"Visit by Boat" Leonardtown Travelogue by grandmaR

Leonardtown Travel Guide: 50 reviews and 264 photos

Our boat at the Leonardtown Wharf - Leonardtown

Bob cleaning the dodger curtain

We left this morning and drove down to the marina (23 miles by road), and got on the boat, cast the lines off, and with some difficulty due to an adverse wind which carried us down the fairway almost to the breakwater, we motored out of Smith Creek to the Potomac. We decided that since there was predicted to be a NE wind all week, it would be a perfect time to go up the Potomac to D.C. since the Potomac goes NW. We've never done this before, because before the new bridge was built, we'd have had to wait until 3 am in the morning to get the bridge opened.

The obvious first stop would be Colonial Beach VA, but we decided to try out the new pier/dock in Leonardtown about a mile and a half from our house.

After the difficulty getting out of the marina, we were motor sailing happily along with the jib and main up, and Bob decided to put up the staysail and turn off the engine.

What was that terrible racket?

The transmission and drive shaft have come apart. Quick. Shut off the engine.

So Bob gets down in the engine compartment and fixes it.

Bob decided now that everything is running well, he would clean the dodger curtains.

Ragged Point Spider

As we pass St. George's Island, we can see in the distance one of the St. Francis Xavier Churches (this one really is a chapel), and we also pass Piney Point lighthouse and get fairly close to the Ragged Point spider.

Then when we sail up Breton Bay we can see the St. Francis Xavier Church on Newtown Neck. We pass people playing croquet and the houses at the bottom of our street. The guy renting kayaks helps us to tie up. Trip was 24 nm

What used to be our bank and a grocery store

After everything is stowed, we start to walk up the hill to town. It is a steep hill. I have to stop 4 or 5 times to catch my breath and wait for my heart to stop pounding. We had dinner at one of our favorite places and then walked back down. I didn't have to stop so many times on the way down.

I wanted to do the route for tomorrow to Colonial Beach, but the other computer hangs. We have no electricity here and using this one on the 12v system makes it cranky

Sign about the waterfront park

This little park that the town has made on the waterfront is VERY popular. Lots of activity - people walking/strolling and some of them smooching. And also there seems to be a wireless network here. I understand from the marinas that we have booked later on, that this is the last place I will be able to get the internet, so I thought I'd better go ahead and do it.

I left my cane at home and also my hat and the thing that holds my glasses on. Bob has left his extra medications. So he walked all the way home and back - about 2 miles.

Sunday - Sept 21

Leaving Leonardtown Wharf

Bob says we were on the bottom last night at low tide. There were a surprising number of people down at the water front late last night. The bathrooms were open all night. I tried to start the Toshiba and it refused to boot and would hang. I tried using the older Dell and after a little bit (I was having trouble seeing because my glasses were fogging up), I remembered that the GPS makes the cursor act crazy. So we did without the computer navigation for most of the day. We cast off about 8:15.

Blackistone (or St. Clements Island) light

It took us about a hour and a half to get back down to where we could see the lighthouse on St. Clements Island.

Colonial Beach water tower

We are going across the Potomac to Colonial Beach Virginia next.

Page Updated Oct 3, 2008
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See All Autumn Colors 2004
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Comments (26)

icunme Nov 8, 2009 at 11:53 AM Report Abuse

Oyster fest & ham hocks/greens - that's for me - maybe on separate days! Great hometown. Will be surfing all your pages now! Ciao from Nonna in Roma
hunterV Aug 16, 2008 at 6:36 AM Report Abuse

Hi, Rosalie! Wonderful place in your description, makes me want to go there...
kenHuocj Jan 26, 2008 at 10:08 AM Report Abuse

fascinated and drooling to be part of the Oyster festival ;-)))
littlesam1 Oct 9, 2007 at 8:15 AM Report Abuse

I was just through your hometown over the weekend. I drove down to St. Marys City for a day trip on Sunday and drove through Leonardtown. I've never had stuffed ham before but it sounds wonderful. I should have dropped by for dinner..lol.
Rhondaj Mar 22, 2007 at 11:20 AM Report Abuse

hmm...our county fair is in august. i like the september idea with a day off from school to go...
Pawtuxet Apr 28, 2006 at 7:00 AM Report Abuse

You have a wonderful old home. Good to see folks preserving our history. Guess you'd like my village.
Minstrelette Nov 20, 2005 at 11:58 AM Report Abuse

I remember an English Tea room somewhere in Leonardtown. Is that still there?
raindancer9562 Sep 28, 2005 at 6:10 PM Report Abuse

Hi This is Lisa Bellamy I am a contender for the oyster shucking contest in Leonard town every year.Hope to meet you there this year . Your page is really neat .I have really enjoyed coming here every year every one is so friendly and nice
penumbra Sep 13, 2005 at 10:09 PM Report Abuse

Lovely architecture. How civilized to build a two storey county jail and give the inmates the upper floor.
catalysta Jun 13, 2005 at 5:58 PM Report Abuse

Enjoyed visiting Leonardtown via your page, will have to drive over sometime! I'm a MD girl too, mom in Annapolis, sister in New Mkt, her kids in Baltimore, so I'm there often...cat