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!

November 10, 2013 Alabama River Cutoff, Alabama

The Alabama River Cutoff is really just a river entering the Tombigbee River.  And as it turns out this one is deep for about 1/4 of mile into the river.  However it is narrow but reported to be a wonderful anchorage.  So we decided to give it a try for tonight.

How ever first we had to get there.  And it was Bob who gently informed us we have to leave in 10 minutes in order to make it to the Lock by 6:30 am.  This was at 6:15.  In the morning.  In case you may not have picked up on the fact I should state flat out that we don't get up early very well.    Looking at us fumble around in the cold and dark is probably humorous especially with the unmistakable  wails of "COFFEE" from certain individuals.

Yes, its that early.  Sunrise! 

So we did leave by 6:30 but I was scrambling trying to get everything disconnected and aboard.  And then running down the systems and their switch over from dock-side power to internal battery power.  Busy 10 minutes it was for me.  But we got off the dock and joined the others out on the river and started down towards the Coffeeville Lock.






The Coffieeville Lock is the last lock we have to face until we get to Okeechobee in Florida. We've been through 98 locks so far, beginning in Virginia.  Maybe we're getting good at it?.

In the last lock!

 We arrived at the Lock and went right in, tied up to the Bollard and dropped 40 feet without a problem.  After exiting we formed our usual line formation and headed south!  But only three of us this time since Just Fakin It and Good Grief elected to head down  river at a slower pace.  We'll meet up with them again in Mobile.

One of the few straight areas on the river 

The river was as before, long and winding.  Many switchbacks and in some places we found ourselves less than 1/4 mile from where we were an hour before.  We passed a few tows but the most excitement was when I spotted our first gator on the shore.  It appeared to be an old log which suddenly rose up and waddled into the river.  Wish I could have snapped a picture but I'm guessing there will be ample opportunities in the coming months.

Looking out towards the River from the cutoff

We arrived at the Alabama River Cutoff and went in about 50 yards and tried to anchor a few times but the anchor wouldn't bite so we moved further into the river and finally got a good hold about 200 yards up from the entrance.  Luckliy it was another another wide spot in the narrow channel.   Arine E rafted up next followed by Field Trip.  We waited a bit to see how the boats would move and ultimately decided we needed a stern anchor if nothing else but for piece of mind.

Felt like I was sitting in a 1st graders desk.

So I inflated our little 8 foot doggy dinghy and rowed Chip and Pat's anchor out about 100 feet as a stern anchor.  Our mini dinghy aint big.  Cramped is a more apt description.  But it is pretty easy to blow up and launch in a pinch.  No motor though.  It's a rowing machine.

All settled in for the night

With the anchor out the swing moderated and we all felt a bit of relief especially since the banks of the river were a mere 15 feet from us.  As the sun went down the whole place took on an appearance  reminiscent of the movie, The African Queen.  Didn't see any reptilian creatures even though others have reported sights of many alligators on the river bank and snakes swimming in the waters.





We had everyone on our boat for drinks and then retired to eat dinner and head off to bed after a few episodes of West Wing.  It's a little disconcerting but we're starting to head off to bed around 9pm now days!  Kinda hard to sleep late when we do that.

November 9 Bobby's Fish Camp, Alabama

Leaving Bashi Creek

We woke up this morning in Bashi creek and found that we hadn't moved at all.   Jeff was on the radio a few moments after we woke up wondering when he'd have to dinghy over to us and retrieve our stern anchors.   It took us a little while to get organized but he was over and pulling up the anchors by 8:30 and we shortly there after paraded out the creek to join the rest of our little flotilla.  Good Grief started out ahead of us so it was just 4 boats this time making there way down a lazy river on a cool autumn day.

There was little to see besides the river banks.  And it was only 26 miles.

At mile 118 on the Tem-Tom waterway is a iconic place named Bobby's Fish Camp.  And this is our intended destination today.  Bobby's is the only stop with gas and really the only dock one can tie up to for several hundred miles.  It's ah ... well, it's a fish camp and thus lacks several of the assumed amenities many marina's have these days.  But it's  the only game in town.

Bobby's Fish Camp seen from the river as we approached

Bobby's Fish Camp only has a 150 feet of dock space with 4 electrical outlets and when they are full, they will suggest rafting where by one boat ties off to another boat which is already tied off to the dock. Sometime these rafting arrangement scan reach 3 or 4 boats across.

