Sunday, November 17: Spit Out of the Southern Rivers Into Glorious Mobile Bay on the Gulf Coast!

Date:                           November 17, 2013

Day on the Cruise:     195

From:                          Tensas River Anchorage, Mile 39.3 of the Mobile River

To:                              Dog River Marina, Mobile, AL

Statute Miles:              54.3 SM

Time:                           5.25 Hrs

Cumulative Miles:       5,183.5 SM

On Board:                   Susan, Chuck, Maggie, Trooper, Peanut

Tonight we are at Dog River Marina on the Dog River at Mobile, Al.

Dog River just South of Downtown Mobile, AL

Mobile, AL 

Today was to be an easy 50 mile run to the Dog River below downtown Mobile on Mobile Bay. Last night was a good night at anchor here on the Tensas River. A few small fishing boats went by at warp speed, rocking us slightly, but we didn't drag the anchor, so it was a good night!

It had drizzled early this morning. Everything was wet on the outside of the boat. it was cool but not cold, but there was heavy overcast. Susan was bound and determined to get the dog to shore before we left, so into the dinghy and over to the shoreline once again. No sign of gators, and this time she secured a bow line to the shore to avoid the shenanigans of last night. Off Maggie went, did her thing, and they both got back into the dinghy TOGETHER! Yea!

Anchors aweigh at 8:15 AM and Sun Gypsy and Blue Moon were off to Mobile. Yep, Let's Drift wanted to sleep in again. I want one of those fast boats!

View Out of the Front Door this Morning

It was a gray morning as we cruised South at 10.4 mph. We passed the big Barry Steam Plant that generates power for Alabama Power Co., then passed under the "Dolly Parton" Bridge which carries I-65 over the Mobile River. Next was the 14 Mile Railroad Bridge, and we had to get this one raised for us to transit under.

The I-65 "Dolly Parton" Bridge

14 Mile Bridge, Carries the Railroad Over the Mobile River.  River is Wide Here.

After the 14 Mile Bridge, we looked to our right and saw the Railroad Bridge across Big Bayou Canot that a tow took out in the early '90s right before an Amtrak passenger train was to cross heading to Jacksonville, FL. The accident happened in the wee hours of the morning when the tow became lost in the fog and made a wrong turn off the main River. We could see how the confusion may have occurred because there are two waterways coming into the River, one from each side, at this point. The accident resulted in the deaths of 49 people who were asleep on the train.

The River is a lot wider as we go down from the bridges, and the wind picked up and gave us some chop. Soon we were seeing the Cochran Bridge that marks the start of the Port of Mobile, just South of 12 Mile Island. there was a bunch of tow traffic now on the River, and it reminded me of going through St. Louis on the Mississippi.

Cochran Bridge and the Port of Mobile

Looks Like a Sea-Going Barge Going Under the Cochran Bridge

Once under the Cochran Bridge, we saw ships being unloaded and we passed floating dry docks and the State Docks complex. Not much action at the State Docks, but across the River from the Mobile Convention Center, we passed the Astral Boat Building Facility and saw some US Navy Stealth Ships along the wharf that were being outfitted.

Alabama State Docks at Mobile

Floating Dry Dock Along the River

Navy Ship Being Built at Mobile

Heading Through the Port of Mobile

Unloading a Ship in Mobile

Navy Stealth Ship Being Built in Mobile

Downtown Mobile, AL at the Convention Center Along the Waterfront

We left the Mobile River at Sand Island and we were at once in Mobile Bay, heading down the Bay in the Ship Channel. I was impressed with how big of a port Mobile really is, and it is very impressive. I was also humbled by knowing that we had just completed the Southern Rivers portion of the Great Loop Trip. With no fanfare, we just were sort of "spit out" of the Mobile River into this gigantic and beautiful bay heading to the Gulf of Mexico. It gave us a feeling that this trip is almost over. Sure we have many more miles to go, but they are miles with which we are familiar to a greater degree than from where we have come.

Leaving Mobile and Cruising Down Mobile Bay. We Are Out of the Southern Rivers!

Seven miles down the Bay and we came to the channel into Dog River. Following Sun Gypsy, we negotiated the 100' wide, 6' deep channel to the Dog River Bridge. Susan called Dog River Marina, our destination for tonight, on the phone, because no one would answer the VHF. They did have us at first, but later found the reservation. Oh, and their pump out was broken, so we would have to find another place to pump out before we docked. Hmmmmm. Not feeling real warm and fuzzy about this place right now.

Dog River Bridge From Grand Mariner Marina

We found a pump out at Grand Mariner Marina across the River from our marina. They could not have been nicer. After getting the pump out, we docked at Dog River marina in a covered slip at 1:30. Tying the boat off was very difficult. We had to get the dock hand to get on the boat to get the forward lines attached to the pilings. Absolutely the hardest tie we have ever had! Hmmmm. And why are we at this marina?

Turning into Dog River Marina

But it is a far sight better than what Sun Gypsy and Let's Drift experienced at Turner's next door. Both of them found no one at their marina and had to physically move boats themselves to get spaces to dock after having reservations.

Tonight the three boats went to dinner at Ed's Seafood Shack on the Mobile Causeway, joined by our son Ben and daughter-in-law Amanda and their baby Charlotte. Ben and Amanda live across Mobile Bay in Daphne. We had a great meal and a great time!

Tomorrow we start the service process with the boat yard. Glad to be here! Glad to see "Blue Moon" in Mobile Bay! Somewhere my Father is looking down here smiling!

Thanks for Reading!

