Last Days on the River and into Mobile Bay

Saturday, November 1, 2014

It was another early morning and cold for Alabama as we left the Kingfisher Marina at Demopolis Yacht Basin. We had delayed a day because of the high wind forecast and we knew that we would have to anchor out. We are fair weather anchoring boaters and the winds were supposed to calm down eventually.

We went through the Demopolis Lock and down the surprisingly pleasant waterway and stopped at Baschi Creek for the night. The creek was narrow and wooded but we tied up bow to stern with Stu and Julie on Meander and there was just enough room. Stu even got in his dinghy and tied up to trees on each side to make sure we stayed in the middle.

Stu on his dinghy and Julie on Meander - getting ready to tie up to shore
 

 

You really get close when you raft up with someone - it is almost sunset
- note Meander's colorful fender covers
 

We accepted an invitation to have dinner together on Meander - Stu is a very good chef!

Captain’s Log November 1, 2014

Departed: Demopolis Yacht Basin 6:53 a.m.
Engine hours: 9 hrs.
Actual hours: 8 hr. 20 min.
Miles covered: 70.57   
Arrived: MM 165 at Baschi Creek Anchorage 3:15 p.m.
Locked through the Demopolis lock, no issues
Wx: departed cold 37 degrees, clear windy, 10 – 15 kts.  Wind died down in evening, quiet night

Sunday, November 2, 2014

We had a very quiet but chilly night. We knew there was a freeze warning but were surprised to find ice on our swim platform. We must not be far enough south yet! The anchor came up and off we went – another day on the river and another anchorage.
Today took us through the last lock on the river system – the last lock until we get to the Dismal Swamp in N. Carolina next spring! We went farther than we planned and with daylight savings we lost the sun earlier, but found another anchorage at Three Rivers cut off and again tied up with Meander.  

The Coffeeville Lock - our last one for months!
 

The shoreline started to get sandier and we were now in salt water
 

This tow had a colorful pink and blue paint job. It was named the
Thelma Parker II
 

Captain’s Log: November 3, 2014

Departed: Anchorage at Bashi Creek 7:45 a.m.
Engine hours: 9.6 hr. – 82.82 statute miles
Actual hours: 9 hr. 35 min.  
Arrived: Anchorage at 3 Rivers 4:20 p.m.
Wx: Cool AM, frost & ice on deck – departed in wispy fog. Clear – reached a high in the 60s, sunny.

Monday, November 03, 2014

Another day on the river and another anchorage – the greenery is starting to look more tropical with cypress and palmetto. We saw our first alligator today! We rafted up again with Meander and Sundowner was anchored nearby with Karen and John on board with Captain Jack, their boat cat.
It was a spectacular day but the camera battery died so no pictures.

Captain’s Log: November 3, 2014

Departed: 3 Rivers anchorage 8:10 a.m.
Engine hours: 6.9
Actual hours: 7 hrs.  55 min
Nautical miles covered: 62.62
Arrived: Anchorage at mile marker 12 – Tensaw River cut off in Big Briar Creek, 2:00 p.m.
Wx: nice, warmer, winds light and variable, sunny

Tuesday,  November 4, 2014

This morning it didn't take long to leave the tropical wetland and enter the industrial area just north of Mobile. Before we knew it we were entering the shipping channel and seeing lots of ships and activity.

Entering Mobile with Meander in the lead
 

One of two new stealth ships being built for the Navy
 

We went between two huge tankers but only one was moving;
I call this a Meander sandwich
 

Crossing the big bay to Fairhope was very smooth with almost no wind. We were happy to arrive at port, stopping at the fuel dock for the necessary fill up and pump-out. Today was another milestone - we passed the 3,000 mile mark for this trip - we are almost halfway through the Great Loop!

We stayed an extra day here and on my birthday, the 5th, I spent a wonderful time with two friends wandering and shopping in the beautiful city of Fairhope. We went out to lunch and found a few bargains and then collected our captains and had a great dinner at the Grand Hotel. It would be nice to linger here and explore some more but Florida is calling!

Julie, Karen and I shopped 'til we dropped.
What a day!        Photo courtesy of Julie C.

 

Captains Log: November 4, 2014

Departed: Big Briar Creek at Tensaw River Cutoff mm 12, 7:20 a.m.
Engine hours: 4.1  Actual: 4 hr 55 min
Distance: 28.97 miles
Arrived: West Shore Marina at Fairhope, AL 12:15 p.m.
Tow traffic not too bad, anchored outside marina waiting to get to fuel dock - have traveled 3,000 miles so far on this trip!
Wx: Clear calm