WARNING! Bruce said I have a lot of pictures for a down day.
Getting Propped
Dog River Marina, AL – Getting Propped – The boat needed to be pulled to swap out the props. Pulling into the lift.Dog River Marina, AL – Getting Propped – On the liftDog River Marina, AL – Getting Propped – Dang they look good. Solid brass. It cost $600 to get the props done and another $450 ($10@foot) to haul out the boat to put the props on. Would have been nice to have a smaller boat today.Dog River Marina, AL – Getting Propped – They needed to use an acetylene torch to loosen the old props before they could be pulled off.Dog River Marina, AL – Getting Propped – Putting on the props.Dog River Marina, AL – Getting Propped – Bath time as long as it is out of the water.Dog River Marina, AL – washing down the boat (nice legs and pretty props)Dog River Marina, AL – Getting Propped – The baptism
Breaking in the new Crew
Dog River Marina, AL – Breaking in a new crew. Perky’s cooking and Bruce is fixing the refridge.Dog River Marina, AL – Breaking in a new crew worked so well we lent Bruce out to our neighbor. Better yet, the neighbor bought our Fortress anchor from us. The one we really hate.
Mile High (well 19′ from the deck of the floor to the deck of flying flying bridge)
I’ve always been a little amazed at the fishing boats with the REAL high flying bridges. I got the opportunity to ascend to the top of the a Hatteras sports fishing boat the flying flying bridge. The deck of the flying flying bridge is 19 feet above the main deck.
Dog River Marina, AL – Up up and away – Ascent to the flying flying bridge.Dog River Marina, AL – Top of the world on the flying flying bridge
The ship is in!!!!!
We waited for our ship to come in all day. (The shrimp fishing boat.)
Dog River Marina, AL – Top of the world on the flying flying bridge. There is a full bridge at both the top level and the mid level.Black Dog Marina, AL – The ship is in! Docking into position.Black Dog Marina, AL – The ship is. Tied to dock and getting ready to sell shrimp to walk ups. There must have been over a dozen of us. Today is Halloween and I think the white fishing net floats look like skeleton heads.Black Dog Marina, AL – Buying fresh shrimp that was caught less than an hour ago! The guy in the middle is grabbing shrimp by the hand full and weight it out. The guy in the white is sorting the shrimp out by sizes. We bought 4# of large shrimp for $6 a pound!Black Dog Marina, AL – Cleaning shrimpBlack Dog Marina, AL – Heads pulled and ready for deveiningBlack Dog Marina, AL – Deveining shrimp (heads and antenna in the lower bag)Black Dog Marina, AL – Heads or tails?Black Dog Marina, AL – Beautiful tail on the shrimpBlack Dog Marina, AL – Four pounds cleaned and washedBlack Dog Marina, AL – Shrimp two ways – Shrimp scampi and seasoned boiled shrimp in progress.Black Dog Marina, AL – Fine dining at its best. Hours old shrimp.
Brain Clutter
Floccinaucinihilipilification:
noun
the action or habit of estimating something as worthless.
Usage in a sentence
This Brain Clutter section is absolute floccinaucinihilipilification.
Dale’s brother Bruce and his wife Dianna (Perky) are joining us for the next leg to Florida. They drove through the night to get here. Thank goodness they called when they got into northern Mobile. HA! Dale had to shag Mary out of bed so she would be up when Bruce and Perky arrived.
Dog River Marina, AL – Ahoy Bruce and Perky!!!! Where are we going to fit all your stuff??!#??
New Chain!
The new chain we ordered from West Marine last week was delivered today in a 50 gallon drum. I was quite relieved when we opened it to discover the chain only occupied the lower 1/8 of the drum.
New anchor chain! Marking 20 foot lengths (so we know how much we are letting out when we drop the anchor), unhooking the old chain from the rope (it took a committee), unhooking the old chain from the anchor and then hooking the new chain to the anchor.
Geeked! Can’t wait to anchor out. We went on a reconnaissance mission to Dauphin Island to check out places to anchor when we leave here.
Props are back!
Props repaired! Dang they are pretty. The get put on the boat at 7:00 am tomorrow.
Brain Clutter
The exact origins of the word “ahoy” aren’t known beyond that it stems from this Middle English exclamation, “hoy!” The most popular theory as to the origin of “hoy” is that it derives from the Dutch word “hoi”, meaning “hello”.
Alexander Graham Bell used the old maritime greeting: ‘Ahoy!’ as a telephone greeting. It was Edison who equipped the first telephone exchanges, so he ended up having the last say. Edison preferred ‘Hello!’.
Some days not much happens (no pictures today but there are stories)
Today was spent changing oil, cleaning the kitchen and scrubbing all the crud from going through the locks off the fenders.
Dales’ highlight was fishing! He caught lots of spec trout and a big blue crab.
But this is not why you read our blog ……
Story Time
Sanitation and Pump Outs – One of the first things we did when we came into the marina was try to pump out all the ‘Black Water’ from our holding tank. (Black Water = Poop) Unfortunately the marina septic pump wasn’t functioning. Our septic light came on about 2 days ago. This means that we haven’t been able to use use our toilets. The septic pump in the marina STILL isn’t working!!!! Who knows when it will be fixed!
There are 3 marinas in this area and NONE of them have a functioning septic pump. We have to walk to the marina toilet any time we need to tinkle or worse. Mary really hates the 2 AM run. Glad no pictures????????
Insider Tip – Jimmy Buffet will be in town to visit his sister Lucy sometime this week. When he is in town he always plays at his crazy sister’s restaurant Lulu’s. Dang I hope he’s there when we go through later this week!
The Dog River area is the original Mobile, AL. As Mobile grew it moved north to where it is now.
Jimmy Buffet’s childhood home is just up river. The old timers around here talk about him learning to water ski right out in front of where our boat is parked. BTW the area just to the north of us is called Alligator Bayou.
Mobile Bay, USS AlabamaMobile Bay – One fast birdFairhope, AL – Bird houses at the marina. I’m trying to figure this one out ….. One shot deal to leave the nest.Fairhope, AL – Dustin at Bone and Barrel. We’ve just finished convincing him he needs to go camping in Minnesota’s Boundary Waters.Mobile Bay – Lunch at the Oyster HouseMobile, AL – On the half shell. Mobile’s version of St Paul’s Peanuts charactersLive Oak – Big Tree, little leaves and acorns. I’m not sure what the names of the plants are that are growing on it.
Mobile Witches Ride
Mobile is a playful city. The Mobile Witches Ride is fun for a good cause – Delta Dogs, a local non-profit that provides free spay/neuter and veterinary care to the pets of Mobile’s community in need (e.g. elderly, disabled, veterans, families and women in crisis, the homeless, etc.)
Dale makes friends everywhere he goes. Note the ‘Lime Bike’. We saw several witches on Lime Bikes in the fly by. (Lime Bikes are rental bikes)Mobile, AL – Witches Ride – LegsMobile, AL – Witches Ride – Faces – If you’ve got, haunt itMobile, AL – Witches Ride – If you’ve got, haunt it
Brain Clutter
Though most people associate Mardi Gras with New Orleans, Mobile, Alabama, began holding the festival in 1703, 15 years before it started in Louisiana. Based on a French Catholic tradition, the celebration is now a city-wide holiday in Mobile, where even schools close down to celebrate.
For our reconnaissance mission we needed a car. That was a mission in and of itself! Almost every car rental place in the Mobile area were out of cars!!!! We finally found one but one but when we got there with the marina’s courtesy car there was none. Alas we did finally find one at the airport that had just been dropped off.
Reconnaissance
Our mission was to survey our next anchorage and marina.
First stop Dauphin Island at the southern bottom of Mobile Bay so checkout an anchorage. Of course we had to do the tourist thing too.
Dauphin Island, Mobile Bay, AL – Fort Gaines – Damn the TorpedoesDauphin Island, Mobile Bay, AL – Fort Gaines – Renaissance Festival – HAHA. The Renaissance Festival is held here because this is the closest thing to a castle around here.
