Goin' Mobile

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Yesterday we left our quiet little anchorage on the river and headed to Mobile, Alabama.  Another huge milestone for us on this trip.  I will miss the tranquility of the rivers and the no worry about big waves for sure.  Kentucky Lake and the trip to Chattanooga were awesome.

Entering Mobile Bay, the landscape reminded me of industrial south Chicago shipyards.

 

 

 

 

 

Once outside the shipyards the bay opened up and it's been awhile since we've been in big water.  It took  a minute to acclimate ourselves to reading the chart.  It is very shallow outside the channel so no screw ups allowed here.

 

So, Blue Moon is in salt water and tides.  Have to pay attention to tide charts again.  While in France last fall we saw what they do about the tides there.  They don't worry about it!

 

 

 

 

We saw a Forrest Gump fishing boat.  First of many I'm sure.

 

 

Now we are at an arm pit of a marina on the Dog River.  It ain't pretty but this is where the marine welder and the satellite tv installer likes to work so here we are until Tuesday at least.

 

I needed absolutely nothing from the store but I took the courtesy car for awhile to where else?  Walmart.  Southern Alabama Walmart!  Now there's a real experience.

 

Dave is doing little repair/maintenance things on the boat and I'm actually going to read some later.

 

Nothing exciting going on but nice to be where it's 70 degrees again.  We have the Florida panhandle coming up after this and I'm looking forward to that.  Not so much looking forward to the long night crossing that must be done in a few days from Carabelle  to Tarpon Springs.  More about that when the time comes.

 

 

 

 

 

 



 



Ode to Billie Joe

Friday, Nov. 15, 2013

Leaving the snow behind us, we headed back to Demopolis, Alabama on Tuesday and our 18 hour drive went well.  Once back I washed down the boat while Dave made the 2 hour round trip to Meridian, Mississippi airport to return the rental car.  Wednesday morning we woke up to slippery frost on the boat.

6 boats left for lock #77 of this magical mystery tour.  Our goal for the day being Bobby's Fish Camp, about 80 miles south.  It turned out to be a day of heavy tow traffic as you can see on this photo of the chart plotter.  At one point there were 5 tows/barges maneuvering the sharp bend of the TomBigee in our path.

 

Those little triangles are tows/barges.

 

 

 It gets a bit tense when we have to pass between one coming and one going!

 

 

 

Blue Moon arrived at Bobby's Fish Camp just before dark.  Captain Dave, the legendary docking master that he is, parallel parked the boat between two other boats with only inches to spare.  Bobby's Fish Camp is a legend among loopers and the only marina between Demopolis and Mobile (about 216 miles) so it's the only game in town.  It's a few notches up the scale as compared to Hoppie's on the Mississippi and totally charming in a deep Alabama hillbilly, no frills, kinda' way.

 

 

 

 

 

It's in Choctaw County where Billie Joe McAllister jumped off the Talahatchee Bridge!

 

 

Flip Flop Tree

 

 

 

 

 

Donna, the proprietor, made us a wonderful catfish dinner.  Dave was asking her how they catch the catfish and she said they use commercial rearing ponds or noodling!  She said she prefers noodlin'.  She was proud to show us that she still has all her fingers!

 

 

 

After some key lime pie we went back to the boat and got out the night scope to look for gators.  It didn't take long to spot one.  Add gators to the list of critters on this trip!

 

This morning we woke up to a gray rainy day but no fog so we got an early start to THE LAST LOCK! 

 

 

Happy me!

 

  

 This  last leg of river travel before Mobile Bay meandered from Bobby's Fish Camp. 

 

 

 

We are now in a very secluded anchorage where the Alabama River meets the TomBigbee River.  A steady but relatively warm rain has continued and the forest around the river is dead silent, soaked and ready to swallow Blue Moon for the night.  Both bow and stern anchors are mud set in nearly 20' feet of water so we're not going anywhere and should have a restful night.

