May 22-28                                    Portsmouth, Marina

Sunday was torrential rain so we stayed onboard all day.  Boredom was setting in.  Monday was intermittently rainy but we ventured out to Virginia Beach and West Marine to pick up additional supplies to complete the non-skid project.  I bought new charts for Chesapeake Bay to give us updated information on that area (our charts were from the original owner and were definitely outdated). 

Next door was a recommended Italian restaurant.  Reginella’s was an excellent choice.  The décor, waitstaff, and food was excellent.  We enjoyed a great fresh seafood salad, sautéed broccoli rabe, veal piccata, clams and pasta, and wonderful homemade bread.  Once again, we ignored our proposed diet!

Tuesday was a lovely sunny day and to our delight Josh arrived to complete the non-skid project begun by Miller earlier in the month.  John, the head of the marina service department, was frequently on board to advise and assist.  We were pleased to have his expertise and supervision.  The non-skid process required several coats of paint and each took about twelve hours to dry.  We were hoping for several days of sunshine.

David recuperated well and by Thursday his eyes were almost devoid of swelling.  We left Josh to work on the boat and went to see Dr. Newsom for post-surgical check-up.  All was well and David was released from further medical attention.

Eager to see more of the area and escape the confines of the boat, we drove an hour to Williamsburg.  Lunch was at Berrett’s Seafood Grill across from William and Mary University.  It was a great choice with a delightful setting and delicious food.  We dined on cheese and ale soup, she-crab soup, peanut-crusted catfish, and mixed green salad.  David had a "beer flight" to accompany his food.

After driving through Colonial Williamsburg, we toured the two museums located in the restored former mental hospital on the edge of the village.  DeWitt Wallace, one of the founders of the Readers Digest, had a large collection of early American and British furniture and decorative arts which was installed in several wings of the building.  The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Collection of Folk Art was on view in other areas.  Both were very interesting and of exceptional quality.  Baby in a Red Chair, an early American painting by an unknown artist,  is beloved by visitors as is the Peale painting of General George Washington. Intricately sewn and designed quilts were examples of exceptional skill and remarkable patience.  We were surprised to see one gallery sponsored by Barry M. Boone in memory of his wife Linda.  We had enjoyed meeting and visiting with Barry and Linda on our 1996 steamboat trip on the Mississippi River.  

Williamsburg is a beautiful place and presents an ideal depiction of early life in this country.  We envied those who live in the surrounding residential areas characterized by stately red-brick colonial-style homes, verdant lawns, tall trees, and rolling hills.  It, too, presents an idealized picture of American life. 

The Memorial Day Weekend was upon us and yachts and people descended on the marina.  Late night parties on the restaurant deck and the opening of the pool made for a festive place.  On Saturday, we ran a few errands and returned to find increased activity.  While I was unloading groceries, David found other diversions!  He told me they agreed to be our crew and he could teach them to do tax returns!