Next stop is across the Mobile Bay.
Dauphin Island, Mobile Bay, AL – Fort Gaines from from the Mobile Bay Ferry that crosses between Fort Gaines on the west and Fort Morgan on the east.. Oil derricks in the backgroundMobile Bay Ferry – Oil derricks inside Mobile BayMobile Bay Ferry – Ponder this… This was on the deck of the ferry.Mobile Bay Fairy MaryMobile Bay Ferry – Ferry yielding right of way.
On to check out marinas on the east side of Mobile Bay. We touristed the gulf side of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach the wandered back along the ICW (intercoastal waterway).
We HAD to stop at Homeport Marina http://www.homeportmarina.net/ owned by Lucy Buffet, Jimmy Buffet’s crazy sister. The marina definitely has a Buffet feel!
Gulf Shores, AL – Lulu’s Restaurant – The restaurant was was holding a Halloween event for the employees’ children. All of the staff was in costume.Gulf Shores, AL – Lulu’s Restaurant – Musicians
Good Night
Black crowned night heron sitting on the bow pulpit of YES DEAR
Brain Clutter
The Battle of Mobile Bay of August 5, 1864 was an engagement of the American Civil War in which a Union fleet commanded by Rear Admiral David G. Farragut, assisted by a contingent of soldiers, attacked a smaller Confederate fleet led by Admiral Franklin Buchanan and three forts that guarded the entrance to Mobile Bay.
A paraphrase of his order, “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!” became famous. Farragut’s actual order was “Damn the torpedoes! Four bells. Captain Drayton, go ahead! Jouett, full speed!”.
Some of you might have been aware Mary is on a sabbatical from work. BSC benefits allowed her to take 90 days for a personal sabbatical. These past 82 days have given her the opportunity to see if Looping really works for her and the family. She is kinda of a workaholic and having family close is pretty important to her. The aftermath of Hurricane Michael has also been a discussion point. Her choice this morning was get a rental car and head north to Minnesota or get back on the boat.
NO MORE FLIP FLOPPING!!!!!!!!! Mary finally made a decision. She is still here on the boat tonight and retiring from work.
Mark Twain : “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore! Dream! Discover!”
Good Morning!
Dog River Marina, Mobile Bay, Mobile, AL – Breakfast on the Boat – Now that we have 2 fresh loaves of Dave’s Amazing Bread from Costco we needed to figure out what to do with the 3/4 loaf of bread we had. Answer: Oven baked french toast with using fresh berries.
Courtesy Car
Dash to Dauphin Island. Dauphin Island is between Mobile Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.
Dauphin Island, Mobile Bay, AL – West end at high tide the roads flood. Sand drifts around the houses and streetsDauphin Island, Mobile Bay, AL – Snow removal….. I mean sand removal.Dauphin Island, Mobile Bay, AL – High tide and too much sand.Dauphin Island, Mobile Bay, AL – We were drawn in to the fish market by a sign that read ‘Hot shrimp and crab bisque’. We also bought a pound of fresh shrimp. To our surprise the clerk asked if we wanted them spiced and steamed. Sure why not. We pulled around the corner to a little park to eat the shrimp and bisque. Best shrimp we have EVER eaten.
Later on towards evening
Dauphin Island, Mobile Bay, AL – Dale caught and released a bunch of brown troutDauphin Island, Mobile Bay, AL – We were surprised to see our friends from boat GELUK. They are staying in the next over marina and were out for a dingy ride.
Brain Clutter Noun. nurdle (plural nurdles) A blob of toothpaste shaped like a wave, often depicted on tooth paste packaging.
~ Wiktionary
Mary spent the morning catching up the blog. Dale was more industrial.
Dog River Marina, Mobile Bay, Mobile, AL – Dale splicing a loop to make an anchor bridle. (more on anchor bridles in a future post)
Courtesy Car
When ever the courtesy car is available… WE TAKE IT. Today we quickly cruised part of downtown Mobile the two hours we had it. (30 minute there/30 minutes back = look around for 1 hour 🙂 )
Mobile, AL – Mardi Gras Park in for ground. Buildings left to right: ~Christ Church Cathedral – In 1906 a major hurricane swept through the Mobile area and the storm crashed the original steeple through the roof, destroying both in the process. A new steeple was installed in April, 2017. 100+ years later. ~Mobile Government Plaza – City,County Administration Building. It’s supposed to look like a boat. Not sure if it does….. ~Mobile County Offices – Voter Registration, Licensing Commission, Probate CourtMobile, AL – Mardi Gras Park – Two of the statues rimming the parkMobile, AL – Fort Charlotte (Conde) – Left to right: old fort rubble, new fort, RSA Battle House Tower, Renaissance Riverview Plaza Hotel and the rest I don’t know.
Good Bye to Friends
It has been fun traveling with our friends. Alas, we must go different directions. Hopefully we will catch up down the loop.
A toast to friendship! We all go different directions tomorrow morning. Mary, GOOD LIFE Steve and Diana, Kayak Steve (FB: kayak ‘the great loop’ -paddle with steve)
From the Brits
Honeymoon – was the month after a wedding, when the bride’s father would give the groom all the mead he wanted. Mead is a honey beer while the Babylon calendar was a lunar calendar. The Babylonians started calling the month the “honey month”.
Fortnight – The Germanic ancestors of our English language counted the passing of time in terms of nights rather than days as we do in many modern civilizations. their name for a period of two weeks was feowertyne niht, or ‘fourteen night.’ This term was in use well before 1000 CE in Old English. It was progressively shortened (and the spelling of night modernized) to fortnight in the 17th century.
October 24, 2018 Wednesday Dog River Marina, Mobile Bay, Mobile, AL 0 nautical miles
30°34’05.1″N 88°05’32.5″W
30.568088, -88.092370
Elevation: -2 feet I really do not understand why the elevation reads -2 feet. We ARE above sea level.
WOO WOO. We went to two of our favorite stores and neither was a Walmart. It made us feel kinda like we were back in Minnesota again.
Dog River Marina and Shipyard
Dog River Marina, Mobile Bay, Mobile, AL – We are at the far end on the port side (left)Dog River Marina, Mobile Bay, Mobile, AL – For sale in the marinaDog River Marina, Mobile Bay, Mobile, AL – Shipyard – Newly painted bottomDog River Marina, Mobile Bay, Mobile, AL – Shipyard – Newly painted bottom up close. Look at the shine. Reminds me of the Bean in Chicago.Dog River Marina, Mobile Bay, Mobile, AL – ???? Really high boat lifts to account for the tide ????Dog River Marina, Mobile Bay, Mobile, AL – Shipyard – boat paintingDog River Marina, Mobile Bay, Mobile, AL – Shipyard – Boat out of the water for barnacle hull cleaning. This is a common problem for boats that don’t move around a lot.
West Marine
We have to walk through the shipyard every time we go to West Marine. We were there at least 3 times today.
We finally bought chain for the anchor rode. They gave us a sample to try on our windlass. It fit! West Marine wanted $6.99 a foot for the 5/16″ISO HT, Grade 43 galvanized chain. They price matched a store we found online for $2.59 per foot. WOO WOO! We should have it next Tuesday.
We also bought a few new fender lines and lines to make an anchor bridle (more on that another day).
Dog River Marina, Mobile Bay, Mobile, AL – West Marine consumer. Too bad this didn’t come in my size.Dog River Marina, Mobile Bay, Mobile, AL – Dale splicing a loop to make an anchor bridle using supplies from West Marine (more on anchor bridles in a future post)
Costco
We used the marina courtesy car to go to Costco and the Brits joined us. Dang, being Costco made us feel like we were in Minnesota. We couldn’t find the crack cinnamon bread but we found Dave’s Amazing Bread. WOO WOO!
Dog River Marina, Mobile Bay, Mobile, AL – Costco consumer – Mary got a new camera. No more iPad and cell phone pictures once she learns how to use it. She got a Nikon D3400. We bought the floor model for one heck of a deal. This gentlemen helped us out to make sure all the pieces were there and it was function correctly.Dog River Marina, Mobile Bay, Mobile, AL – Consumers! Left to Right: Dale and the Brits Kayak Steve, GOOD LIFE Denise and Steve.