 

Tomorrow the last of our river travel and beginning of tides, salt water and hopefully sunshine.

 

 





 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a difference a day makes.

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Thursday, Halloween night, we stayed in a marina that was  back off the main channel.  After a very long day of nasty weather and wind and me whining about how much I am tired of locks, we had to weave through a flooded forest as you can see in the pictures.

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It was pretty creepy and I was thinking it was the perfect setting for a Halloween movie  on Halloween night.  The unsuspecting tired boaters, it's near dark, no where else to go and they come upon a ramshackle psycho like marina in a swamp.  Freddy Krueger did not show up however; it was a little mom and pop marina.  My favorite kind.  It was a bit of a chore tieing up as the wind was still howling and pushing us away from the dock.  Blue Moon was secure and I was happy to be attached to a dock and cleats as the wind continued to blow all night.

 

A glorious, sunny, wind free morning greeted us.  With 3 locks to get through I was already dreading the day.  BUT sometimes you get lucky.   For as lousy as the day was before, this day was a stroll through the park. We arrived at lock #1 with a green light and doors open.  That's unheard of!  Sunshine, green lights and NO barges make for a good day.  The rest of the day went very well and the scenery was gorgeous too.  I took the helm for about  2 hours while Dave did some waxing.  We anchored in a little cove with four other boats.  Looopers of course.  I love to have company when anchoring out.  It was kind of funny because on shore it looked like the cast of Duck Dynasty was camping out.  They made sure we could hear their country and western music.  But hey, we are in Alabama after all. 

 

 

 

 

One Alabama negative.  They still allow smoking in bars and restaurants. That's not too surprising but get with it Alabama!!

 

It was WWII  movie night on the boat.  Dave patiently watched "The Silver Fleet" with me.  A 1943 European propaganda film set during the occupation of Holland.  The owner of a ship yard pretends to be a Nazi collaborator but is actually working for the resistance.  (I SO would have been a member of the resistance!) He sabotages 2 submarines he has been ordered to build for them.  It is rousing and patriotic and black and white.  I love this stuff.  Thanks honey for indulging me.

 

I've said many times I like to anchor with other boats but what I don't like is when their boat becomes unattached during the night and touches my boat!  A Sundancer near us did just that.  He was free floating and touched us and another boat.  He woke up and secured his boat.  No damage done.  First time that has ever happened.  You are at the mercy of the skills, or lack of, of other boaters out here.

 

All five of us boats locked through the one lock of the day.  Saturday's destination was Demopolis, Alabama.  On the way we saw many wild hog hunters on the shore.  One group had a big ugly pig on the shore but I couldn't get a good picture.  We also passed these beautiful chalk cliffs.  Gorgeous colors.  The White Cliffs of Epes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We made it to Demopolis Alabama where Blue Moon is going to stay  while we go home for a week. This time a 19 hour drive.   When we get back the next chapter of the trip is the journey to Mobile Bay and then  our homeport in Longbpoat Key.  Once we get to Longboat Key we will officially cross our wake and to me that counts as completing the Great Loop.  True, we did it in segments and  many years apart but so what!! I am ordering the gold ALGCA flag today that signifies completion of the loop.

 

We did the big trip into Walmart yesterday.  You can't imagine what a big deal that is!  We had dinner at the little restaurant nearby; they picked us up.  Fried green tomatoes were on the menu.  I love the south.

 

So today will be spent just chillin' at the marina.  We can always clean and wax something and then do it again.  Tomorrow a couple who live here on their boat are taking us into Meridian, Mississippi, about 60 miles away, where we can get our rental car and head home.  Miss my little Carmen so much it hurts!  

 



 

The Dirty Dozen or Why I am TIRED of locks!!