In our case though we were the first boats there and consumed every square inch of dock space.  Well, it was Us, then Good Grief followed by Field trip on the dock.  Good Grief and Arin E rafted off of the boats tied up.  Any late comers wold be rafted off of us but that didn't happen this night.

Docked at Bobby's Fish Camp

We all agreed that a dinner out would be most apropos so we went to eat at Bobby's Fish Camp restaurant which is famous for it's catfish.  But not before I found the water pump problem (a leak in the hot water line in our head).  The food was pretty good actually.  The place is almost a museum with all this photos and memorabilia.  Ever hear of a gar gator fish?  Well, they got one.  And they had  a picture of an alligator they had to shoot a year before.  It was 12 feet long right on the back near the docks.

Bobby's Fish Camp from our boat

We had an interesting conversation with the original owners niece.  Swedish ancestry.

Headed back to the boat for a peaceful night but others on the dock reported several barges transiting the area which rocked the dock pretty good.  You think we knew?  Yeah, right!

 .

November 8, 2013 Bashi Creek Anchorage Alabama

In the cold (38 degrees) this morning.  We started engines at 6:15am and our starboard engine barely fired up.  Too cold I think.  And we're headed for 200 miles of desolate country side with cold temperatures forecast every morning.  Should prove exciting.

We all departed Kingfisher marina by 6:20 am.  We had called ahead to the Demopolis lock and they would be ready for us by 6:30am.  It was a calm misty morning and as we moved out into the river we were joined by by two other boats, a power catamaran and a large 100 foot motor yacht.   The Lock master called us on the radio and gave specific instructions about entering the lock.  The largest had to enter first and we were second in line so we had to secure to a bollard near the front of the lock.  We eventually all got in and secured, gave our documentation numbers to the lock masters.


This was a 40 foot drop and once the doors were opened we all left in a specific order as well.  The other boats all leaped ahead of us since they were far faster and were intending on making Bobby's Fish Camp while our intended destination was Bashi Creek, a narrow but deep creek about 70 miles away.

We formed our usual line and headed down river at a brisk 10 mph since we had such a long way to go and wanted to anchor in day light.  This is quite a bit faster than we normally travel and we burned quite a bit of fuel.

The river started out as before.  Long, winding and boring.  But then some indications of the south began to appear.  Moss in the trees, and non-hard wood vegetation.  And sandy river banks.

During the journey our water pump died again.  This time though I think fro a loose connection.  So we dredged up are once dormant camping skills and used jugs of water for various "things".  I should mention we can fill the jugs from the wash down pump out on the starboard side.  Not elegant but functional.   I'll wait until we tie up at Bobby's Fish Camp tomorrow before tackling this one.  Our bilge pumps continue to clatter and will occasionally back siphon water but its under control.  Actually it begins it's nocturnal chattering about the same time I get up to pee. At 3:00 am.  Perfect synchronization!

We arrived at the creek and Arin E did a little reconnaissance and found good water so we went in about 100 yards past a boat launch and tried to secure the anchor but it would not hold on the first try.  Tried again and it stuck.  As we waited for a few minutes for the boat to settle we began swinging in a 180 degree arc to the point where I was forced to pivot the boat around on the anchor.  Did I mention this creek is maybe 70 feet wide and we're close to 50?  But thankfully we didn't crush into the banks of the creek and got orientated around so the bow was pointing out the towards the river.

Bow out towards the river

This orientation seemed to work much better although usually the current in creeks has been strong enough to keep the bow point up stream.  We did find ourselves swinging in a small arc but with the tight confines of the creek we elected to toss out a stern anchor.  Jeff from Just Fakin It dinghied across the river and set both our and Arin E's stern anchor for us since we had no easy way of getting a dinghy down.  Good Grief, Fakin It and Field Trip all anchored across the creek in a wide spot in the river since the creek proved a bit too snug for any rafting or additional boats.

Bundled up for alcohol consumption in the waning day light

We settled in for a drink or two out on the bow and then when as it turned dark we headed in for several episodes of West Wing before heading off to sleep in this quiet back water.  We were situated so the creek banks were about 20 feet on either side of us which allowed us to hear lots of rustling in the forested banks.  Gators maybe?  Bears?  Sasquatch? Who knows!

