During the night I had a quick visit from Ziva, she hopped on the bed, had a quick sniff round and then hopped down again!
The weather was fine and warm and I spent the day quietly after my very, very long Tuesday, that was about 40 hours long, lol!
Ziva, the monster, was still very skittish if I neared her but if I stood still and she wsa in the mood she would approach me so I could stroke her.
After a lovely Chicken dinner cooked by Robert, Mudjie and I enjoyed a glass of Baileys, mine over ice, lol! I then wandered upstairs to shower and bed.
Thursday
During the night I again had a quick visit from Ziva, she hopped on the bed and allowed me to pet her for a short while before hopping off the bed.
We had an early start today but I overslept, I had set my alarm but forgot to save the new setting, lol! Forunately, Mudjie woke me up thank goodness! I did have time for a quick cuppa and a toasted English muffin. The day was again fine and warm!
We set off on our trip to Houston Port for a cruise around part of it. it was a reasonable trip although with heavy trafiic around Houston. We arrived at the turn off to the boat with 15 minutes to spare BUT, a train was stopped across the tracks and it did no move for 15 minutes.
Robert went to talk to the car behind us, they were headed the same way and had contacted the boat so they would wait a while for us. The train finally started up again, it was very long but we made it to the boat and it was only just boarding. There were lots of school kds on the boat, part of the 100+ passenegrs, so it was a bit noisy but then we were allowed to go outside.
We passed quite a few ships moored, some were unloading while others were very quiet with no activity. One from Amsterdam looked as if it might be ready to leave and in fact when we returned we passed it as it departed!
Most of the ships we passed were container/breakbulk ships. Breakbulk is cargo that is not carried in containers, this includes such items as steel pipes etc. 
We did pass a couple of tankers once we had gone under the bridge that crosses the channel. It has a clearance of 175 feet but some of the modern ships are still unable to pass underneath and have to moor further downstream. 
We also passed pilot tugs, dredgers and even a coastguard boat. The port is ranked first in the US in foreign tonnage, first in US imports and exports and second in total tonnage. It is also the nation's leading breakbulk port.
The shipping lane was opened in 1914 and the first tour boat was first operated in 1958 being run by the Port Authority. 
It now runs low emission engines and generators to keep the environmental impact as low as possible. 
We passed a US Coastguard security station along the way and then a couple of oil refineries as well as the US Gypsum works.
There is a huge petro-chemical industry that covers land running from the port down to Galveston. during World War II, when natural rubber began to run out they developed synthetic rubber and there are various types being produced today.
It was not long before we turned round to head back and we noticed quite a large number of derelict buildings on the shore.
There was also an area where old scrap metal was being crushed and then recycled/reused again. Ther was a water sprayed to keep the dust down.
If anyone is interested in learning more about the shipping channel, here is a ink: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston_Ship_Channel
We returned to our starting point, disembarked and headed back home. on the way, we stopped at a Cracker Barrel and I shouted lunch for us. I ordered the Fench Dip and it wa so good!!! At home I relaxed for the afternoon before Robert cooked pizza for tea, it was also very good. Mudjie and I enjoyed a glass of Bailey's before I headed to bed.
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