May 15-21                                    Portsmouth, Virginia

Sunday was a lovely sunny day and we were ready to leave the boat and see some of the area.  Richmond is about two hours away and has some wonderful historical sights in addition to the renowned Virginia Fine Arts Museum.  The drive northward is almost entirely by interstate highways but the sightseeing is severely limited by the tall trees and thick foliage bordering the roads.  Our GPS expertly guided us to Boulevard Way and the FAMV.

Located in one of Richmond’s oldest and most prestigious neighborhoods, the original Beaux Arts building of red brick faced with imposing Doric columns blends well with the surrounding traditional architecture.  Not so, the recently added glass and stone addition that now holds the main entrance lobby, museum shop, restaurants, and modern art galleries.  The new space is filled with light and proved to be functional and easy to navigate as we moved from gallery to gallery.  It seamlessly melds with the interior of the original structure and retains several architectural features, marble columns, small alcoves, and intimate display spaces, that lend charm to its present modernity.

The FAMV has benefited significantly from the generosity of Paul Mellon, a scion of one of America’s wealthiest families and a notable collector of art.  He and his wife have donated their comprehensive collection of French Impressionist Art, which represents every noted artist of that genre, including bronze sculptures by Degas.  As an avid thoroughbred breeder and racer, Mr. Mellon assembled an amazing collection of British and American “sporting art” that is now on view at the FAMV.  One does not have to possess a deep knowledge of equine potential to appreciate the beauty of the fine horses portrayed in the paintings and sculptures displayed in galleries that might resemble scenes from a gentlemen’s club in London.

The spaces devoted to Modern Art were large and so was the collection.  I was delighted to see represented most of the artists we show at the MAM of Fort Worth but there were many, many others.  Quality had not been sacrificed for quantity and it was truly amazing to see the creativity and unique efforts of so many artists.  Usually not a fan of Modern Art, David was an avid participant in our tour.

We left the museum at almost five o’clock and opted for a late lunch/dinner.  Seafood was our choice and we drove to the downtown area to dine at Rappahannock’s, a local favorite.  Funky minimalist upscale décor with a limited menu of seafood with Asian “infusion,” this restaurant proved to be an excellent choice.  We had several appetizers rather than entrees, a cold green pea and she-crab soup, a medley of Virginia oysters, and wood-grilled octopus.

On Monday, we learned our contact for completing the non-skid project was not going to be available (he waited a week to let us know!!!!!).  We contacted the service manager here in the marina and he assured us he could complete the needed work in time for our departure near the first of June.  Rain is in the forecast so it is imperative they take advantage of sunny days when and if they occur.  Unfortunately, we have learned OUR schedule is usually not THEIR schedule.

Tuesday was a difficult day.  It rained almost all day and David was very sick with the same symptoms I had experienced before our departure for the boat.  He stayed in bed, ate nothing, and tried to recover.  Surgery was scheduled on the following day.

Wednesday morning was damp but rain had ended.  We left the marina at eight and David was feeling much better.  We arrived at the surgery center, a beautiful facility in Suffolk, waited almost two hours, and finally David was called for surgery.  Two hours later, he emerged with dark, swollen eyes swathed in bandages.  I was concerned about his ability to walk to the boat from the car, a distance of a long city-block, but he assured me he could do so without falling.  Slowly and carefully, he trudged the distance, boarded the boat, and promptly succumbed to the remnants of the anesthesia and pain medication, falling asleep for hours.  I awakened him periodically to apply ice packs to lessen the swelling.

Unfortunately, the stomach virus returned and David experienced four difficult days, surviving on little food and as much liquid as I can persuade him to imbibe.  The weather alternated between rain and sunshine so we stayed onboard.  David slept most of the time and I cleaned and did needlepoint.  It was interesting to observe the constant changing scene in the marina.  We were touched by the concern of the staff who frequently inquired about David.