Thursday, October 31, 2013

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Yesterday was a day of frustration mainly due to another boater.  We had 3 locks to get through before our marina.  The weather was fast deterorating and night was coming up on us too fast.  A 3 hour wait at the first lock, due to maintenance, and it was finally a green light.  There were 4 of us locking through and all of us had been treading water and waiting together.  It was 1:30, just barely enough time to get through the next 2 locks and safely docked at Midway Marina.  3 of us motored up and into the lock.  Boat #4, who we shall call SLOW BOAT from now on took his time pulling up his anchor and idling into the lock.  CLEARLY making all of us wait.  This was how it was to be for the rest of the day.  It was not a trawler but a Carver so he was going slow by choice. The locks ahead know we are coming and since its near days end they make all of us lock through together.  SLOW BOAT poked down the river and cost us at least 1 1/2 hour of precious daylight.   During this slow ride John called us to make sure we knew there was bad weather approaching!  I knew it all too well.  I tend to get a bit excitable.  No, really.  Dave takes all this in stride like some kind of boating idiot savant or something.  I could really use some tranquilizers on days like this.

We made it to the marina just before dark and SLOW BOAT did not join us there but went beyond to an anchorage.  I'm glad because my mouth probably would have taken over once we saw them.

Today we left in pelting rain and have been waiting behind a barge to get through the locks.  They have priority and that's that.  Dave is holding the boat in place in the wind and rain while we wait.
This is lock # 72 since we  left Point Breeze.  There will be 78 total once we arrive in Mobile and this is #6 of the "Dirty Dozen" on the Tom Bigbee.  It would be an understatement to say that I do not like locks!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chattanooga to Grand Harbour

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Blue Moon spent the last three days traveling down the Tennessee River from Chattanooga back to Grand Harbour.  The leaves changed quite a bit in the last week since our trip up the river.  By the weekend they should be near peak.  The river is a delight.  The slower pace and laid back lifestyle is really appealing.  Adorable river homes but unfortunately it is a bit too far north for us to consider as a snow bird place.  Too BAD.

On the way back we passed a bat cave.  It's actually a bat sanctuary and at times there are around 60,000 gray bats using it as a maternity cave.  The Tennessee Valley has the most significant gray bat population in the USA.  This is one of 12 bat caves in the area.  That little bat in the boat back in Georgian Bay was enough bat for me for a lifetime.

 

 

Here are some pix of things we saw along the way: 

 

Floating docks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back at Grand Harbour it was pretty quiet.  Seems a bunch of loopers left Sunday so there was no one for us to talk to.  We borrowed the courtesy van and went to WalMart.  We were looking pretty river worn and Dave said he hoped no one took pictures of US for the Walmartion web page! ha!

 

We had dinner on the back deck which was nice because it had been so cold in Chattanooga we had to be  inside the whole time.

 

Today we got some happy family news.  Crissy and Clint got engaged over the weekend!  We are so happy for them and looking forward to a wedding celebration out west sometime soon.  Clint had asked Dave's permission while home for Bobby and Kristin's wedding so we kinda knew it was coming.  Nice job Clint!

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Chattanooga...a real inspiration!

Saturday, October 26, 2013

We were so torn as to whether a side trip of roughly 400 miles and a week of our time to Chattanooga would be worth it ?  IT WAS!   Dave and I are both having a city crush on this place.  The last two days have been spent riding around town and riverside on the extensive and beautiful bike paths the city put together back in the 1980's.  Some deep pockets got together back then and put together a Master Plan for the revitalization of the city and waterfront.  They have done an excellent job.  People with vision can do amazing things when they put their minds to it.  This is so not what we expected of a western Tennessee town. 

Yesterday we enjoyed the aquarium.

 

Jelly fish are so magical.

 

 

Sharks!

 

In the afternoon we rode to  "Warehouse Row"  that someone recommended.  We expected the usual old warehouse turned flea market atmosphere.  Wrong!  This old warehouse has been transformed into an ultra chic collection of upscale clothing stores,furniture stores, restaurants and office  space. Well done Chattanooga!

