Potomac River Challenge Post-Mortem
On July 11, 2023, we completed our row of the entire Potomac River, from Gravelly Point in Arlington, Virginia, to Smith Point Marina in Reedville, Virginia. We rowed a total distance of 158 miles over the course of 12 days. We believe we are the first couple to ever row this route in its entirety.
Overnight stops included: Leesylvania State Park, Widewater State Park, Caledon State Park, Monroe Bay Campground, Newtowne Neck State Park (Maryland), Coles Point Marina, Dennis Point Marina (Maryland), Coan River Marina and Smith Point Marina.
It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.
Asking For Safe Passage
I’m not going to lie, there were some moments during our little adventure when I implored the Everywhere Spirit for safe passage; there were times I thought we might not actually make it. It’s just a river, right? How bad could it get? Actually, the Potomac River is pretty wide - 8 miles in spots - and when the wind and tides get fussy, the rollers can seriously hinder a rowboat’s best intentions. The easiest thing to do when a rowboat such as ours is presented with contrary winds and currents is to just go where nature wants you to go. But when you have a tight schedule like we had, success in arriving at your intended daily destination was important (although not so important to risk our lives over). Nevertheless, sometimes it was stressful (to say the least) crossing the Potomac River or going against her mood.
We were prepared for the worst. We had a ditch bag containing a hand-held VHF Radio, a cell phone, flares and a day-time signal (mirror and whistle), and a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) registered with NOAA. We each had our PFDs on. I had built end-decks on our rowboat, ‘Serenity’, and added pool noodles to all of her conspicuous edges to assist with floatation. But still, no one wants to get in a position to make an SOS call.
On the last day, I looked at the weather data and thought we would have a good run from Coan River Marina to Smith Point Marina given stiff winds out of the North West and high tide at around 0900. Boy was I wrong! The combination of wind and current created large swells that made steering our rowboat difficult. We beached once waiting for conditions to flatten-out. After waiting an hour for the tide to turn, we set-off again. Unfortunately, we encountered the same conditions as earlier and so we sought the safety of another nearby beach.
We sat on the beach and deliberated what to do. We needed to make Smith Point Marina before 2045 hours when the tide would start to run out again. Getting in the Little Wicomico River Inlet when the tide is running out is really difficult in a rowboat. Trust me, I’ve faced these conditions when I was much more naieve about the power of tides.
While we deliberated on a course of action (around 1000 hrs), the tide ran out even more, completely beaching our Serenity. Choice made. Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em and wait for high tide.
Doing my best to estimate a possible arrival time, I figured the next high tide was at 2100 hrs and perhaps we’d be able to shove off the sandbar around 2000 hrs and make it to Smith Point Marina around 0100 in the morning. Going with that estimate, Cindy phoned Smith Point Marina to let them know our ETA was around 0100 just to set their expectations.
Plan for the worst, hope for the best.
Soon, the water started coming in faster and faster as the high tide gained momentum. By 1650 hrs Serenity had about an inch of water under her flat bottom, and we were able to push her into deeper water by around 1700 hrs.
Joyfully, we set off to rowing toward our final destination around 1710 hrs! By our calculations, this timing should give us just enough time to beat the tide changing again by the time we arrived at the Little Wicomico River Inlet access to Smith Point Marina in Reedville, Virginia, prior to the tide change at 2045 hrs. Also, sun-down was to occurr at 2030 hrs, so we had the possibility of arriving before sundown and before the tide turned.
We rowed like fiends for three hours straight, only breaking for minutes at the 1.5 hour mark for water and the occasional selfie…
We arrived to an epic finish, getting in the Little Wicomico River Inlet before the tide turned and just as the sun went down.
It was amazing!
We were ecstatic!
We had a warm bed at Smith Point Marina ahead of us, and the completion of this Potomac River Challenge, and knowledge of this beautiful river and her tributaries, behind us and in our hearts and minds forever.
Rowing The Potomac Challenge Virtually
At Viking Rows, you can row this same route virtually by connecting your Concept2 PM5 monitor up to our software running on the device of your choice. You can also enter meters rowed manually on the website. It’s free, so what are you waiting for?! You can also create a team to help you get the route completed in record time.
See if you can row it faster than we did - 12 days! I challenge you!
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