Impromptu evening concert
Grand Mariner Marina & Restaurant, Mobile Bay, Mobile, AL – Impromptu evening concert performed on sailing vessel ‘Peaceful Easy Feeling’. Della entertained us all with country western cello music. She is a professional musician. She and her husband John came over to our marina in their dingy earlier in the day and invited us all over for a concert. We had met them the night before in a restaurant.
Brain Clutter
Per our Brit friends Steve and Diane on GOOD DAY, British butlers and man servants are called by their last name and the chauffeurs and drivers are called they their first name. They didn’t employ any themselves so I’m not sure if I should believe them 😉. I argued Batman called his manservant buy his first name Alfred. Steve said Batman is an American and to go watch Dalton Abbey.
We haven’t been able to get phone or internet service for 4 days, since 19 Oct 18. Catching up today with multiple postings.
Our fresh water engines got their first taste of salt water today. They didn’t puke.
Good Morning!
Tombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – Slower boats leave first. There aren’t a lot of really good anchorages between Demopolis, AL and Mobile, AL. Slower boats need to leave early to make sure they have enough daylight to get from one anchorage to another. Looper boat BRIZO is leaving. As you can see the anchorages are often narrow.
Along the way
Tombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – Spider scene from the TitanicTombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – Barge tanks. I always take a picture whenever I see something different on a barge …Tombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – Steel plant – working barge
Mobile River
Mobile River mile 45.0 – First Look. Room to go around tow boats now! The size of the river doubled (at least for a while)Mobile River mile 45.0 – Looking back at the Tombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – Alabama River confluenceMobile River – Pig Tails! Herd of wild pig. We saw several herds down by the rivers edge. As soon as they saw boats the ran off so it was really hard to get a good picture.Mobile River swamp land – Northern area – Cudso vine on some of the trees. Cudso is an invasive speciesMobile River – Gas pipeline canal cut through the swampMobile River Industrial area before it got real swampy. It was real stinky around here.Mobile River (Tombigee Waterway) Navionics chart. We are entering from the north west corner at at mile 24 – Interstate 65 going east west across the middle of the chart. The north south ‘line’ ahead of the arrow is the direction our boat is headed. There is a lot of non-navigable water for a larger boat such as ours. Good for fishing boats.Mobile River I65 bridge mile 24. Not just a bridge. It is an elevated roadway over the of the swamp.Mobile River swamp landMobile River swamp landMobile River swamp landMobile River swamp landMobile River swamp land – Rail Road line
Welcome to Mobile, AL
The following pictures are from the north side of Mobile, AL heading south into the city
Mobile River – First view of Mobile, AL. Across the swamp.Mobile River – Entering Mobile, AL from the northMobile River – Entering Mobile, AL from the northMobile River – Entering Mobile, AL from the northMobile River – Entering Mobile, AL from the north – coalMobile River – Tow Boat. Must be headed for the steel plant up riverMobile River – Entering Mobile, AL from the northMobile River – Entering Mobile, AL from the north
Downtown Mobile
Mobile, AL – Mini Me buildings. There are two that look alike but one is much smaller. The large one is the Retirement Systems of Alabama (RSA) Battle House Tower. It is the tallest building in Alabama. The mini me building is the Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel.Mobile, AL – Convention Center
Mobile River mile 0.0 – The waterway ends where Government Street passes under the Mobile River as a tunnel.
WE ARE NO LONGER A FRESH WATER BOAT.
Naval Shipyard
This was the coolest part of going through Mobile, AL on the river!
Mobile, AL – Naval Shipyard – Austal is an Australian company that has a contract to build 11 Independence-class littoral combat ship. The ship has a maximum speed of more than 40 knots, a 28,000-square-foot mission bay, and a flight deck capable of holding two H-60 helicopters. One of the ships is named Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10).Mobile, AL – Naval Shipyard – The ship is designed for flexibility. It can handle cargo or war helicopters. It also has missiles to defend itself. The helm is controlled by a joy stick instead of a traditional wheel.Mobile, AL – Naval Shipyard. The vessels are moved about .5 mile down river to finish the rigging and detailed work. Zoom out and you can see the cannons added to the top deck.
Go Google it!!
Heading south out of Mobile into Mobile Bay
Mobile Bay, Roller Coaster loading rampMobile River – Dry Dock. These finger sections are actually dry docks, platforms submerged and ready for a ship.Mobile River , Dry dock – Waiting for a liftMobile River – Container Ship loadingMobile River – Cargo Ship loading – Cargo bay covers are collapsed like ping pong ball tables on the deck of the shipMobile Bay – Entrance Mobile, AL – Looking south down the Mobile River as we exit into Mobile BayMobile Bay – Entrance Mobile, AL – Looking north up the Mobile River as we enter into Mobile BayMobile Bay, Attach of the birds. They think we are a fishing boat
Dog River Marina
Mobile Bay, Entrance to Dog RiverMobile Bay, Dog River MarinaMobile Bay, Dog River Marina – Fishing Boat passing while we are on the fuel dock checking in.Mobile, AL, Dog River Marina – OMG. Look who else popped up at the fuel dock. It’s kayak Steve! We first met him at Clifton MarinaMobile Bay, Dog River Marina from restaurant across the river. Yes Dear is the boat furthest left
Brain Clutter
Sorry no entry today. My brain is too cluttered to do anything after trying to catch up on the daily blog posts.
HAHA. Mary always has Dale make transient slip reservations because she likes to hear the marinas give Dale grief when he has to tell them our boat name. (We have reservations at Dog River Marina in Mobile Bay, AL for 24-Oct-18)
Good Morning!
Bobby’s Fish Camp, Black Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway mile 118.9 – 7:10 AM 43 degrees. A week ago were a little afraid of heading South too fast because it might still be too hot. WRONG. It’s dang near cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey!
Tombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – Bobby’s Fish Camp mile 118 – Frozen Ball – shriveled and deflatedTombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – Bobby’s Fish Camp mile 118 – Early morningTombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – Bobby’s Fish Camp mile 118 – Waiting for the call from the Lock – OK to proceedTombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – Bobby’s Fish Camp mile 118 – All clear turning to follow other boats down river.
Locked Down! (our last lock)
We are through the last lock on the western Waterways and Rivers. Coffeeville Lock mile 116.6 LAST ONE! Water over the dam. We have tides to monitor from this point south.
Black Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway mile 116.6 – Coffeeville Lock and Dam – Last lock on the Black Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway – EntranceBlack Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway mile 116.6 – Coffeeville Lock and Dam – Last lock on the Black Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway – Locking DownBlack Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway mile 116.6 – Coffeeville Lock and Dam – Last lock on the Black Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway – Water over the Dam
Along the Way
Tombigbee Black Warrior Waterway mile 99 – Tombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – Lovers Leap and St Stevens Landing (LOL)Tombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – Southern Rail Road Lift Bridge mile 89.9 This section of the Tombigbee Black Warrior Waterway is really stinky. There are lots of paper manufacturers and other manufacturers that use wood products. The Alabama Electric Power company is about .5 miles from the bridge and burns wood chips.
WOO WOO!!!! Saw our first alligator around mile 60?. He was too quick for pictures.
Barges and Bends
We’ve been spoiled the last week or so as there has not been a lot of barge traffic. Now that we dropped through the Coffeeville Lock there is a considerable amount of tow traffic. I bet we’ve easily met a dozen or more today. The barges and barge rafts are smaller than what we encountered on the Illinois and the Mississippi Rivers. Two times today Almost all of the tow captains are extremely considerate. But every now and then we encounter a cranky tow captain who will not respond to a hail.
Tombigbee Black Warrior Waterway mile 72 – Just around the bend there is always a barge.Tombigbee Black Warrior Waterway mile 72 – passing on a bend – 2 whistles – GOOD LIFE in the lead.
