Waiting For The Mechanic.......

....Or Someone Like Him......... *

First, the good news:  the Volvo manifold arrived from Sweden last Friday.  Woo Hoo!   Apparently, it was held up in France for two days, for reasons only the French can comprehend. But it is HERE, damnit!

Our/our seller's mechanic, Carlton Gizzard (yes, really)  is scheduled to make the install on Friday,   July 3rd.  Dare we speak out loud that we might be able to leave the slip this weekend??????  (Shhhhhh! )

In the meantime, we have been staying busy.  It seems every time we open a new part of the boat we find something new to clean.  I found a thriving biological colony beneath the foredeck sun pads.  Commodore Kathleen found wasps nesting above the doors from the cockpit to the side decks.  And we hauled the interior carpet covers and exterior windshield covers to the laundromat.

Wade spent time working to gather a basic set of spares for the engines and generator; filters, pump impellers, V-belts, and the like.  With COVID-reduced marine inventories, this effort has taken us to Norfolk, Hampton,  and Portsmouth in addition to here in Virginia Beach.  He also got to spend a delightful morning headfirst into the aft bilge to repair the transom shower and to re-secure the hydraulic pump for the autopilot that had been adrift since its original mount rusted away.   Ah, boating.

Our new friends, Bill (from Coeur d'Alene) and Anjanette Schlemmer, took us on a cocktail cruise aboard their 27' center console.  A beautiful evening and a gorgeous sunset.  Thanks, guys. We needed that.  (And a tour of the proper channel outa here. 👌)

Chris, from Virginia Beach Diver Services, cleaned Irish Lass's bottom this week.  With the boat essentially immobile since January, we had "quite a colony" of marine growth on our hull and running gear.  Including 4 oysters that were starting a commune in the raw water intake for the port engine.  Yikes!

We know that many of you have been waiting for more boat pictures.  We will post more in our next update. Promise.

Thanks for watching..........








(* with apologies to Phil Proctor and the rest of the Firesign-ers)

Gonna get you......

....on a slow boat from Sweden?*

Happy Father's Day!  The sky is blue, the seas are calm, and,,,,,,,

We remain involuntary marina queens and are making the best of it.  Our rare replacement manifold is en route from a Volvo warehouse in Sweden.  (Tack Gud!).  Latest ETA is Tuesday, so within a week or so, we might actually be able to leave the slip for the first time.  🙏🤞

Meanwhile..........

We knew a homeport of Spokane, WA on our stern would be a conversation starter.  Our slip is adjacent to the parking lot of a busy fitness center.  On Friday night, a guy in a Crossfit Coeur d'Alene t-shirt called out to ask if we or the boat were from Spokane.  Said he had been watching for us since we changed the boat name in February.  Turns out he is Bill Schlemmer, a graduate of CdA High and the U of I, a retired Navy officer, and current resident of Virginia Beach.  We ended spending a pleasant evening aboard with him and his wife.  Turns out we have several friends in common in CdA, Spokane, and even in Wallace.  Frankly, our first (and very welcome) social interaction in several weeks.

We continue to scout for a new marina to be our base of operations on the Chesapeake Bay this summer.   We are trying to strike a balance between the urban energy (read noise and shopping) of our current location and the abject isolation (cry of the birds and 6 miles to a grocery store) of more rural locations we have seen.   Yesterday we use Herandette to visit the Yorktown and Deltaville, VA, looked at several, and found a couple of good candidates.  We would like to be settled in our new site by July 1. 

Oh, poop!  (literally).   Since we have been unable to visit one of the waste pump-out stations at nearby fuel docks, our holding tanks have been filling up.  Today, we were rescued by heroes from the   Hampton Roads Sewer District. To our delight, the HRSD operates a  seasonal dockside pump-out service each summer, as part of their mission to clean up local waters (i.e. to keep folks from pumping their tanks overboard.)   Staffed by summer interns who follow scheduled routes from marina to marina each weekend, pumping up to 25 gallons by hand) from enrolled vessels.  (In light of our situation, our crew took 50 gallons today. To relieve the pressure, so to speak).  And they will be back every other weekend to take another 25 gallons as long as we are moored in their service area. AND IT IS FREE!  Yes, really.   The State of Idaho should take note, instead of removing most of the public pump-out sites on area lakes and forcing boaters to pay for service (or resort to crime).

As you can see from these photos, Commodore Kathleen has been busy updating our nautical decor and generally cleaning up our act. Without her influence, Admiral Maggie and I would already be living like two marooned sailors.  Thank you, Sweetie. 💘

Thanks for following us.


















(* with apologies to Frank Loesser.)

"Gang aft a-gley." *

(*Gaelic for "Everything takes longer and costs more".)

Our guess is the poet wee Bobbie Burns was a boater.  The best-laid plans do indeed "gang aft a-

wee Capt. Bobbie

gley."  Despite our Excitement and enthusiasm, not all has gone as planned.  We thought we would offer a post to recap some of the challenges we have experienced (and get them out of the way.)

