We arrived in Houma in time to tie up to the City Dock in the one slip that was deep enough for our 6 foot draft. Whew! Our friends Drew and Stephanie, who are ahead of us on the waterway and providing us with invaluable up-to-the-minute information, said get to the slip first or you won't be able to get in!

We are tied up on a bulkhead in between 2 highway bridges on the edge of a city park. We were told not to be put off by being across the canal from the City Morgue. It's pretty quiet over there so it hasn't been a problem.

We spent 2 nights in Houma and just to prove we are cruising, we took public transportation to Wal-Mart and then a very nice grocery store to re-provision. By noon we were back at the boat for a fine lunch then walked about 4 blocks to a laundromat lugging 2 heavy wheeled carts full of nasty dirties. My mom would be proud---I can keep Tide in business for awhile longer. The whole laundry experience is rarely mentioned in the books and magazines that paint a rosy picture of cruising life. It's a reality though and we were glad the laundromat was so close.

Tomorrow we leave to anchor out in the Barataria Waterway to stage for crossing the Mississippi. We will then spend Thanksgiving day maneuvering through the various obstacles, locks and bridges to "get to the other side.".....of the River, that is.

In the meantime, the cats have been particularly happy to have a layday.