HAHA. Dale had to translate between the towboat captain with a heavy Southern accent the Brits on GOOD LIFE.
Tombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – passing on a bend. This tow does not have a full load. Short one barge on the starboard side.Tombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – passing on a bend – one whistle. It often gets a little close.
Sand ….
Tombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – Sand banksTombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – Sand bargesTombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – Sand beachesTombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – SandstoneTombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – Sand dikes. You can see the tops of a couple trees behind
Fortunately there were NO sandbars
Anchored Inn
Tombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – Alabama River Cutoff, mile 52.8 – Anchorage – Passing tows kept the boats gently rocking through out the night. The sailing vessel Geluk is behind us.Tombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – Alabama River Cutoff, mile 52.8 – Anchorage – Looper boat GOOD LIFE. 60 foot SWEETIE and 45 foot BRIZO entered and anchored later on.
Brain Clutter:
Freeze the Balls Off a Brass Monkey: Cannon balls where piled on deck beside the cannon, pyramid fashion, and retained in a ring called a brass monkey. If the weather was very cold the brass ring would contract faster than the iron cannon balls, thus causing some of them to topple.
October 21, 2018 Sunday Bashi Creek, AL Black Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway 145.0 to Bobby’s Fish Camp, Black Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway mile 118.9 24.4 nautical miles
Good Morning!
Please feel sorry for us. It was 51 degrees this morning when we rolled out of bed at 8:00 am.
Waking up in this crisp weather reminds me of sleeping on the porch at our Lake Elmo home. At least there we could dash into a warm house.
Tombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – Bashi Creek mile 145 – Anchorage. Morning sun hitting the tops of the trees.
Along the way
The day was bright and sunny but we needed to wear our jackets all day. Mary wore her gloves.
Tombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – Beautiful stand of Loblolly pinesTombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – I think the poles in the front of the barge that look like fangs are for sonar. Not many barges have them.Black Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway – Always something new -Butane storage bullets – Barge is being pulled and pushed! Pulling aids maneuvering around the bends and ox bowsTombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – Weather monitoring station. It kinda looks like it has a smilely face on it.Black Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway – Tug pulling into dock for a load – more skill than we have!
Bobby’s Fish Camp
Tombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – Bobby’s Fish Camp mile 118 – Approaching from down river heading up river. It’s a lot easier to dock heading into the current.Tombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – Bobby’s Fish Camp mile 118 – GOOD LIFE coming in to raft up.Tombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – Bobby’s Fish Camp mile 118 – Rafted up GELIK in front FELIX, BRIZO rafted and YES DEAR/GOOD DAY rafted. BLUE MOON is on the end but not in the picture. Rafted boats pay the same price as not rafted boats. No deals here.Tombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – Bobby’s Fish Camp mile 118 – The dock holds four boats, maybe 5. Any more need to raft.Tombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – Bobby’s Fish Camp Restaurant. There was a big fight at the restaurant!!!! Three fish got battered.Tombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – Bobby’s Fish Camp Restaurant – Alligator garTombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – Bobby’s Fish Camp Restaurant – outside back door
Check this one off my bucket list. (Don’t worry about it not being on yours)
Tombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – Bobby’s Fish Camp mile 118 – Playing football with the kids from GELIK
Out for a Walk
Tombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – Bobby’s Fish Camp mile 118 – Out for a WalkTombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – Bobby’s Fish Camp mile 118 – Out for a Walk – House boat on landTombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – Bobby’s Fish Camp mile 118 – Out for a Walk – House boat on land – pontoonsTombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – Bobby’s Fish Camp mile 118Tombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – Bobby’s Fish Camp mile 118 – Why does he mow so much yard? Around trees too!Tombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – Bobby’s Fish Camp mile 118 – Out for a Walk – Spanish moss on treeLong legged daddy spiderTombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – Bobby’s Fish Camp mile 118 – Out for a Walk – Road to Bobby’s Fish CampTombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – Bobby’s Fish Camp mile 118 – looking at the dock
Tales from the Loop
This is why we do not have a dog on our boat. We have traveled with the below people and become friends. We had our first Looper docktails with them on ESTHER GIRL.
Subject: Alabama River Cutoff anchorage Mile 53—A cautionary tale
Posted by: Edith Mason on 10/19/2018 at 10:10 AM
After leaving Bobby’s Fish Camp, we anchored here overnight on October 18th. We are not fond of anchoring, which usually involves threats of murder, plane tickets home, divorce or all of the above. As you can see from the photo, it was a beautiful anchorage, with plenty of depth and good holding. Plenty of room. Lots of wildlife—including alligators. Ideal for Loopers without 4-legged crew who need to go ashore. And therein lies the story.
About 9pm our ship’s dog Bee needed her nightly trip to shore. We had read on Active Captain about having to go back out to the river to take a dog ashore, and about the alligators—verified by a local fisherman. So we head out in the dinghy with Bee, flashlight, leash and an honor guard of mosquitoes. Seeing a likely-looking patch of river shore, Pat bumps the dinghy ashore and Bee and I hop off.
The likely-looking ground was actually mud—quicksand mud—and I immediately sank to my thighs. Which then caused me to lose my balance and fall backwards into it, all the while holding onto Bee’s leash and the dinghy line and projecting some very salty language into the quiet evening. I couldn’t seem to extricate myself from this dire situation-every time I moved, I went down deeper. I knew that alligators had heard my distress calls and would be coming soon to eat both me and Bee. Pat could not get off the dinghy or we would both be in the same fix. Finally, I was able to pull myself up and through the mud with the dinghy line and get on board. Bee got on too, both if us covered in mud that looked like chocolate coolwhip and stuck to you like tar. (There was no opportunity or inclination for picture-taking, so you’ll have to create your own visual.)
Back at the boat Pat hosed us down on the swim platform with some very cold water, just to add insult to injury.
To top it all, Bee was so traumatized by all this that little or nothing was achieved ashore. And thus ends my tale of the Alabama Cutoff.
Edith Mason
Esther Girl
Brain Clutter:
If you ever used the phrases, “kill with kindness”, “neither rhyme nor reason”, “into thin air”, “one fell swoop”, “sweets for the sweet”, or “tower of strength”, then you’ve quoted Shakespeare!
I have heard there are NO MORE SPIDERS once we hit salt water 😊 Can this be true?
October 20, 2018 Saturday Kingfisher Bay Marina, Demopolis, AL Black Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway mile 216.2 to Bashi Creek, AL Black Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway 145.0 62.8 nautical miles
Full speed ahead (actually 8.2 kts)! We are heading to Mobile. It will take us ~ 4 days. Most of it will be without internet or phone.
Tombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – Leaving Demopolis, AL
Along the Way
Black Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway 213.3, Demopolis Lock and Dam, Demopolis, ALBlack Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway 213.3, Demopolis Lock and Dam, Demopolis, AL – GOOD LIVEBlack Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway 213.3, Demopolis Lock and Dam, Demopolis, AL. Bollard bird (white heron)Black Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway 213.3, Demopolis Lock and Dam, Demopolis, AL A light in the top of the bollard. Hadn’t noticed them before.Black Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway 213.3, Demopolis Lock and Dam, Demopolis, AL. Leaving the lock. Dam and waterfalls.Tombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – We don’t see caves in the white cliffs like you see along the Mississippi River cliffs in StPaul/MinneapolisBlack Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway mile ~207 Fishermen along white cliffs, Demopolis, ALTombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – White Cliffs and bargeTombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – River BankBlack Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway mile 201.6 – Remains of the old Rooster BridgeTombigbee Black Warrior Waterway mile 186 – We could have benefited from a canal here. There more ox tail bends like this as we head further south. The Tombigbee Black Warrior Waterway has not been ‘straightened’ like the Tenn-Tom Waterway has.Tombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – Slip and Slide! Coulda been a better picture. I couldn’t find the camera in time.