The Wyndham Oceanfront Virginia Beach is an effing DUMP.  Dirty, careworn, noisy, (and did I mention dirty?)    Our first -0- stars review.  Unfortunately, we had prepaid our stay, so we had to stick it out.  A complete contrast to our experience at any other hotel across the country, which we spotlessly clean due to COVID concerns).   Obviously, local management doesn't give a s**t, but we hope the message we posted on Trip Advisor and the Wyndham corporate website gets some attention........

Mussels and pine needles and mud. Oh My!   We have discovered the joy (Not!) of cleaning our A/C sea strainers.  Our A/C is water-chilled, drawing seawater under the hull thru strainers that catch debris.  We're in a  shallow marina along a busy channel, so there is no shortage of debris.  (See where this is going?)  When the stainers plug up, the A/C shuts down. Cleaning them out is a contortionate, odiferous, unpleasant chore.  Our marina neighbors say it a weekly task in hot weather.  Yuck.   Gotta add something to help control the "biologicals" in the systems, as well.  Perhaps some chlorine/bromine tablets, perhaps some ridiculously-expensive marine concoction, perhaps a 6" of copper tubing.  The jury is still out.

Speaking of A/C, Virginia can get humid, with a capital "U".  We have had some days of 90℉ and 75% humidity.  Drippy, indeed.  Gives me flashbacks to my college summer on the 7500 level of the Star Mine in Burke, ID.   Makes A/C a necessity and the smelly task above a must-do!

From the No-Good-Deed-Goes-Unpunished department,  we are currently immobilized in our marina pending repair of the exhaust manifold on our port engine.  This issue dates back to the prepurchase survey when a minor coolant leak was discovered.  Our seller agreed to repair it and we (somewhat foolishly)  agreed to close the sale.  since then (February).  Unable to locate a new replacement at the time, he elected to buy a "reconditioned" (read: used)  manifold.  Since then, his/our mechanic has been struggling to get it installed without IT leaking.  We have now determined that there is a new manifold available in Volvo's European warehouse that could be shipped across the pond.  After viewing a video of the lastest leak during a pressure test, we have concluded that the "reconditioned" is cracked and we have insisted the repair be made with a new part.  Of course, the seller is not happy with the $$ he has spent on this effort thus far, nor with the additional cost to "do it right".   We have offered to share this cost with him in order to get Irish Lass undereway.   But we're still looking at another two weeks tied to the dock.

Wade is staying busy learning more about Irish Lass's systems.  Commodore Kathleen is addressing further provisioning, organizing,  and decorating chores.  And taking advantage of the delay to make a hair appointment,  Admiral Maggie is charming folks on the docks and walking trails.

Ah, boating............

(heavy sigh)

We is ABOARD!

Change is indeed constant. 

(Just check your pants pocket,  ka-Ching!)

Lots of changes this week.

• We spent Monday afternoon at the laundromat with all the towels and bedding the seller left aboard.  And yes, these establishments still have a distinctive odor we all remember,  Only the prices have changed. $4.75 for a load in a big front loader.  Sheesh.🤷
• Tuesday was cleaning day as we dusted, scrubbed, and/or vacuumed every nook and cranny inside Irish Lass.  Kathleen washed every dish, glass, fork, and spoon aboard. To their credit, our sellers left a very clean boat for us.  (But no one, probably not even Commadore Kathleen herself, can completely fulfill Commadore Kathleen's vision of "clean".  We got pretty darn close, though.)  And we got Fernando about 50% unloaded and all of our clothes and personal gear stowed.
• Wednesday we "burned a ship" by checking out of our hotel (a story in itself) and committed to sleeping aboard.  Got Fernando 90% unloaded and began stowing all that stuff.  Organizing the galley took a major effort, including a pile for Goodwill and Rubbermaid bin of "what-possessed-us-to-bring-THAT?" But we got enough done so we had a cocktail and a bed!  WOO HOO!  

  

  Admiral Maggid approved

   
• Thursday. 😁 First morning in our new master stateroom.  First showers in our new master head.  First coffee and tea in our new gallery.  Amen!  ✟🙏✟ (First trip to West Marine for parts. 😬 A new dockside water inlet.  Ah, boating....... )  Kathleen got us re-upped with Dish Network, using the receiver and KVH TracVison satellite dome that came with the boat.  
• On Friday we bid farewell to our faithful friend Hernando. returning him to the fold at Budget.  Those who know me well can appreciate how rare it is for me to compliment General Motos, but they have the

  

  Adios, Fernando!

  Yukon XL dialed IN.  (No wonder they seem to sell every one they can make.)   Vaya con Dios, amigo.   

In his stead, we rented a smaller, less expensive, and less featured ride to help us with further provisioning.  Maybe we'll call her Hernandette?

Ola, Fernandette!

We closed out the week by acquiring what seems to be the last Magma Kettle BBQ on the east coast.  So at least we can eat again.  👍 

Grillin'!

