We returned to the Lolligag after a very hot but very satisfying day visiting George’s house and grounds. Since we had a late and large lunch, dinner was basically catch as catch can – which means eat whatever you want – just don’t ask me to cook. As it was very hot, Captain Mark started the generator to both charge the batteries as well as run the air conditioning at least until the sun went down. We are very much enjoying the cooled air when all of a sudden we hear the deafening silence of the generator no longer running. Mark checks out the innards of the generator (looking very official as he does so) and determines that algae/seaweed/gunk/whatever-green-stuff has clogged the raw water intake valve and he proceeds to clean out the strainer. He restarts the generator and it runs for another couple of minutes and again shuts itself off. This time the strainer for the raw water intake is clear so he determines that the impeller needs to be replaced. 
Since he has performed this task before, he starts taking the generator apart and again looks very adept and mechanical as he changes the generator’s impeller and snakes out the water line for additional clogs. Again he restarts the generator and it runs for another couple of minutes before once again shutting itself off. Only two other things can be wrong with the generator and neither of them is Captain Mark able to fix himself. Either the raw water intake is clogged at a place that Mark has not been able to reach with his tools, like under the boat which would require a diver to fix or the generator is just broken and will need to be replaced. Faced with these two choices, the cost of a diver to fix the problem has the most reasonable price tag and is the lesser of two evils. Now it is dark and we have no light so it is time for bed.We get up early Wednesday morning to head south to Colonial Beach Marina in hopes that they will have a diver available. Again today we have the river pretty much to ourselves and we enjoy the ideal and somewhat cooler weather. The scenery is lovely as we take our time soaking up the surroundings. Then all of a sudden we start to hear distant loud booms. We look at each other and then it dawns on us that just north of Colonial Beach there is a munitions plant and that live testing must be taking place.
I immediately reach for the radio to call the range boat for instructions on how to advance. A range boat is a vessel that may or may not be a Coast Guard boat which guards the perimeter of the firing range and determines where and how the river traffic may venture. After receiving instructions to continue our southern route on the Potomac but to veer toward and hug the Maryland shoreline, we continued. As we came closer to the firing range, the explosions became more frequent and much louder. I must say that it was really cool and exciting to be that close but not in danger to a live firing and explosive test range. I also loved how the range boat identified the area as being “hot” which meant that testing was underway. Almost immediately south of the test range was Colonial Beach Marina. Upon arrival it was after 5p and the marina personnel were gone for the day so we would have to wait until morning to see if a diver was available. Since this is the marina where we sought refuge from the huge storm when we were northbound on the Potomac we were very comfortable in finding our slip and settling in for the evening.
Hours on the water: 6.5
Nautical miles traveled: 52
Number of bridges to be opened: 0
Time spent waiting at bridge: 0
Next Destination: Overson's Lodge Creek Marina
What we're listening to: Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich
What we watched: Chicago Cubs
Lesson for the day: Watch out for gunshots
Obligatory knitting report: Mittens for the Wunder Kids
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