On the Hook
Bashi Creek is quite narrow with trees with log encroaching into the water. It was a challenge getting the primary anchor to set. In tight places like this you also have to set a stern anchor to prevent swinging into shore or other boats. We couldn’t get the stern anchor to hold either. Eventually we tied to a tree. What made it even more interesting is the breeze blowing up the creek is much stronger than the current flowing down the creek.
Bashi Creek, AL Black Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway 145.0 – GALEK rafting to GOOD LIFE. There wasn’t a lot of room for another boat to drop anchor. GOOD LIFE graciously invited GALEK to raft. This is a common tight space anchoring technique and Loopers are friendly people. We had met GALEK in Demopolis. They are all in and home schooling their kids. They figure they have enough money for 2 years and will pick up odds and ends jobs when they need to.Tombigbee Black Warrior Waterway – Bashi Creek mile 145 – Anchorage -We keep looking for alligators and water snakes but haven’t seen any yet.
Tales from the Loop
Sailboat BALUGA goes over Lock 16 in Muscatine IA on Monday 15 Oct 2018. The below scoop is from a Looper who knows him….
Skipper John anchored with an anchor, one that was not only too small for his size boat, but worse still, was modified from the original design. He constantly had a problem with dragging his anchor. Rather than resetting it he would start up his engine and pull his anchor along behind his boat as he repositioned the boat, not even having taken in or re-setting any anchor rode. https://wqad.com/2018/10/17/army-corps-of-engineers-make-miraculous-rescue-after-boater-sails-through-muscatine-roller-dam/
We are very hard pressed if we have to anchor above a dam.
Brain Clutter
Brain Clutter: In the days of Columbus, the tonnage of a ship was not a matter of weight but of the number of wine casks (tuns), measured one meter by a meter and a half, that a ship could carry. The flagship on his final journey was the 70-ton La Capitana.
First the bottom line info and then the story. We are off to Mobile, AL tomorrow. It will take about 4 days to get there. The area does not have good cell service because it is so remote. You might not here from us for a couple of days so don’t panic.
A walk in the woods
Milton from Looper boat HERE’S AN IDEA took us on a native trees and plants nature walk this morning. The next few pics are trees native to this area that we don’t find in Minnesota.
Demopolis, AR native trees nature walk -Loblolly Pine. You can tell a Loblolly pine by its needles. There have three needles in a bundle and one is twisted. They have a large cellular structure which makes the good for making high quality cardboard.Demopolis, AR native trees nature walk -China Berry. Frank, the guy who own the two marinas here, said when he was a boy they used to make pop guns and use these for the pellets. Fore runner of the paint ball guns????Demopolis, AR native trees nature walk -Sycamore – Smooth mottled greenish-white, gray and brown bark. Beautiful trees.Demopolis, AR native trees nature walk -Cypress. The 5 pyramid shaped woody things to the right of the cypress tree base are called cypress knees. A cypress knee is a distinctive structure forming above the roots of a cypress tree. Their function is unknown, but they are generally seen on trees growing in swamps.Demopolis, AR native trees nature walk -Wetland Oak. Believe it or not this is an OAK, a wetland oak. There are over 500 kinds of wetland oaks. The leaves don’t really resemble the red oak leaves and the white oak leaves we see in Minnesota. The leaves are about the size of your pointer finger.
Out and About
Black Warrior River – NONNI’s owners are from Australia. They had a bit of a tough go of it. She burnt and sank about 2:00 am a couple of days ago. All that is visible is some part of the rail and a fiber glass chunk. I’m hoping they made it off the boat with their passports. What a disaster. (Another Looper shared this picture with me)Looper boat NONNI – Today NONNI is on dry dock in the boat storage areas (what’s left). The 17 Oct 18 blob post has a picture of a US Boat tow going out. This is what it went to get. Fuel cans, crumble railing and melted fiberglass. The BoatUS tow put a back hoe on the barge it was pushing, when out and pulled it out of the river. Rumor has it the owners were novices and possibly not keeping up on the required maintenance. Bummer.Demopolis Yacht Basin – Dry dock storage lot live aboards – Some people live in their boat all year round whether it is in the water or not. Electricity and water is set-up just like a trailer park. I find this a little strange, but then again I’m not from the area.Demopolis Yacht Basin is a big time fuel dock for tow boats moving up and down the Tombigee and Black Warrier Rivers. Tugs tie off their barges up river on Federal Moorings then come down to the dock for fuel. By the looks of these metal pilings some of them must come in pretty hard. It’s not unusual for a tow boat to put in 24,500 gallons of fuel.Kingfisher Bay Marina Demopolis, AL – Spider free light post! The people who work here wash the spiders off every week or so. I certainly appreciate it!Kingfisher Bay Marina Demopolis, AL – Heating up the swimming pool. They use a log burning heater to heat it up.Kingfisher Bay Marina Demopolis, AL Getting ready for the run to Mobile.- Fuel filter change. We also check and clean the water intakes. They had duck weed in them. (Mary helped)
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Brain Clutter
Spiders and lobsters belong to the invertebrate phylum Arthropoda. In the 19th century, it was considered cruel and unusual punishment to serve lobster to prisoners, as lobsters were basically the 1800s equivalent of rats.
Yes Dear holds 300 gallons of fuel. She gets about 1.5 miles per a gallon at 8 knots. General guide lines for planning fuel consumption: 1/3 to get there 1/3 to get back and 1/3 for buffer. Our ‘safe range’ for the big jump is ~300 miles at 8 kts in ideal weather.
Option1 – The jump from Carabelle, FL to Tarpon Springs, FL is approximately 180 miles, ~22 hours at 8 knots. The challenge is to getting a weather window to get to Carabelle and another weather window shortly after for the big jump to Tarpon Springs.
Option2 – The jump from Pensacola, FL to Tarpon Springs, FL is approximately 280 miles, ~35 hours at 8 knots. The first challenge is getting a 2-3 day weather window. The second challenge is someone being awake to pilot the boat for 35+ hours. Don’t know about you all but Dale and I have driven through the night a couple of time. The first couple of shifts aren’t so bad. The later ones are. Sometimes we’ve even had to pull into a parking lot and both of us snooze before we continue on. Pulling into a parking lot is not an option crossing the Gulf.
Option3 – Some version of putting the boat on the hard for a period of time…..
Today we learned…
A lot of peoples’ livelihood is at stake with the waterways out of commission. The marinas need and want and need the Loopers to come through.
Coast Guard closure of the ICW (Intercostal Waterway) between Panama City and Carrabelle is for commercial vessels; not pleasure crafts. Coast Guard has warned ATONs (aids to navigation) are missing and misplaced due to hurricane. There is also a lot of debris in the water. Navigate with caution!
Panama City – Fuel docks are functional at one of the marinas. A couple have limited transient dockage available. Internet connection is still down, so all fuel sales must be in cash.
The Panama City News Herald reported yesterday that Gulf Power expects to have power restored to Panama City by October 24th.
Port St Joe Marina – Still assessing the damage there. It is extensive, and they currently have no timeline for recovery.
Carrabelle, FL – Power had been restored to most of Carrabelle. This is the city from which most Loopers jump across the Gulf. Docks were damaged at two of the marinas, but not extensive and both expect to be repaired soon. The fuel docks are down at both marinas, but one expects to have their pumps back in operation as early as Tuesday.
Out and about – Downtown Demopolis
Downtown Demopolis is built around a city square encompassing one city block.
This square was the site of the Rooster Auction in 1919 raising money to build a bridge. It was a fantastical event from which people came from all over. There were three special trains to bring the thousands of guests, including the entire state legislature. Around a centrally located fountain within the square, stadium-style seating for 10,000 was erected specifically for the event and disassembled afterward. Half of the park was said to have been covered in chicken coops.
Demopolis, AL – City Park Fountain
Rooster Bridge
At the early part of the 20th century, the Dixie Overland Highway Association was looking to complete a major road from Savannah, Ga., to San Diego, Calif. The only spot along the route without a bridge was between Marengo and Sumter counties in Alabama. A ferry connected them.
