Navigating into Port New Orleans was always the worst part of making the trip, but the atmosphere and liveliness of the Crescent City more than made up for it. New Orleans was bursting with activity. It was now the second largest port in the United States and one of Captain Daniel Gregg's most favored landfalls. He had visited there many times in the past, enjoying the laid-back ways of the city, the pleasures of a good sipping bourbon, and a delightful young woman, or two. But, this trip, his first since he and Carolyn Muir had married, would be different. He was excited to show his new family the city, and the voyage down from Maine had been a nice reprieve for all of them. Their two youngest children, Elijah Brendan, a rambunctious four-year-old, and toddler, Anna Grace, had remained behind in Philadelphia with Carolyn's parents. Her mother desperate for a chance to spend time with her grandchildren. The older two, Candace and Jonathan, loved sailing and wanted to see the "big city" of New Orleans.

These days, the Captain rarely took bookings that kept him away from Gull Cottage longer than two weeks. He wanted to be near Carolyn and the children, and he had found a prosperous living making runs between Maine, Boston, New York and Philadelphia. He'd had his time transversing the globe and had seen the all the exotic locales he wanted when he was younger. Now, he loved being able to spend time at his home and with his family. It was a situation that he had rarely imagined in passed day, but it was delightfully perfect.

"Captain! I make us two marks off the port bow, pilot boat coming up quickly!" Brendan Darcy, the first mate, shouted from the quarter deck.

"Thank you, Mr. Darcy! All hands make ready for the pilot!" Daniel's tenor was commanding and the crew hustled to make ready for the tow into the harbor.

"We're nearly there, Cap?" Jonathan asked as he stood along side his step-father.

"Nearly, skipper. The pilot boat will pick us up and tow us into the harbor. Then we'll prepare to off-load our cargo."

"May I help this time?" the boy asked, his eyes pleading with the Captain for a chance.

"Not this time, lad. When you're twelve, then I think you'll be big enough to help with the block and tackle. For now, you can help Wick with the men's pay, how about that?"

"Really? Can I?"

"Aye. It's an important job to learn on board. We'll be in port a few days and the crew will be wanting their pay. Have to make sure each man's is correct." Daniel had a way of making the mundane sound exciting to Jonathan, but he knew the boy was eager to learn all he could about crewing on the Segocket and Daniel was happy to show it to him. He thought of the boy as his own son; Carolyn's deceased husband had been killed not long after the child was born and it was Daniel Gregg who had held the baby boy in his arms at the christening, not that scoundrel Robert Muir.

The process of off-loading the cargo from the ship was long and tedious. Captain Gregg needed to be dockside to ensure that bills of lading were completed and shipments were received by the proper parties. Then there were manifests to complete, and payments to the harbor master and pilot boat to make before any of the crew could disembark.

Carolyn was busy below deck tidying the small cabins she, Daniel and the children occupied and preparing a few bags for them to take ashore. A few days in port gave them the chance to stay at a hotel and Daniel knew that the Hotel Beauchamp would be to Carolyn's liking.

"Candy, have you seen Jonathan?" she asked her daughter.

"Yes, Mama, he's with Mr. Lawrence. Captain said Jonathan could help with the crew's pay-packets," the girl answered. Candy and Jonathan rarely called Daniel anything but Captain, yet the word was always heard as "Papa."

"Oh, good. Will you please bring me your blue dress and a couple extra handkerchiefs?" Carolyn had not been surprised at how well her children had handled the trip down; Daniel had prepared them well before hand. They loved the water and sailing, very often spending an entire summer's day out on the bay near Gull Cottage in the small sailing skiff Daniel had made for them. But, this was different, this was Daniel's work and Carolyn had worried that the children might have been an annoyance to the crew. But, they weren't. Daniel's men had all been with him a long while, most were from New England, and well, Brendan Darcy was not only first mate, but Daniel's best friend; really more like brother. Candy, Jonathan, Eli and Anna treated him as an uncle. Wick Lawrence, too, was always welcome at Gull Cottage. Carolyn was thankful that they had such friends. She enjoyed feeling that her husband's crew was a kind of extended family and loved hearing all the latest news of wives, sweethearts, and new arrivals.

Carolyn smiled as she thought about the chance to peruse the shops of New Orleans for the latest fashions. Schooner Bay was her home and she loved the small town, but having been born and raised in Philadelphia, she missed the cosmopolitan atmosphere of a big city. New Orleans, with its French influence, would suit her just fine for a shopping trip!

It was well past three o'clock that afternoon before they made it ashore and found a cab to take them to the hotel.