> 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.

> 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