Frank Derby, of York, came up with the idea for a rooster auction in 1919 to help the State Department in building a bridge across the Tombigbee River. At that time cock fighting was both legal and popular.
Demopolis, AL. Calling on politicians and businessmen, and working with others in both counties, Derby organized the famous two-day Rooster Auction held in Demopolis. Each person had to pay $10.00 to enter a rooster in the sale. The roosters were sent to Demopolis where a huge amphitheater was built in the park for the staging of the sale. Roosters were donated by President Woodrow Wilson, Prime Minister Lloyd George of England, Premier Clemenceau of France, Premier Orlando of Italy, Gen. John J. Pershing and Hollywood personalities Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle, and Mary Pickford. Helen Keller sent a little blue hen. 88 donors appear on marker.
President Woodrow Wilson’s rooster sold for the astronomical price of $44,000.00 which was big money back then. The Montgomery group that bid for President Wilson’s rooster never paid the pledge. The attendance of President Wilson has been the only time that a president has visited Marengo County. One account of the day says that Helen Keller’s “little blue hen” sold for $15,000.00. Over 900 roosters were sold. $200,000+ was pledged, but most was not collected.
No one knows how much money was made by the birds because of the records not being kept very well and a great deal of the money was never paid after the bids had been made. About $45,000.00 was turned over to the State Department after the heavy expenses of the sale. The bridge was opened May 15, 1925. It was 988 feet long and constructed by a firm out of New Orleans.
The bridge at first was named “Memorial Bridge,” although no one in the area ever called it that, said Chaney. Everyone always referred to it as the “Rooster Bridge.”
The old Rooster Bridge was demolished in 1980 after being replaced by a new bridge located a short distance up river.
Demopolis, AL Round about
Demopolis, AL – This little round about with Civil War cannons and flowers just off the town square corner has probably been hit by cars one to many times buy tourists as it has road blockages all the way around it.
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Docktails were followed by a rousing round of cribbage at our boat with HERE’S AN IDEA Milton and Julie. Boys against Girls. Women spanked the men twice but the men came back in the third game to skunk the women.
Brain Clutter
The pegs for scoring in cribbage are also known as “spilikins.”
A “Plan B” has been under discussion for the past couple of days as we hear more and more fall out from Hurricane Michael. The key area for jumping across the Gulf has been trashed. Like everyone else marinas are trying to pull it back together. Think about it. Marinas are probably low on the list. Restoring emergency service, hospitals, police departments, fire departments, electricity, power …………….. marinas …………….. The hydrography will have also changed. The intercoastal waterways will all have to be resurveyed Waterways, canals dredged and waterway markers replaced.
About one third of the Loopers we have talked to are hands down going to continue and cross over the Gulf. We watched a Katie Krogan tug load 1800 gallons of diesel. They will definitely not have a problem. Some have already put their boats in storage, but most are like us. Still pushing south while waiting for more news and trying to sort it out. We hope to reach a decision by a week from now, Oct 24.
Out and About the Marinas
Kingfisher Bay Marina, Demopolis, AL – Today you get a guided tour around the marinas. There are two marinas here but only one has dockage, Kingfisher Bay Marina. Dockage in the other marina, Deomopolis Yacht Basin, has been silted in for over 4 years. They are both owned by the same people. Some of the places pointed out are from yesterday’s blog post and others from today.Kingfisher Bay Marina, Demopolis, AL Black Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway mile 216.2 – BoatUS tow rescue boat heading out pushing a floating dock section. Guessing someone’s in trouble. Demopolis Yacht Basin on o the left and Kingfisher Bay Marina on the right.Demopolis Yacht Basin Marina, Demopolis, AL Black Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway mile 216.2 – I think this is a commercial sand pit. The machine on the left is harvesting the sand. Sucking it up to drain while the loader is sending if off.Demopolis Yacht Basin Marina, Demopolis, AL Black Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway mile 216.2 – Christmas lights ready to put on the water. One of about 8 light sets.Demopolis Yacht Basin Marina, Demopolis, AL Black Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway mile 216.2 – RV park.Demopolis Yacht Basin Marina, Demopolis, AL Black Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway mile 216.2 – We’ve been on the hunt for a second anchor for some time now so we answered an ad posted at the marina. (I hate the Fortress Anchor ref August 10/11, 2018) They guy had 3 anchors for sale but didn’t know what size. We walked over. He and his wife used to live aboard a boat but got tired of doing it. They sold their boat over a year ago and established residence here. They rent both covered storage bays for $50 each, total of $100 a month plus electricity. They live in the small RV in the back. She had her kitchen set-up and he had his shop. Dale and I might try this next or use it as Plan B. The anchors in the foreground left were too small for us. Still on the hunt.
No day in a marina is complete without a run to Walmart
I never used to be a big Walmart shopper before we started the Loop. Now it’s one of the highlights when we stop at a marina. Watch for me in the next email chain that has pictures of Walmart shoppers.
Things we have not bought at Walmart …… yet. Bedbug killer, boiled peanuts in a can, roach killerStuff we buy at Walmart – Dave’s Killer Bread. Not sure if they sell this in MN Walmart. If they do run out and by a loaf of Dave’s bread. This is the 4th kind we’ve tried. At the moment I think we are eating two loaves a week. It is awesome.
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Our dock neighbors invite us for home roasted peanuts they were just pulling out of the oven. WOO WOO.
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Tales from the Loop: Looper boat GOOD DAY from October 13/14 stayed on at Blue Bluff Recreational Area for an other day after we left. A 50 foot boat with a 5 foot draft attempted to dock later that day. Didn’t work so well. BoatUS tow earned a little money …… Our draft is 3.9 but we always say 4. It was close for us.
Brain Clutter: The ancient Carthaginians fought off Roman ships in 300 B.C. by catapulting live snakes at them.
October 16, 2018 Tuesday Sumter Recreation Area, Aliceville, AL Tenn-Tom Waterway mile 269.9 to Kingfisher Bay Marina, Demopolis, AL Black Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway mile 216.2 47.5 nautical miles
Blew it. Yesterday when we came into the little bay to anchor it had a lot of plant life all over the water. It was cloudy and drab so I decided to wait for the perfect first light picture today. HA! The gentle wind last night blew all the floating plant life into shore. It’s still cloudy and drab.
Off to a great start. We met the first tow boat and barge right outside our anchorage. All of the barges have been small as they are constrained by the size of the locks.
Out of the anchorage and straight into a barge
We discovered the below passenger under our Bimini top before we made it to the first lock.
Tenn-Tom Waterway – passenger (big moth)
Howell Heflin Lock and Dam mile 266.1
Howell Heflin Lock and Dam mile 266.1 – Looper boat THIRD WISH and Everything but alligators in the lock. Aquatic plants, logs, fish birds, …Howell Heflin Lock and Dam mile 266.1 – Everything but alligators in the lock. Aquatic plants, logs, fish birds, … There were floating bogs like this all over this section on the river …. for miles.Howell Heflin Lock and Dam mile 266.1 – Bollard. The bigger clump is a water hyacinth. The little stuff is duck weed.
Down River
The waterway we are currently on has a lot of names. Depending on which chart we are looking at it is called” Tenn-Tom Waterway River Section, Tombigbee River and Lake Demopolis. It has definitely been widened but a lot of ox bows still remain.
Tenn-Tom Waterway – iPad Navionics chartplotter track through the River SectionTenn-Tom Waterway – ox bow bend at 260.7 (using the new Raymarine Gold chip)
White Cliffs of Alabama, near Epes, AL Tombigbee River approx. miles 248-249
White Cliffs of Alabama, near Epes, AL Tombigbee River approx. miles 248-249 – STUNNING!!!!!White Cliffs of Alabama, near Epes, AL Tombigbee River approx. miles 248-249White Cliffs of Alabama, near Epes, AL Tombigbee River approx. miles 248-249
The White Cliffs are a chalk cliff, roughly one mile long, that is composed of a geological layer known as the Demopolis Chalk Formation, part of the Selma Group. The cliffs were deposited about the geological time as the White Cliff of Dover, England. The upper portions of the cliff stood almost 80 feet above the river before the construction of the Demopolis Lock and Dam downriver. It now averages about 30 feet above the river.
