this, it has been a constant downpour.  Our goal was to leave Colonial Beach and make the last approximately 60 miles up the Potomac to our anchorage in Washington DC today.  Well, if this rain continues as I expect it will for the next couple hours, our efforts may be hampered.  So, we have a back up plan.  One of the nice things about the Potomac, is that it is wide and deep and finding a place to anchor is pretty easy.  We will be out of the tidewater basin of the river by later today and so the currents from the tide changes will not be as severe.  So, if we don't make it all the way to DC, we'll just drop a hook and stop for the night, and pick up where we left off in the morning.  Yeah, the wind is blowing pretty hard right now and it sounds like pieces of the covered dock next to us are coming apart. 

We made quite a few miles the last few days, so stopping here in Colonial Beach made sense.  As I said, we had a few chores to accomplish, but also had to do some grocery shopping as certain stores were getting low.  This town is small, but it has what we need.  It's also at about the half way point up the river to DC. 

I had never heard of Colonial Beach before, but this is what I learned.  Colonial Beach started out as a bathing and fishing resort in the nineteenth century and in the latter part of the 19th century, became known as the “Playground on the Potomac.”  At one time, legalized gambling lead to the construction of several impressive casinos, all of which burned to the ground in the 1960's.  Nevertheless, folks continued to come here.  In more recent times, the rapid growth of the Washington Metropolitan area helped this little "beach town" on the Potomac thrive again.  In that regard, because it is located roughtly equidistant (65 miles) from Richmond, Virginia and Washington, D.C. the Town is again very attractive to working families, retirees, and many seeking second homes.

In addition to its allure as a resort town, tourism is still an important factor in the town’s growth and popularity because it is located only minutes (by car) from the heavily traveled Route 3 “Historic Corridor” which links such attractions as Stratford Hall, George Washington’s Birthplace, Westmoreland State Park, Historic Downtown Fredericksburg and many other popular automobile tourist stops.

It's a golf cart friendly town.  You can rent them pretty cheap, or there is a trolly that circles the town and will deliver you just about anywhere you want to go for $.25.  The conductor took us to the front door of the market.  It was pretty funny.  There are a few locals that have nothing better to do than ride the trolly around all day long.  Obviously, the driver is a local and he enjoys seeing all his friends all day long as was evidenced by the fact that he stopped to waive at almost every corner.  There seems to be a contingent of ladies that ride the Trolly as well.  I think they like the driver. 

Folks are very friendly here and this was a good stop as wel got everything done.  Brenda seems to have recovered from the flu bug that bit her and is doing a lot better.  We listened to some really bad local band music, but ate some decent apps at the on site restaurant.  Today, we hope to get another leg on towards DC.  But, mother nature might not think so.

That's all for now.