"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)