We saw other white cliffs along the way but none as spectacular as these.
Tenn-Tom Waterway mile 232 Spanish moss on treesTenn-Tom Waterway – canal edge. I just liked the tree.Tenn-Tom Waterway – homes along the wayTenn-Tom Waterway – TVA Barge loadTenn-Tom Waterway – TVA Barge load. Wondering if these are Westinghouse steam generators.Tenn-Tom Waterway – Chemical barge loading facilityTenn-Tom Waterway – Barge load.
At mile 217.0 just north of Demopolis, AL we officially left the Tenn-Tom Waterway and entered the Black Warrior- Tombigbee Waterway.
WE ARE OUT OF THE DITCH!!!
Demopolis Yacht Basin
Demopolis Yacht Basin, Demopolis , AL Black Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway mile 216 – Self service fuel and septic stationDemopolis Yacht Basin, Demopolis , AL Black Warrior-Tombigbee mile 216 – Tow boat getting fuel at fuel dock. Jon boat dingy hanging from davit. You can’t really see it in this picture but there is a bench press behind the barrel.Demopolis Yacht Basin, Demopolis , AL Tenn-Tom Waterway mile 216 – Cotton field across the streetDemopolis, AL – Out to eat with fellow travelers COASTAL KARMA, speed boat people and COASTAL COWBOY. We’ve been bouncing down the river off and on with them but this is the first time we ever got together.
Good advice from one of the Loop legends
“I don’t worry about anything I don’t personally have control over! It doesn’t do you any good to worry about things out of your control. You waste your energy to solve problems if they do arise! The Loop is not hard…. enjoy it! You are not gonna die, if you play safe.
~ Herb Seaton
Herb is a 1,000 miles from completing his 2nd Loop SOLO on a 53 foot boat. We were on his boat for docktails at Aqua Yacht Harbor.
October 15, 2018 Monday Columbus Marina, Columbus, MS Tenn-Tom Waterway mile 335 to Sumter Recreation Area, Aliceville, AL Tenn-Tom Waterway mile 269.9 58.6 nautical miles
While people are still trying to figure out the impact of Hurricane Michael to Loop travelers everyone is bolting for Demopolis, AL. A lot of insurance policies prohibit passage south of Demopolis, AL on the Tenn-Tom Waterway until November 1 when ‘hurricane season’ ends. Our insurance policy will permit us to continue on.
We had planned on staying in Columbus, MS for another day to explore the areas and see the antebellum homes it is known for. However, at the moment we are near the front of the Looper pack and there are approximately 8-10 slips still available at this time. We are on the list at Demopolis Marina list with fingers crossed. There is ~120 miles and 3 locks between Columbus, MS to Demopolis, MS which means we need at least 1 overnight anchorage.
OK, why the still the rush if our insurance will let us travel further south? The Looper convention is over Thursday. This will let about 100 Looper boats through the locks like one giant flush all flowing the same direction. The thing is, Hurricane Michael’s impact on the Gulf passage for Looper’s has not yet been figured. We, like all the other Looper boats need a Plan B, Demopolis, is a good place to hole up and figure it out.
Along the Way on Tenn-Tom Waterway River Section
This part of “The Ditch” River Section is definitely river-like. The Tombigbee River has been widened and straightened to accommodate barge traffic. Dikes are used intermittently.
Tenn-Tom Waterway River Section – Carved, straightened and dredgedTenn-Tom Waterway River Section MS – Ox bow closed off by dikeTenn-Tom Waterway River Section MS – Never seen a barge like this before. The tow boat also has a flying bridge on his flying bridge.Tenn-Tom Waterway River Section MS – Barge work. Check out the scrap metal.Tenn-Tom Waterway River Section MS – Barge workTenn-Tom Waterway River Section MS- Really nice set-upTenn-Tom Waterway River Section MS mile 329.4 – Right turn ahead on Chart PlotterTenn-Tom Waterway River Section MS – Looper boat THIRD WISH at the mile 329.4 – Right turn.
Welcome to Alabama. Alabama/Mississippi State Line – first time at mile 313.5. HA. We zig-zagged between Alabama and Mississippi for the next 3 miles before entering Alabama for good at mile 310.8.
Tenn-Tom Waterway River Section – Income disparity. Alabama/Mississippi State Line is right around here. Mile 313.5 ALTenn-Tom Waterway River Section AL mile 311.5 – The infamous Telephone booth.Tenn-Tom Waterway River Section AL mile ~309 – Water volley ball court. There are a lot of nice cabins/houses and a nice campground. Tenn-Tom Waterway River Section AL – No longer the beautiful red bluffs we saw in Mississippi.Tenn-Tom Waterway River Section AL – There were several beautiful camp grounds along the way along the way.Would be a good place to camp for a month or so.Tenn-Tom Waterway River Section AL – Passed on the two whistles. Boat in route to Mobile, AL for deliveryTenn-Tom Waterway River Section AL – Peddle kayaks headed to Mobile, AL. Mary told the guys to smile as they were going to be in the family album.
Two Today (Locks)
John Stennis Lock mile 334.7, MS
John Stennis Lock mile 334.7 – I don’t think I’ve mentioned it before, but the locks are all built by the Army Corp of Engineers. The lock master collected vessel information here: Homeport, destination, registration numbers, etc.John Stennis Lock mile 334.7, MS – Leaving the Lock. Two barges waiting to greet us. There were two barges were waiting to enter as we departed the lock. Whew! We got through the lock before them.John Stennis Lock mile 334.7, MS – Looking back
Tom Bevill Lock and Dam mile 306.8, AL
Looper boat COSTAL KARMA joined us at Tom Bevill Lock. Locks have a way of bunching Loopers together. We cruised right into the lock but unfortunately COSTAL KARMA had about a 30 minute wait in the lock for us to get there.
Tom Bevill Lock and Dam mile 306.8 – Entrance. Off to the right is the US Snagboat Montgomery, the last steam-powered sternwheeler to ply the inland waterways of the south. For nearly six decades, the Montgomery labored to keep seven of the South’s major rivers navigable. Built in 1926 in Charleston, SC, the Montgomery is 108′ long and represents the culmination of steam engine technology. Retired in 1982, she is on display at the Tom Bevill Visitor Center.
Anchorage
Sumter Recreation Area, Aliceville, AL Tenn-Tom Waterway mile 269.9 – Anchorage. Looking at Looper boat THIRD WISH. COASTAL KARMA came to anchor right at sundownSumter Recreation Area, Aliceville, AL Tenn-Tom Waterway mile 269.9 – AnchorageSumter Recreation Area, Aliceville, AL Tenn-Tom Waterway mile 269.9 – Anchorage setting sun on the tree tops
October 14, 2018 Sunday Blue Bluff Recreational Area, Aberdeen, MS Tenn-Tom Waterway mile 358.1 to Columbus Marina, Columbus, MS Tenn-Tom Waterway mile 335 21.7 nautical miles 7 miles
I’ve been on the river long enough now to not think ‘personal computer’ every time I hear “Three PCs coming up on the 2” Translation: Three pleasure crafts coming up behind you on your left.
Blue Bluff Recreational Area free dock
Free is good. We spent the night on a free dock in Blue Bluff Recreational Area near Aberdeen, MS. In the morning we watched 2 women in a jon boat tend their catfish lines.
Blue Bluff Recreational Area, Aberdeen, MS Tenn-Tom Waterway mile 358.1 – Free dock. YES DEAR and GOOD LIFEBlue Bluff Recreational Area, Aberdeen, MS Tenn-Tom Waterway mile 358.1 – Free dock. YES DEAR (left) and GOOD LIFE (right)Pretty, but invasive. Eichhornia crassipes, commonly known as common water hyacinth, is an aquatic plant native to the Amazon basin, and is often a highly problematic invasive species outside its native range.
