SUN. 8 FEB. 1953 IN BEAUMONT. DOCKED AT 12:30 A.M. A NARROW SQUEEZE BETWEEN A LYKES FREIGHTER + A LIGHTER. PILOT, AVICE, MIDGE + I WERE INVITED TO CAPTAIN'S QUARTERS FOR A SHERRY. CAPT. ERIKSEN HAS FURNISHED HIS SITTING ROOM VERY TASTEFULLY: SECTIONAL COUCH, TOOLED LEATHER (LIMA, PERU) COFFEE TABLE + CURTAINS. UNMARRIED, MAKES SHIP HIS HOME. TALKED IN TIM'S CABIN (CHIEF MATE) UNTIL 2: A.M. SHIP'S HEAT TURNED ON - CABIN WAS HOT AS AN OVEN. FELT LIKE A BAKED POMPANO THIS A.M. DRANK A QT. OF MILK AND GLASSES OF FRUIT JUICE. WALKED TO TOWN (YLMILE). PHONED KAY AT 10: A.M. NO ANSWER; FOUND HER IN AT 4: P.M. SHE HAD MOTHER WITH HER - DINNER AT M.G.C. GOOD CONNECTION. HAD A GOOD ORANGE JUICE, SAT IN SUN WITH GANG FROM SHIP. WENT BACK FOR MORE ORANGE JUICE + WROTE A FEW POST CARDS. TO SHIP FOR LUNCH. WROTE TO MR. MILNE ABOUT INVESTING PESOS IN CIA. COL. DE TAB. UPTOWN TO MAIL LETTERS + PHONE KAY. MET CHIEF ENGINEER + WE HAD AN ORANGE JUICE. TO SHIP FOR DINNER. TOOK BOW-ON PICTURE OF S/S P. GLEN. MIDGE, AVICE + I WALKED OVER TO NORWEGIAN FREIGHTER "TASCO" (ALL SHIPS' NAMES START WITH "T") - RUN BETWEEN MEXICO, GULF PORTS + NORWAY. KNOCKED ON CAPTAIN'S DOOR + HE VERY GRACIOUSLY SHOWED US ABOUT SHIP. 12 PASSENGERS. QUARTERS MUCH MORE COM- FORTABLE THAN OURS + TASTEFULLY DECORATED, BUT OFFICERS EAT + LIVE SEPARATELY FROM PASSENGERS. SHIP IMMACULATE. WE ARE TO DUE TO SAIL FOR HOUSTON AT 8: P.M. OIL SMELL PERVADES SHIP + TOWN. LOADED 2355 DRUMS OF LUBRICATING OIL FOR FREEMANTLE.