Day 23 - The End?

Woke at 4.15.

Tea and let Dell out.

No Candy. She has been at the Casino all night? Maybe
the pleasures on shore are irresistable? I know the
casino is warm, has food and electricity, but hey,
we're supposed to be at sea later this morning to
NOLA.

I check the filter for water - some, and drain what
little there is. Wx (weather report) tells me the
obvious - dense fog with visibility less than 1/4
mile.

Della comes back with a grin and looking more relaxed.
Dog biscuits and water all round.

I feel a silly urge to stay here, or at sea or out in
the Gulf. I don't want this to end, even tho' it's
exhausting, boring and exhilarating, and damp and
hot.. I know I don't want to live ashore. Maybe my
view will change, but pro tem I see my life on this
boat.

I'm off to the Casino - maybe Candy has won thousands
of dollars?

Back from a complimentary breakfast of scrambled eggs
(soft, fluffy with peppers), sausages, bacon and a
kind of fried bread. Plus coffee and OJ. Delicious!
Candy is winning. Not thousands, but hundreds, and she
will stay there for a while and push her luck. She has
been up all night and I'm not sure when she'll get
tired. I know she loves Casino's and I can't begrudge
her her time in there, even tho' I despise them.

I have a look at the aft head. Drain it off and try
and follow water lines to see why it ain't draining. I
think the fuse may have blown on the mincing unit!

Sleep for a while as I couldn't leave port anyway what
with the poor visibility.

Candy comes back at 11.30 with a huge grin. I have no
idea why because she lost the entire amount, but she
had a great time (she said) as she hasn't had a
gambling binge like that for over ten years. She added
that if I wanted to give her a birthday and Xmas gift
combined, then that was it. She was so happy that I
didn't get the hump or say anything derogatory because
she so obviously enjoyed herself. I simply can't see
the point of gambling. We went for lunch (again
comp'ed) and back at the boat she fell immediately
asleep. I am reading Da Vinci Code as Candy had
finished it.

I bought a chart from here to Slidell and it looks
challenging to say the least. Shallows all the way and
narrow slots to negotiate. The fog cleared about 11
o'clock today. Let's hope it clears sooner tomorrow,
as I want to be away by 7 at the latest.
Nothing else is happening. Sunshine and tiderace..

Tomorrow marks the end, and I shall be sad. For a
while anyway, till we are ready to set off for the
Caribbean proper...

Nighty night