Year 2 Day 32 - Portsmouth, VA

Today is Friday, April 27th and I think today is the day we'll be headed back to York River.  We took the boat out yesterday late afternoon for the sea trial and everything performed great.  Today they're finishing up a few items and hopefully Mike will be cruising back later today.  I'm driving back late morning for a hair appointment and will just stay there waiting for him.

Our grandson Marshall should be arriving tomorrow for a quick visit before heading out for Camp LeJeune.  I've got major boat cleaning to do this afternoon before he arrives as the boat has been sitting out in the yard with mechanics in and out for the last week.  Everything is filthy!  I can't wait to see his shining face!!

Have a great week-end.

Year 2 Day 31 - Portsmouth, VA

Today is Thursday, April 26th and the Cummins mechanic is currently in the engine room finishing up attaching everything.  If all goes well, the engine will be started up later today and they'll take the boat out for a trial run.  Fingers are crossed!  Now we'll be taking up a collection - ha ha.

Our plans are as follows:  Return to York River tomorrow, spend week-end with our grandson Marshall, two more injections in my knee on 4/30 and 5/4; drive back to Norfolk on 5/7 - 5/10 for Great Loop Cruisers Assn. Rendezvous, drive car up to Bethesda where we'll park it in our son-in-law's driveway temporarily, rent a car to return to York River, and FINALLY head north.

I'll add an addendum later today with the results of the sea trial.

Year 2, Day 27 - Portsmouth, VA

Today is Sunday, April 22nd and above are two photos of Queen Kathleen being lifted out of the water on Wednesday.  This has been a very stressful week watching the engine being dismantled and removed through the salon door.  The entire boat was torn apart with furniture scattered all over the boat and tools everywhere.  Then we had to wait for the Cummins man to dismantle the new engine before it could be loaded through the door and down into the engine room awaiting for reassembly Monday and Tuesday.

We decided to stay at the Marriott for a couple of nights to get away from the mess on the boat and it was a nice change.  Yesterday was a beautiful day here in Portsmouth and we went on the home and garden tour of old downtown Portsmouth and then a tour of the Naval Shipyard Museum.  Later we went to dinner with a couple we met at York River who have been here having work done on their boat.

We knew a front was coming up from Florida overnight and today it's really been miserable - raining and very windy all day.  Visibility is quite low also.  We just heard the weather report and this is going to be with us all night and probably into tomorrow as well.  I go to Williamsburg again tomorrow for another injection so I hope the weather improves.

We're hoping to be able to leave here by Wednesday heading back to York River where we'll stay until I complete my knee injections and finally heading north.

Year 2, Day 21 Portsmouth, VA

Today is Monday, April 16th and we are currently at Ocean Marine in Portsmouth, VA having been hauled here on Saturday by Boat U.S.  Mike left with the boat at 8:00 AM for what turned out to be an 8 hour trip.  Even though he had no power and was completely under tow, he said he enjoyed being out on the water again after such a long time.  I went to breakfast at the marina and then took a couple of ladies shopping and to lunch.  After taking them back to the marina, I drove over to meet Mike.  What should have been about 1 - 1 1/2 hours turned out to be a lot longer as they were doing work on one of the tunnels and it was bumper-to-bumper traffic for quite a while. 

I had to drive back to Williamsburg this morning for another injection in my knee and thank goodness for the GPS!

We have been informed that we'll be towed in the morning over to the yard to remove what's left of the engine and it will be examined by the surveyors at that time.  Then we'll be hauled back to this spot in the marina until another day or two  before they can install the new engine.  This is a long process and will take most of this week and possibly into next week.  We're still praying that the insurance company will cover some of this expense.  Tomorrow is Mike's birthday and it sure would be a great birthday gift if they would!

The weather has turned warm and after being in the covered dock all winter, it's kind of nice being out in the sunshine.  I'll just be glad to get on with this trip which should be in early May.

Year 2 Day 16 Gloucester Point,VA

Today is Wednesday, April 11th and a very overcast cold day here in Virginia.  The weather sure jumps around a lot this time of year.  One day it's gorgeous and sunny and the next day it's winter again.

We're waiting for a good day weatherwise to have the boat towed to Portsmouth which is across the river from Norfolk.  That seems to be the only marina in the area capable of such a big job.  One of the windows in front of the boat has to be removed and the old engine removed.  Then they will install a reconditioned engine the same way.  A surveyor hired by our insurance company came to the boat last week and inspected it but won't have a conclusive answer until he inspects the engine after it's removed.  Say a prayer that they'll cover this because if not, we're looking at a huge bill.

I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow to discuss my knee situation.  I'm trying to wait until the end of our trip to face surgery and now it looks like both knees are messed up.  I just said to someone else in an email that "life happens when you're making other plans".

More information at a later date.

Year 2 Day 10 - Gloucester Point, VA

Well, I must admit I've been quite depressed because the diagnosis on the engine is that there's a crack in the block - unknown cause - which has resulted in a catastrophic failure of the engine.  The solution calls for the engine to be removed and a reconditioned Cummins engine to be installed.  Because of the difficulty of all this, the boat may have to be towed to Norfolk to a marina which can accomplish all this.  We're still waiting word on exactly how this is all going to come about.  I've been in a state of disbelief all day.  We were on our way home from church earlier and I heard on the radio that the two happiest days in a man's life are (1) the day he buys his boat and (2) the day he sells it!!!!!  Everything is up in the air right now.

On a lighter note, we've been talking with Marshall our grandson who has returned to the states from Okinawa.  He's in San Antonio visiting with his mom this week and looking at cars.  He sounds great and I can't wait to see him.

More about the boat later.

Year 2, Day 7 - Gloucester Point, VA

After hearing back from the boatyard that the oil cooler was fine, they recommended we contact a Cummins repairman to see what could be wrong.  This repairman has to come from Chesapeake which is about 1-2 hours away and will be here tomorrow.  We've been praying that it's not going to be too costly but whatever the verdict, repairs have to be made so we're at their mercy.

I continue to be amazed at the spectacular color nature has displayed here.  I drove to Williamsurg on Saturday by way of the Colonial Parkway and was in awe of the dogwood trees and azaleas along the 15 mile parkway.  Also, the bulbs in bloom take your breath away.  I bought a hyacinth plant for the boat and it's so gorgeous as well as fragrant.

This is Holy Week and Mike is going to church with me Thursday night for dinner and a service and I'll go with him Friday night for Good Friday services.  I suppose we'll each go to our own churches on Easter Sunday.  The folks here at the marina are having an Easter dinner that afternoon in the boater's lounge so I need to figure out what to contribute.

I'll get back with the diagnosis on the engine tomorrow or Wednesday.