November 7 2013 Demopolis, AL

Late yesterday I went to wash my hands and lo and behold, no water.  It took me a second to register this phenomenon.  There is always water, right?

After poking around for a few minutes my conclusion was the water pump died.  Usually one can hear it cycle on and off when using a faucet.  Not so tonight.  I was already late for a party and the prospect of hanging upside down in a bilge hadn't made my list of things to do on a Wednesday night in Alabama.  But duty called so into the depths of the bilge I plunged.

New pump!

Actually it wasn't all that hard since I had a spare pump.  It only took about thirty minutes to get the old one out and the new one in.  But that would be too easy or so my subconscious seemed to think.    I wired the damn thing backwards.  Not even an inkling or one of those fleeting shadowy thoughts suggesting something wasn't correct.

 So back into the bilge I plunged where, I might add, I kept dropping my two work lights into the  bilge water more often than I'm comfortable admitting.  But I got it all hooked up again and threw the breaker which produced that satisfying pump whirring sound.

 Except the pump whirring went on for an oddly long time before stopping.  In  my mildly odoriferous state I was more focused on a nice hot shower and only heard the whirring when it started.  Luckily I just happen to notice the pump breaker on my way to the shower. Odd.  So  I flipped it on and was immediately rewarded with whirring again.   And then silence.  I suddenly realized the pump was pressurizing the water system but not shutting down because the pressure switch wasn't sensing the pressure in the water lines.  And it was throwing the breaker because of excessive current draw.

Note to self.  New doesn't necessarily mean operational.

We decided to deal with it in Mobile and for now we simply throw the pump breaker when we need water pressure.  My dish washing task is to do just that:  throw the breaker when the dish water starts to trickle instead of stream.  I do my part!

And I cant wait to shower on board when we're anchored out over the next few days... "oh dear, can you give me a little more water please ...".  Yeah ...

One issue would be fine, but why have one when two is so much more satisfying!   Our bilge pumps, when they cycle on, sometimes cause a chattering in the swing check valves.  It's not a bird like chatter either but a loud heavy-metal like sound which can wake a napper at  a hundred paces.  I replaced one assuming the old one was too corroded to seal properly.

Oh were it so easy.

As it turns out the bilge pump hose exit points lay under the water line meaning when they expel bilge water, they pump it out under water.  Best we can deduce is that this is playing havoc with the pressures in the bilge hoses which in turn is causing the chattering but more seriously also allowing a siphon to set up which is sucking sea water back into the bilge.

And so every few hours I check the bilges and then, if the chattering swing valves are chattering I squish myself into a cabinet under the trash bin and crack a bleed cap on the check valve which silences the damn things for another few hours.  And in the morning I utter apologies to anyone tied or anchored near us.

Tell me.  Can life get any more interesting?

Visitors, even those who've left us months ago, have their very own, one of a kind, red plasticized drinking glass embossed with their name.  These fine rum cups are re-usable and disposable.  We do try and save them.  And no its not (entirely) because we have an issue with lack of dish water at the moment.






We are ready for a 6:15 am departure tomorrow and if the lock is free and there is no fog we just might make Bashi Creek before it gets dark.   I think we'll be breezing down the water way at a blistering 9 mph tomorrow!

November 3-6, 2013 Sumpter Area anchorage and Demopolis, Alabama

November 3, 2013 Pirates Cove to Sumpter Anchorage

Looking out of Pirates Cove towards the river

We were up at 8 am but couldn't leave Pirates Cove until around at 9 am after calling the lock to be sure we could enter without a wait.  Waiting for a lock to open around here means circling endlessly and burning fuel while fighting the ceaseless boredom.  So we have learned to be judicious on such occasions by phoning the Lock master to ascertain the potential wait.  In this case we were lucky since he had just locked up a tow and had the lock open waiting for us!

The run out of the basin this morning was much easier since I simply left the depth sounder off and didn't look behind us at the churned up mud.  It may have been 9 am but I'd swear it was sunrise with the light mist hanging over the water.  Maybe I should return to ingesting caffeine in the morning.