 

In the evening we went to a comedy club and sat through 3 so-so comedians.  Of course there was a bachelorette party going on and they were pretty rowdy.  Good time.

 

There was a scheduled paddle board race of about 130 people due to start just up river and pass by our boat at 8:00a.m. this morning.  We were ready with camera in hand but the fog was so thick still at 9:30 they started and we never even saw them go past the boat!  Could not believe we missed them!  There were racers in this pretty new sport from all over the country.  The were going 30 miles down river with the current.  Legs of steel!

 

In the morning we walked across a refurbished pedestrian bridge.  A few years back a new traffic bridge was built and the plan was to tear down the old one.  Some citizens with a better idea got together and had a "save the bridge" campaign.  With private donations they did save the bridge and turned it into a wonderful pedestrian/bike bridge. It was full of people doing a charity walk for Altzheimers.   I love the spirit in this town! 

 

This afternoon we went to the Hunter Museum of Art.  The main museum is in an old mansion. 

 

There were lively exhibits and I spotted this:

 

 

An old cigarette machine.  I started to get all pissed thinking it was a candy cigarette machine but at a closer look it dispenses art objects!  Dave was happy to dodge that bullet.  These criminal dispensers of death used to be everywhere! 

 

There was also a little exhibit on Black Americana.  Since I have put together quite a collection myself through the years I found that really interesting. 

 

 

Later we took a long bike ride along the river on the gorgeous bike path.  Both of us thinking of some way we could MOVE HERE but alas, children and work, friends and family keep us in western NY.

Those things are waaay more important than progressive cities.

 

In a little while we are walking up to the movie theater to see the Tom Hanks movie about pirates.  Not so sure that will be good for me to see.  I am so impressionable and all that.

 

Tomorrow we leave here and take the 4 day trip back down river to the turn off to head south on the Tom-Bigbee waterway to our next destination (Demopolis, Mississippi) to leave the boat for a week while we go home again.  After that it's on to Mobile Bay for about a week while we have some work done on the boat and a satellite tv installed!  Need those Seinfeld re-runs!!  For the first time since we left Pt. Breeze we got a calendar out today and started to get real about where we are going when we get to Florida.  Looks like we will be in Long Boat Key and Sarasota at least through February and not sure after that.  Sure like Tennessee though!



 

 

 

Smoke on the water

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Last night at the Huntsville marina we docked next to a couple who invited us aboard their boat.  They showed us some pictures of a marina they were in a few years back where there was a horrific fire on the docks.  It was in the cold months down south and rather than spend the bucks to winterize his boat, someone left a space heater running in the engine room.  A gas engine room.  Yep, it sparked and there was a huge explosion in the middle of the night.  This couple had arrived at their boat late so no one knew they were aboard.  The wife heard a noise and looked out the window and there were boats on fire all around them.  Luckily for them they were able to get out.  Just 3 boats beyond them some 30 boats were  incinerated!

On a lighter note, our travels up the Tennessee River has been really pretty and the scenery is getting more dramatic as we go. It has been unseasonably cold but that just makes for nice cuddling. I am going to look for some flannel sheets though! 

Here are some pix of what we've seen along the way:

 

 

 

Gotta' build them up high here for the inevitable flood.

 

 

 

Thursday October 24, 2013

 

Blue Moon docked at the city dock in Chattanooga right in front of the aquarium.  We bought aquarium tix for Friday and walked around town.  What a nice surprise this upscale southern city is!  We went to an IMAX 3D Shark movie. It was O.K. but kinda old and not 3D enough! Found a Thai restaurant and enjoyed that.

 

Chattanooga has a nice vibe to it.  It seems really progressive and there's that feeling of city pride there that is lacking in so many places we have visited.  One of those places you are proud to say you're from.  Friday we hope to ride bikes around town and look at the fishies and shop. Time for some retail therapy!