We know you are anxious for boat pictures.  We need another day or two to make things photogenic.  And THEN we will offer you all the 5 cent tour.  Promise.

We has ARRIVED!

"Back home in Indiana"......not on a bet!

Turn, baby, turn!

We left Illinois on Saturday, following delightful visits with the McLaughlan and Mc Kernan clans.  Heading south toward Indianapolis, we encountered our least favorite state of the trip, Indiana.  Bad roads, bad traffic, bad construction delays, dirty rest stops, dirty gas stations.  The only redeeming (?) characteristics we found were a commitment to renewable energy and a widespread disregard for posted speed limits.  Limit of 70?  Push 85 just to keep up with traffic.  Construction zone posted at 55?  Dial it back to 75 and keep rolling.  Right up to the place where we sat completely still for 30 minutes on I-70 for a reason yet to be revealed.   Screw this, we're heading for.......

...Ohio!  Where we enjoyed the hospitality of Wade's nephew Ashley, his wife (and fellow Ohio State Associate Professor!👍🎉) Liz, and their daughters, Helen and Campsie.  Their home and Upper Arlington neighborhood are both delightful.  We westerners could learn a thing or two about city planning there.

Peaceful Ohio

Sunday morning saw us rolling thru the bucolic hills of southern

Curvy West (BG!) VA

Ohio headed for West (BY GOD!) Virginia.  Where the forest thickened and the hills increased until we were lucky to find 100 yards of straight level road.   One wonders how the Union and Confederate forces even found each other,  much less fought battles here.  Passed some "hollers" so dark and deep that they must truly have to pipe in daylight.  Sheesh.

Entered Virginia via I-64 with Commadore Kathleen at the helm.  This our second experience with

Faster! Faster!

this fabled byway and its cadre of truckers who enjoy "pushing" traffic along at a frenetic pace.  Nothing motivates the ol' right foot like looking in your mirror and reading  "FREIGHTLINER"  in reverse large type.  Lead, follow, or get outa the freaking way! We spent our last night on the road at Chancellorsville, VA.

And at last, on Monday we arrived at Virginia Beach, where Admiral Maggie met the Atlantic! Fernando led us safely 2,959.8 miles from home (@ 21.4 mpg).  Gracias, Fernando!

Go East, Young Dog!

Now the fun (and work) begin!   Stand by for more news.

Eastbound and Down

Loaded up and truckin'.......*

By the time you read this, Hernando will have collected bugs from eight states across his smiling face.  We are writing this from the lovely home of Charlie McLauchlan (Kathleen's' cousin) in Geneva, IL where we are breaking the trip for two days with members of both sides of Kathleen's family.  

Here's a recap of our travel thus far:

Day 1 took us from Spokane to that garden spot among Super Fund sites, Butte, MT.  The day's run was a mere 289 miles.   We enjoyed a real restaurant dinner (inside, with table service and EVERTHING!). Maggie revealed a real preference for King beds as we all crashed early and were up and at 'em at 5:30 am for.....

Day 2, which included 600 miles to Rapid City, SD.   MT, WY, and SD all embrace an 80 mph speed limit, which helped us make quick work of the distance.  The countryside was uncharacteristically green and lush.  And there was enough water in the Yellowstone River for us to start the Loop from there if we only had the boat.  Even at these elevated speeds, Hernando consistently delivered 21 mpg!  What's not to like?   Dinner was Mexican on the patio, as we watched Rapid City law enforcement prepare for the local version of the George Floyd protest.  Yes, even in Rapid City. 

Day 3 took us across South Dakota and western Minnesota to Rochester, a distance of 589 miles.  SD celebrated our departure with a cloud and sun display worthy of Cecil B Demille.  Little did we know that the rolling grasslands of SD would seem nearly mountainous once we got to MN.  Lunch was on the banks of the Missouri at Chamberlain, SD.  We broke the afternoon in Sioux Falls to

visit the Griffith family plot at Woodlawn Cemetary. 

Unfortunately, with construction delays, we had to skip the 

SPAM Museum in Austin, MN.  Maybe next time..........

Day 4 was an easy 385-mile jaunt east from Rochester into  western IL  We crossed the Mississippi at La Crosse, WI, and entered the Wisconsin Dells, where cows outnumber people, cheese rules,  and they seem to have devised a way to have ski "resorts" without mountains.  Clever folks, these Minnesotans.

Our current pace calls for us to arrive in Virginia Beach on Monday.  Perhaps once we clear IL, we will again find some states with a more enlightened view on speed limits. But I doubt it.......

Thanks for listening.  If you choose to leave a Comment, please include your name.

* Thank you, Jerry Reed.

The Prep Volume 8: Ah kin maik it fitt!!!!

Yay, Hernando!

Hernando proved his metal with near bottomless cargo capacity.  We kept adding, and adding, and adding some more.  And he kept chanting "Thank you sir! May I have another."   The pictures tell the story:

 And Admiral Maggie still has her throne!

Yay, Hernando!