Aberdeen Lock
Aberdeen Lock mile 357.5 – Another cookie cutter locks. Same as yesterday locks but you get pictures anyway. Today it was about dodge a log to get in to the Aberdeen Lock.Aberdeen Lock mile 357.5 – berdeen Dam with Dale on the lines. Zoom out and look at the flotsam at the top water line.
River Section
Tombigbee River ox bows connecting to the Tenn-Tom Waterway in the River Section
Tombigbee River and Tenn-Tom Waterway intersectionTombigbee River and Tenn-Tom Waterway intersection – mile 345 A place in the sun. Private islandTombigbee River and Tenn-Tom Waterway intersectionTombigbee River and Tenn-Tom Waterway – Rerouted bridge. New bridge had to be built when “The Ditch” was put in.Dredge and dredging pipesDredging survey boat
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Bike ride to Columbus MS from marina – in search of the Vikings game
We can definitely feel the difference in the cupped props that were put on a couple days ago in Aqua Yacht Marina. Idle speed is much faster at 5.2 kts. Dale has had to adjust his docking and locking techniques so that we don’t come in too hot. The upper RPMs are about the same.
Midway Marina
Midway Marina mile 393.8, Fulton, MS – We are behind this boat GOOD LIFE – Blokes on this boat are from EnglandMidway Marina houseboatMidway Marina houseboatMidway Marina dock – ElectricalMidway Marina – Boat with homemade flying bridgeMidway Marina – Chris Craft Houseboat. Don’t know if I’ve never seen one before.Midway Marina – Steve from GOOD LIFEMidway Marina – Exit carefully
Canal section of “The Ditch” continued
Chasing the GOOD LIFE. We traveled with Looper boat GOOD LIFE down the river taking turns for who was in the lead. The skipper of GOOD LIFE is a Brit. It was tough following him when he was in the lead as the lead does all the hailing. Between the Brit accent, the Southern barge captains and lock masters accents and the crackle in the VHS were plain lucky to figure out what was going on ……
I continued to be amazed at all the trees and tree stumps in the water outside of the dredged canal, to where water fills to the natural hillsides for shallow lakes.
Natural shore line – shallow lake – tree stumpsNatural shore line – shallow lake – tree and stumpsNatural shorelineLevee sideLevee side
Cat fishing. Catfishing lines were tied to pop-bottle jugs, tree branches and noodles pieces. When a fish was caught on one it bobbed all around. The top picture has lines tied to trees and the lower picture has lines tied to noodlesCatfish lines – Tending lines
Look at the guy in the back of the boat. Dale made sure we passed slowly throwing as little wake as possible.
Entry into the River Section mile 366.3
At mile 366.3 we left the Canal Section of the Tenn-Tom Waterway and entered into the River Section. When we hit the River Section the water depth dropped quite a bit as were back to part of a real river, the Tombigbee River. This section of “The Ditch” leverages parts of the Tombigbee River, other natural waterways and straightens out big ox bows. It became a little more populated and commercial.
Smell the freshly ground pine chips on the barge. Taking it on the 2 whistles.
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We over nighted with GOOD LIFE on a free dock in Blue Bluff Recreational Area near Aberdeen, MS
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The Locks – 3 in one day! Second day in a row.
Cookie cutter locks. They all look alike!!!!!! Must have used the same blue print on all the locks in “The Ditch”. (You get pictures anyway)
Fulton Lock and Dam mile 391.0 – first lock of the day
Fulton Lock and Dam mile 391.0 – EntranceFulton Lock and Dam mile 391.0 – SpillwayFulton Lock and Dam mile 391.0 – Dale on linesFulton Lock and Dam mile 391.0 – Life in the lock bollardFulton Lock and Dam mile 391.0 – Looking up from the lock bollard
Glover Wilkins Lock mile 376.3
Glover Wilkins Lock mile 376 – Entrance green light (permission to enter) and wind sockGlover Wilkins Lock mile 376 – looking over the end
Amory Lock mile 371.1
Amory Lock mile 371.1 – Just when I said they all look alike there was a bridge over this one.Amory Lock mile 371.1 – topAmory Lock mile 371.1 – drop
October 12, 2018 Friday Bay Springs Lake (south east end), Tenn-Tom Waterway Mile 413.2 to Midway Marina, Fulton MS, Tenn-Tom Waterway mile 393.8 25.8 nautical miles
57 degrees this morning in the salon when we got up. The cold front definitely settled in. Dale wore long pants the first time since we left Minnesota.
Bay we anchored in
First kill of the day was at 7:37 am: A giant spider hiding in my electric range when I went to make French Toast. Second kill of the day was at 8:27 am: a fly.
Full of the days optimism we pulled our anchor too soon, before we called the lock. They were closed to complete 3-4 hours maintenance so we spent the morning exploring finger coves and free drifting. All in all not a bad place to wait. Bay Springs Lake is pretty and the weather was more than cooperative.
Bay Springs Lake. Drifting waiting for the lock to open. We would put up a mile or so and drift down.
A 3 in one day (3 locks in one day even after a 4 hour wait)
By the time the Jamie Whitten Lock opened around 12:30 pm there were four of us ready to go. COSTAL KARMA, GOOD LIFE, none-Looper boat Journey. We ran through three locks all about 6-8 miles apart. The lock masters try to coordinate the passage so that the next lock is open and ready when you get to it
Jamie Whitten Lock mile 412.0 – 84 feet high at normal pool. Probably the highest traversed on the Great Circle Route. Door swinging openJamie Whitten Lock Tenn-Tom mile 412.0, Mary on lines
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We completed the 32 mile long “Divide Cut” shortly after exiting the Jamie Whitten Lock and started the 44 mile Canal Section a.k.a Chain of Lakes Segment.
Canal Section
In the “Canal Section” the canal actually sits on the side of the hill with the hill acting as one side of the canal and the levee the other. This created a bunch of small, very shallow lakes. For cost saving certain areas they did not clear stumps. Just cleared tree tops. In some areas, the trees were left standing.
Failure of this levee would not only flood the adjacent land to the west, but also drain the canal.
Tenn-Tom Waterway Levee and natural sides. Picture is from our iPad Navionics char plotter. You can see the natural side on the east and the straight line levee side on the west. The blue sqiggles on the left are unattached no longer used, sections of the of the Tombigbee River. Seriously ox bowed!Tenn-Tom Waterway – Canal Section – Natural hillside on port, dike on starboard.Tenn-Tom Waterway – Canal Section – West side dikeTenn-Tom Waterway – Canal Section – East side hill. The waterway get real wide but is very shallow if you leave the dredged section!Tenn-Tom Waterway – Canal Section – Dead Trees in the natural side of the canal. Lot’s of them. Left standing due to the cost to remove.
Canal Section Locks
Montgomery Lock, Tenn-Tom Waterway mile 406.8. Traveling with Looper boat GOOD LIFE.Montgomery Lock, Tenn-Tom Waterway mile 406.8 – exodus
John Rankin Lock, Tenn-Tom Waterway mile 398.4 ‘I can swing them gates any way you want um. Just let me know’ ~ Dock Master Note the exercise bike in window of Lock Masters office
Midway Marina mile 393.8
The 4 hour delay at the Jamie Whitten Lock meant we needed to stay in Fulton Marina as there were no anchorages in this area we felt comfortable anchoring out in with all the tree stumps.
Midway Marina mile 393.8, Fulton, MS – We are 2 behind this boat. You can see the tree stumps in the water not far from the dock. We need to make a hard 90 degree turn from the main channel to enter the marina.
Tales from the Loop: SEA COWBOY’s anchor (the Looper boat behind us on the dock) twisted free at 4:00 am last night when a squall came through. It spun him 180 degrees. Anchor didn’t hold and he drifted into GOOD DAY (the Looper boat ahead of us on the dock). They weren’t very social to each other.
Midway Marina Office
Midway Marina mile 393.8, Fulton, MS – Office has a walk in beer cooler – and not much else. Dale’s off to buy beer.
