At the time of purchase, Ken estimated it would take about two years work before she would, in his opinion, be ready to travel. We are grateful to Bill Seibert that she was docked on Sarah’s Creek when we bought her. Here she stayed during this period which coincided with the beginning of the Bicentennial years.
Seated on the Puffin’s decks, we had a beautiful view of a then tranquil Yorktown, with its monument to the Battle of Yorktown. It was across the York River to Gloucester Point, and Sarah’s Creek, that General Cornwallis had hoped to escape at the end of the land-fighting in the Revolutionary War.
Restoring the Pious Puffin was a real challenge for us all. It was filled with work, frustration, and joy! It was a wonderful place to entertain friends, old and new. Many relatives and midwestern friends made it a time to visit Yorktown, Williamsburg, Jamestown, and all their accompanying historical and tourist attractions.
Many lessons were learned aboard the Puffin, favorable, and some not so favorable. But one thing is certain. Restoring an enormous art object can be a labor of love!