November 21-22, 2013 Dog River Marina Mobile, AL

After a few false starts caused by equipment problems we, as a group are finally ready to leave tomorrow.  Pat and Chip returned from their automobile travels and Jeff and Judy seem to be recovered enough from bronchitis to tackle the 44 mile run tomorrow.  And we, after  3 (yes, that is THREE) failed water pumps are finally able to use the water on board again (thanks Shawn).  But we're planning on leaving tomorrow.

Mary, Judy, Brent and Bob

And so of course we had to have a leaving the marina party.












Wait.  Not so Fast!  We were actually ready to leave this morning but the new, high tech water pump I bought for a princely sum failed after this morning and so we simply went and purchased yet another pump. But a very simple and less powerful model than the one we had on board all these months.  It works.  So we are happy.

Unfortunately that cost us another day here at Dog River Marina.  But we have Friday to get to an anchorage (Ingram bayou)  and we'll decide then whether to stay there for a few days or move on deepening on the weather.  Its supposed to be very windy and crappy out the next few days but forecast sources all differ on the intensity of the winds.  We will see I guess.

Heading out int MObile Bay from Dog River

So this morning we waited until 9am to leave while the guys from Turner marine tried to get Jeff's AIS working.  No joy.  So we proceeded out into Mobile bay for the 20+ mile journey down the bay and into the Intercoastal waterway.   Seems like we're coming home.

LuLu (Jimmy Buffets sister)

The ICW here is a long ditch for about 15 miles until it opens up into several bays with barrier islands.  

Ingram Bayou anchorage

But tonight we're anchored in Ingram Bayou which is very quiet and uncrowded.  Its close to Pensacola Bay.











Further on down the ICW there a barrier islands with ICW on one side and the Gulf on the other.  One can anchor and dinghy to shore for a walk on the beach.  Except the weather is turning nasty with strong northerly winds bringing with it a chill.  Ugh.  We're deciding tonight where we want to ride out the winds.  But we did decide to stay at Baytown marina which is in Sandestin, the resort where we've been spending the last few winters.