Starting the Gulf Intra-Coastal Waterway

Thursday, November 6, 2014

The water couldn’t have been smoother when we left Fairhope! It was like glass almost all the way down Mobile Bay. After about 20 miles we were on the Gulf Intra-coastal waterway for the first time.

First ICW marker included a welcoming committee
 

Coming off Mobile Bay into the ICW channel
 

A trip through this area wouldn’t be complete without a stop at Lulu’s, which is very well known and right on the waterway. Lulu is Jimmy Buffett’s sister and she has had this restaurant for a while. We had to stop and try a "cheeseburger in paradise.” It was a popular place and we enjoyed listening to Jimmy’s music on the sound system. 

J & K with Julie and Stu at Lulu's
 

Small craft watches were in effect for the night, so although we had hoped to anchor out, we are in a very secure marina at Orange Beach – in a covered slip. We will sleep well tonight!
Captain’s Log November 6, 2014

Departed: Eastern Shore Marina, Fairhope, AL  6:55 a.m.
Engine hours: 6.8 hrs.
Actual hours: 8 hr. 20 min.
Miles covered: 48.2   
Arrived: Orange Beach Marina 3:15 p.m.
Stopped at mid-day at LuLu’s, tied up and had lunch
Wx: great for first part – no wind but smoggy – then cloudy with North wind – scattered showers  around but none were where we were

Friday through Thursday, November 7- 13, 2014

It was windy overnight and was still blowing when we got up but it was forecast to drop off. After conferring with our friends on Meander we decided to get underway and go as far as we could to try to make a gulf crossing by Monday or Tuesday.

At Orange Beach marina we were in a covered slip and in with a lot
of serious deep sea fishing boats
 

 

Some colorful condos along the Alabama waterway
 

We made it to Florida! The condos suddenly stopped
and the beaches began.

 

So as we were cruising merrily along the intra-coastal waterway toward Pensacola, John did one of his routine engine checks and found anti-freeze under the starboard engine. This was not a good sign – something was leaking. After troubleshooting he couldn’t find the source and, fearing the worst, started calling marinas to find a mechanic. Limping on one engine we made our way into the bay. We are very thankful for our buddy boat, Meander, who stayed with us and led the way until we found a safe haven. They then continued on their way and we will certainly miss them.

We were very fortunate that Pensacola is a big boating area and we found a place that is Volvo certified. We ended up at Pensacola Shipyard in Bayou Chico; the mechanic came after work in the evening and determined that it was the coolant pump which was leaking and needed to be replaced. A fairly straightforward repair but it was Friday, everything is closed over the weekend, so the new part may be here on Tuesday, mechanic is booked for the week but may be able to do it “on overtime”…so we don’t know how long we will be here, but… could be much worse.

This opened up a wonderful opportunity for us to rent a car and go visit some places where John did his military training and was commissioned as a Naval officer 45 years ago.
 

John remembers the drill sergeant teaching his AOC class how to march
along this seawall in the hot July sun in 1969.
 

This amazing place brought back a lot of memories! What a
coincidence - John's squadron at NAS Oceana was the Black Aces.
 

I got to sink my toes into the soft white sand at Pensacola Beach.

We heard that on Monday and Tuesday, the 10th and 11th, between 15 and 20 boats made the gulf crossing from Carrabelle to Tarpon Springs. Our friends on Meander were among them along with many others we have met along the way. We will have to wait for the next weather window. Meanwhile, on the evening of Veteran's Day, we attended a wonderful musical review at the Pensacola Little Theater which included a rousing medley of military anthems followed by various show tunes. Beautiful voices - good time.

As it turned out, the parts came in and work on our engines was done on Wednesday, the 12th, during regular time. By sunset we had two new pumps, belts and shut-off valves. We decided to stay here one more day to finish up some errands and return the rental car. The weather turned cold and nasty and it really doesn't feel like boating weather.

Captain’s Log: November 7, 2014
Departed: Orange Beach Marina, FL 8:25 a.m.
Engine hours: 5.1 hr. – 31.45 statute miles
Actual hours: 4 hr. 55 min.  
Arrived: Due to engine antifreeze leak on stbd engine we stopped at the Pensacola Shipyard at 1:20 p.m.
Wx: Cool, sunny and breezy with winds 10-15 mph out of the north