We got in the lock and made a unremarkable down lock and proceeded to begin yet another lazy day on the river albeit, a chilly one.  Guess is even winter down here now!

Looking towards the river anchorage.  Note the red and green buoys. 

We reached the Sumpter Recreational area which consists of a small bay right off the river.  There is a boat ramp there as well as small picnic area.  As per our groups usual procedure,  BeachQuest (us) enters first and sets an anchor and then everyone else follows in and ties up to us.

 The entrance into the basin is through a few small buoys which has, of course, a very shallow sand bar running across it.  We made it through with 5 feet and used the forward looking depth sounder to scout out a large enough area  for all of us to raft together.  Once we got the anchor down the other four boats joined us and we had another 5 boat raft-up.  And another party.  Actually a birthday party complete with cakes/pies.

ArinE and FieldTrip rafted to us on our starboard side

We were pretty well secured but over the course of a few hours we swung around 180 degrees and having some experience with this kind of swing on a short scope we put out Bob's stern anchor to limit the arc.  Luckily Jeff's dinghy is easily launched and retrieved.   We also had some company as three other boats anchored near by.

Birthday party wound down around 7:30 and we all retired back to our respective boats, ate and went to bed.  It's all part of the cruising life ... wild parties in the wilds of Alabama.  Early to bed, late to rise, makes a boater awake and  ... well awake.

Faking It (Jeff) and Good Grief (Bob) on our port side

We ended up anchored in a perfect area and before heading off to bed I noted the depths at 9 feet,  a comfortable depth which makes for a good nights sleep.












November 4, 2013 Sumpter Anchorage to Demopolis

It's arduous going through a lock  

Again we were at the mercy of the Locks.  We were all ready to leave the anchorage but noting that two of the three other boats in the anchorage with us up had left a few hours earlier we called the Lock and were told it would be an hour or so before we could lock though.   So we waited a bit and then left for the Lock which was about three miles down river.  We, as usual, were the last to leave since we had to retrieve our anchor.  As we departed I followed the gps track we had when we entered and didn't even leave any churned up mud.

We made it down river to the Lock and were able to drive right in without a wait.  It was another uneventful, almost boring down locking episode.  Then it was out the lock and the start of a long and winding 40 miles to Demopolis.

A small segment of the Epes White cliffs

At least we had the white cliffs at Epes to look forward too.  And further down river we saw a small deer swimming across.  Other than that and a few tows we passed it was a cool and uneventful day.

Behind the yellow pillars is the fuel dock

We pulled into the Demopolis Yacht Basin and the Dock Master had us fuel up in a certain order which made little sense to me, but obviously it did to them.  We were the third boat to fuel up while Field Trip had to wait out in the river because there was no room at the fuel dock.

  It was a self serve fuel pump.  Mindful of our over filling at Green Turtle Bay we left an inch from the top of  both tanks instead of filling to them to the brim.  Mary monitored the tank levels  by sticking her head in the engine room and checking the yardstick on the sight tubes while I pumped the fuel.

The tanks hold 25 inches of fuel which works out to about 13.5 gallons of fuel per inch.  We put in 161 gallons at less than $4 / gallon.  We'll have enough fuel to get to Key West if we don't go galloping down the river at 10 mph.

We're all pretty much together

After filling up the we received a slip assignment which put us in the Kingfisher marina which is adjacent to the original (and still operating) Demopolis marina.  Kingfisher is much newer than the original, and very nice with covered slips if one so chooses.

Our little group are in adjacent slips so it will make for easy planning and forays into town.  And we have been joined by a few others boats we've met along the way too.  Guess we're just one big group of boaters all anxious to enter the tropical zone and warm up.

Tomorrow there is the standard Walmart run and Bob is going to see someone about his alternator which has reached the point where it needs to be repaired.  We were planning on leaving Wednesday but we'll see how it goes.  We really dont have any schedule to meet, at least I dont think we do?


November 5, 2013 Kingfisher Marina in Demopolis, AL
The hot topic this morning was gaining access to one of the courtesy cars to make a run to various stores and a CVS for Mary to get a flu shot.  There was also the next birthday party arrangements to consider.  

