Progress Report

We'd hoped that all work on the boat would be finished by the end of May so that we could begin cruising in June, but we're not optimistic that we'll meet that goal. The logistics of coordinating all of the necessary tradesmen is one issue, but we've also had some unexpected "surprises" (never a good thing!) that have resulted in items being added to "to do" lists.

On the plus side, work on the galley/salon has been proceeding at a good clip and we're very pleased with the results so far. 

Our corner settee, finished except for the cushions

Lots of lovely storage

An overview of the galley. The plumbing needs to be hooked up
and the countertop installation finished

One small portion of the countertop has been put in place.
Relief--no grout!

The carpenter tells us that the work will be finished this week. (If we're lucky, maybe even today.)

Installation has started on the solar panels, but that--and a few other electrical projects (bow thruster, aft locker light, upgraded flybridge controls)--remain "works in progress" for one reason or another. However, we do now have additional, and badly-needed, electrical outlets installed in the salon, and the unanticipated failure of one of our battery chargers ($$$) has been dealt with.

A recent, and unwelcome "surprise", was the need to deal with our engine diesel fuel. It appeared to contain significant quantities of water that wouldn't clear up despite the diligent use of fuel filters designed to separate out water. It was highly recommended that we empty the fuel tank, have the tank cleaned, evaluate the fuel, and refill the tank--possibly with our "cleaned up" fuel or with fresh fuel. We also need to have welds on the tank checked and possibly reinforced in some areas.

The "glamour" of boating that no one ever
talks about--pumping out the fuel tank by
running a hose from the engine room
to a collection receptacle on shore

The pump-out is complete and the tank cleaning half done; we're hoping to have the remainder of the necessary tasks completed by the end of the week. Then comes the fun of putting a good quantity of diesel into our 2500 liter tank ($$$$).

Possibly the most significant obstacle to being done by the end of May is the exterior painting. No progress has been made on that front in the last 10 or 11 days. The biggest problem there was that too many workmen have been going in and out of the boat, making it difficult for the painters to complete the unfinished areas and allowing the paint time to cure. So they beat a strategic retreat and won't return until foot traffic lessens--weather permitting, of course (and, unfortunately, we seem to be entering a more unsettled weather pattern.) 

Oh, yes, it's also holiday season, so this Thursday is the Dutch national holiday of Ascension Day, and no work of any kind will be getting done.

If we were more comfortable that work would get done in our absence we would probably have left for another week of travel somewhere. That kind of approach to work delays in Maasbracht had been our tentative plan before we arrived in Europe. Instead, we are more comfortable sticking close to "home" to keep an eye on things.

With no operational galley, we've been going out
to eat on a regular basis. The small, unassuming
Cafe t' Wiel (The Wheel Cafe) has become a 
lunchtime favorite. Friendly staff and the best
soups! Sadly, they are closing their doors for good
at the end of June

Dinners out have included meeting new friends

Sunday the 21st was a beautiful day, so we decided to put our new bikes through their paces and see how a 40-km roundtrip worked for us. We headed south to Sittard, a town first mentioned in the mid-10th century, but suspected to have been founded a few centuries earlier. Sittard is situated on the German border, and like Roermond, was occupied by the Germans in WWII. However, unlike Roermond, it was largely spared destruction. It has a small historic city center with a number of impressive old churches, an attractive market square (Markt), and a few half-timbered houses. Probably because it was a Sunday, the tourist office was closed--as were most of the shops--so we gave up on the idea of trying to do any kind of historic walking tour and settled for oblivious meandering, simply to try to get a feel for the town.

We passed this WWII Dutch casemate (think "bunker") on 
our way to Sittard

Sittard skyline

St. Peter's Church (14th C and later)

Stopping for refreshment in one of the cafes that
lined the market square

The Sittard Markt had many cafes and restaurants around its
perimeter and people were out enjoying the day

The electric assist made the 40 kilometer
 distance easy.

Here's hoping that the next report will include the news that most tasks are done.