November 11, 2013 Mobile Alabama at Dog River Marina

Early morning rowing out to fetch an anchor

We fetched the stern anchor back aboard about 7:45 and departed Alabama River Cutoff at the reasonably decent hour of 8:00 am.  Better than the 6am stints we were doing the last few days.  But today we only had about 58  miles and we had a secure spot in a marina so it wasn't a rush day.

Our fellow raftee's  untangled from the raft up without an issue and then we hauled up our anchor with only a little mud.  Didn't need a wash down this time.  I spun the boat around and we headed out into the Tombigbee river and started our procession towards Mobile.

No alligator sightings today, a few tows but it was the same old river, long and winding.  We did spot Palmetto growing along one of the banks which was what Chip coined as a "Dixie Alert" which is something native to the south thus signifying our rapid approach to warmth!

Mobile Bay

The approach to Mobile winds through a few junctions of other rivers and as you come around the last bend by 12 mile island you can see the Mobile sky line in the distance and the port facilities right there in front of you.

The port is similar to Norfolk in all its shipping activity.  Very busy!  There are even a few Navy ships here.  The ones we saw were rather bizarre looking things touted to be the latest in technological innovation.

Being passed by a freighter bound for the ocean

We did encounter 2 large ocean going freighters and as we headed out into Mobile Bay, we were passed by one heading out to see.  Quite a wake these guys leave.

As you come out into Mobile Bay it's startling in it's immensity.  Almost like heading out to the ocean since.  Large and shallow with depths in the 7-15 foot range.

The channel to Dog River is off to starboard and is marked by buoys every 1/2 mile or so.  Its several miles to the bridge and the marina.  We arrived there and experienced difficulty establishing radio contact but eventually got the dock master's attention.  Field Trip went directly to a slip since they had electrical problems.  Arine E and ourselves stopped at the fuel dock to refuel.  We were burning about twice the fuel we had been previously simply because we were traveling so fast.  I know 9 mph is snail-like but to us it's 3 miles per hour faster and about twice the fuel consumption.

We headed over to the face dock after fueling up.  They did offer us a covered slip but it was very tight in there and our boat is not easy to maneuver when backing into a narrow slip.  So we took the face dock even though the predicted winds would be howling out of the north over the next few days and blowing us off the dock.  And we are in tidal waters now so lines must be secured with cyclic water level changes in mind.  Fun!




After we were all securely tied up we (all 6 of us) piled into the marina truck, a F-150, and headed across the bridge to Marina Cove to eat fried shrimp.  It's all we seem be eating these days is fried something-or-other.

After we returned we pretty much went to bed.  Wild times here in Mobile!

We're planning on being here at the marina into next week while we have a few boat items taken care of.  We're hoping to make it into Destin by Thanksgiving so we can once again hit the Thanksgiving party at the Hilton in Sandestin.  Heck I might even golf a little if the weather isn't too cold.

We haven't quite figured out where to leave the boat when we head back up north for the holidays.  Not  sure when we'll be going either.  We could try and make a dash across the gulf before mid December and leave the boat near Clearwater or just lollygag around Destin for a few weeks before heading up north for the holidays.  Decisions, Decisions!