Looking down our dock 

The marina came to assess Field Trips alternator problem and it appears they can have it replaced by Thursday so we'll all be leaving Friday morning now instead of Wednesday.  I dis-assembled one of our VHF radio antennas with its frayed cable.  The radio wasn't receiving or transmitting well at all so I'm just going to replace the whole cable and upper antenna section.

Next,  Bob and I replaced one of our bilge pump check valves with the idea that it would stem the constant clacking after it ran. It required a 3 foot wrench to gain enough leverage to loosen the valve.  We had it off and replaced in 15 minutes.  Still clacks.  And now I've discovered some back flow into the bilge so I'm talking to the experts tomorrow since we cant quite figure out why this is happening.  The simplest things  ... sheez

Birthday Bob and Martha

We eventually worked out a car schedule so most people went off to shop and do errands in shifts during the afternoon.  Later we all finally got together on the dock and decided to make for the local Mexican restaurant for dinner.  All 16 of us.  We decide to return the car though and enlist the local cab/shuttle guy to ferry us back and forth. Took three trips.  Each way.  But it was much easier for everyone.

Captain Pat and the large Margarita

Great time but we stayed way too late.  16 people can sure push the boundaries of lengthy conversation to new and un-imagined heights.  I suspect he waiters were somewhat relieved when we finally did start departing.  We elected to postpone the post dinner cake/pie birthday party until tomorrow evening.  And hearty souls that we are, most of us simply went off to bed.  Daylight savings time has us all befuddled I think.

November 2, 2013 Pirates Cove Marina Pickensville, AL

We hosted another planning meeting at Columbus Marina where we decided to skip my idea of running 58 miles to the Warsaw Cutoff and instead run 30 miles to Pirates Cove marina.  And as it turned out the winds we far stronger than forecast so lying in an anchorage with 5 boats rafted together would have presented a potential problem.

But before any meeting that evening we spent the late morning shopping.  We hopped into the marina van and ventured into Columbus where we saw a little of the historic sections of the town.  And of course made several stops including the Walmart, a liquor store and a Krispy Creame establishment to satisfy certain individual's cravings.

The next morning Bob gave us the word we could lock through without a wait if we left soon!  So as per usual with this group, we all got off around 8:45am.  We of course brought up the rear.

The lock was only a mile away but it was very windy especially in the lock which acted like a wind tunnel.
We missed lassoing the Bollard we were aiming for and the wind almost had us sideways in the chamber.  It took me a few minutes to pivot the boat around and back down to approach the Bollard again.  Second times the charm but even after we were secured we waffled around in the wind.  It was at this lock where we had to provide all our vessel's pertinent information such as home port, documentation number etc.  We finally skidded out of the lock fighting the wind all the way.

Look closely

Once out  it was another slow, scenic lazy day tootling down the river with a few interesting if not surprising sights along the way.  

Pickensville is where Pirates Cover marina is located.  We were informed that this was a perfect example of a rustic, backwater marina.  The entrance was off the main river channel marked by slender buoys.  We were in the area of the buoys when our depth sounder alarmed went off so I just shut it down and proceeded through the channel.  The shallow spot was only maybe 20 yards wide but you could see the mud billowing up from where we churned it off the bottom.

The marina itself is in a little tree-lined cover with plenty of depth once in the basin.  The docks are not floating but offer weathered wood planking with a spectacular array of splintered sections.  The dock hands were helpful but with that heavy southern accent I could only figure out every other word.

Our dock had two bent poles one of which you had to duck under when getting off the boat.  The other was touching the side of the boat and we had to adjust lines to angle the boat in the slip to avoid the pole.  They did have 50 amp power receptacles. First impressions can be deceiving.  We were only getting 20 amps which was marginal for any heating or other high draw electrical needs.  So we roughed it without heat!

Pieces, the other boat on our pier turned out to be from Wisconsin too.  They are also doing the loop but at a pace well beyond our speed potential.  It's a Viking 60 which is fast!

Down Yonder

Some of us decided to go out for dinner instead of cook on board and took the marina van (broken strut and all) a few miles down some back roads to a place called Eat Down Yonder.  Quaint place, but no alcohol.  Oh well.

Inside Down Yonder

We made it back to the boat and basically watched a bunch of West Wing episodes before going to bed early.  It is Daylight Savings Time tomorrow after all and we have rise earlier.  Or is that later?  Well, we have to get up before 10 whatever that really means.