We've spent another weekend aboard Earendil and had Adler along. Jamie kept Fuzzy for us again. And again, Earendil went nowhere.

We got here Friday evening. This time I asked Adler if he'd like his own berth. He wanted to sleep alone, so I shoved all the stuff in the forward cabin over to one side and created a nest for Adler on half the v-berth. He's thrilled to have his own cabin. He sleeps surrounded by his favorite stuffed animals, with one light on and the door closed.

Saturday Bruce met us at the USS Texas; a retired battleship built in 1913 and now moored just off the Houston Ship Canal. The picture is Adler posing on the gangway to the battleship. I have one other picture of Adler manning one of the anti-aircraft guns, which I'll put in the gallery (along with others from the weekend). I again forgot to take a picture of Bruce. I'm hopeless! It was an interesting tour. Adler was, of course, most fascinated by all the huge guns. I was more interested in what the living conditions were. In the 1940's they had a crew of 1800 aboard that ship. It must have been wall-to-wall sailors (or more correctly, bulkhead-to bulkhead)! Some of the officers' cabins were restored, as well as the wardroom and the cafeteria and living quarters for the regular sailors, though it seems a lot of sailors slept in hammocks slung from hooks on the decks. Bud wanted to see the engines, but those weren't open for view. There is a lot of restoration work going on, as there is major rust on this 101-year-old ship.

In the afternoon Bud and Adler tried a bit of fishing at a little cut into the marina, but with no success.

Today (Sunday) we thought we might take the boat out and then over for a pump out. There was thick fog in the morning. The Sheriff's boat tried to go out at about 9 but had to wait another hour or more to even attempt it. You couldn't see the Fred Hartman Bridge, about a half-mile across the water from us, until almost noon.

Bud pumped up the dinghy and in the late morning we all rowed out to the entrance to the marina where Bud and Adler tried fishing again. Adler just wants to cast and reel in his line, over and over. We didn't last long and again all fish were safe. Several more shrimp were added to their menu, though.

Then Bud scrubbed the deck and I cleaned down below. Adler went from helping Grampa to helping Gramma and back as the jobs alternately enticed and bored him. I went up and asked Cindy, at the marina office, if we should try to bring the boat over to pump out. She advised against it as the water is still not terribly high, and high tide wasn't until after they closed. So instead of taking Earendil out, Adler and I walked about a mile over to a playground while Grampa rested and started supper.

Tomorrow morning we'll pack up and head back. Adler likes it that he gets to miss a day of school. So we had a nice, quiet, weekend, Earendil got cleaned, and that is all good; but no sailing.