Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Harvey, LA

The navigation chip arrived yesterday, and now we have electronic charts to
take us from here to Tampa, Florida.  We also have paper charts, and we
follow both charts step by step as we travel.  At each milepost, which is a
sign posted every 5 miles, we write on our paper chart what time and date we
went by.  We also mark the chart as we go by major landmarks.

Having installed our new chip, we pushed off the Houma dock yesterday
morning with a lot of apprehension about the new transmission.  Fortunately,
all went well, and we are docked along a decrepit bulkhead at the Boomtown
Casino in Harvey, Louisiana.  This is about 3 miles south of the New Orleans
French Quarter.

Two men from a boat already tied up there helped us tie up.  A water snake
of some sort greeted us along side Genesis and appeared for a while to be
thinking about how to climb up and join us.  To our relief, it quickly gave
up, but I stepped gingerly when crossing the gap between the boat and the
dock.

The crew left Cinder and Rosie to their own devices and took shore leave to
visit the casino.  The gift shop and restaurants are in a building on the
ground, but the gambling is done inside an attached floating structure that
looks like a paddlewheel riverboat.  I believe that gambling is not legal in
Louisiana on the land, but is legal on the water.

I invested $2 in the penny and nickel machines and won an additional $11,
enough to pay for a buffet dinner, when you take into account the $2 senior
citizen discount.  At last, I get to experience one of the benefits of being
(new buzzword) "seasoned."  I guess that's O.K., as long as I'm not
subsequently fried or hard boiled and served on a platter.

We got the news yesterday that daughter Christine had an ultrasound, and
they checked all the systems and a healthy baby boy is expected to make an
entrance in September.

Purrs and prayers to all in need.  I'm sorry I don't have time to respond as
much as I'd like to.

Annie, crew for Rosie & Cinder