Saturday, November 16: A Long Day to the Tensas River Anchorage

Date:                           November 16, 2013

Day on the Cruise:     194

From:                          Bobby's Fish Camp, Bladon Springs, AL

To:                              Tensas River Anchorage, Mile 39.3 of the Mobile River

Statute Miles:              81.6 SM

Time:                           8.0 Hrs

Cumulative Miles:       5,129.2 SM

On Board:                   Susan, Chuck, Maggie, Trooper, Peanut

Tonight we are anchored just inside the Tensas (Ten-saw) River at its confluence with the Mobile River at mile 39.3.

Anchored just up the Tensas River about 40 miles North of Mobile, AL

Another long day, and another milestone for the Great Loop Trip. We transited our final lock on the Great Loop this morning when we cleared the Coffeeville Lock.

Logistics became very big this morning at Bobby's. We and "Let's Drift" needed fuel before we started on today's cruise. Both of us were on the third raft from the dock, so, we needed boats to move so that we could get to the fuel hoses. Another negotiation was in order. All 8 of our boats were going to lock through the Coffeeville Lock as soon as possible this morning. We didn't want to miss the first locking with the other boats. Also, the Joe Cain came by before daylight and the Lock Master told us we would have to wait for him to lock through. So many variables with which to deal to get us to the fuel dock,

Here is the "Joe Cain" again, passing Bobby's Fish camp at Daylight

Hello "Joe Cain"

At about 6:00, all 8 captains established that we would be at the Lock at 8:00. All boats but "Let's Drift" and "Blue Moon" would be away from Bobby's at 7:30, and the two of us would go to the dock and refuel. I called the lady who runs Bobby's and she agreed to meet us at 7:30 to sell us fuel.

At 7:30 all the parts of the puzzle fell into place. It was a miracle! Six boats left Bobby's and this allowed us to get to the dock and tie up. The lady actually came in at 7:30 and turned on the pumps. We and Let's Drift" got our fuel and high tailed it to Coffeeville Lock to meet up with the other boats. I love it when a plan comes together!

A very gray morning as we leave Bobby's

At 8:20 we had 9 boats in the Coffeeville Lock. One other little 16' runabout had joined the group. Our last lock!

Waiting for "Let's Drift" to come into Coffeeville Lock

"Young America" in Coffeeville Lock. We had Docktails with Fred and Linda at Pickensville

"Journey" in Coffeeville Lock across from Us. We rafted to Tom and Meleissa last night at Bobby's Fisg Camp

Susan wanted some pictures of how we handle the locks. These shots show where she stands during a lock-through and what she does with the floating pins or bollards at the locks.

Tending the mooring line around the floating pin in Coffeeville Lock

Mooring line around the floating pin in the Lock. You have to watch the pin because if it gets hung up on its rail, you must cast the line off to avoid being drug up or down by the water!

Susan tending the line in the Lock

At 8:40 we were out of the lock and headed toward Mobile. We were now in a tidal situation where the river is subject to the tides flowing in and out of Mobile Bay. We would also start to get into more and more brackish water.

Final Lock Doors Opening!

Leaving the final lock of our Great Loop Trip!

Soon we reached Jackson, AL. It was Saturday and I was amazed at the commercial traffic on the river. Here is a screen shot of my AIS showing the targets in a very small area of the river near Jackson.

Tows are indicated by the circled targets. The green target is "Young America traveling in our 8 boat flotilla

We also passed the "Joe Cain" before we got to Jackson. This was like the fourth morning in a row that we had passed him. He said we would have to get an early start tomorrow if we wanted to beat him to Mobile.

Below Jackson, we started seeing a lot of trash and logs in the river. Let's Drift was traveling behind us and Sun Gypsy, and Chris called us and said he had just seen a huge fish floating in the water. "Journey" was behind Let's Drift, and when Journey passed the "Fish", Tom announced that it was really a deceased 6' Alligator that was floating belly up! Must have gotten too close to a tow boat! Wish I had seen it.

As the afternoon wore on, We and Sun Gypsy thought we could make some more miles and get to the Tensas (pronounced "Ten-saw") River that is at mile 39.3, which is about 13 miles below or South of the planned Alabama River Cutoff where we were going to anchor. We decided to go for it.

When we passed the confluence of the Alabama River and the Black Warrior-Tombigbee, the River became the Mobile River. We passed the Thyssen-Krupp Steel Plant, and at 4:00 PM we anchored in the Tensas River. Anchor holding was good, and we settled in for the night. We were with Sun Gypsy and Let's Drift with the others opting to stop at the Alabama River Cutoff anchorage.

We launched the dinghy and put the outboard motor on it. It was getting dark fast in the heavy overcast as we dinghied Maggie ashore. People had posted warnings on their blogs and on the internet about alligators in this area, so we were very careful to scope out the landing point, which turned out to be not the greatest. Susan got Maggie ashore and then quickly back to the dinghy. Only problem was that when Maggie got into the small boat, she shoved it off the shelf that it was grounded on and left Susan ankle deep in thick mud. We were able to extract Susan and she was very angry! A mutiny was brewing over this incident for sure.

Well, I am happy to report that we were able to get everyone back to Blue Moon safely. Getting the dog and Susan back on the big boat resulted in a ton of mud being tracked onto the decks. It was awful! But, thankfully, no alligator sightings.

Moods quickly changed as we turned in to watch the second half of the Auburn- Georgia Football Game. When we saw Auburn's game winning catch with 25 seconds to go (the "Immaculate Deflection"), all was right with the world once again!

Tomorrow we head to Mobile Bay! Can't wait! Seems like we have been on the Tenn-Tom et al for a month.

Thanks for Reading!

Friday, November 15: Rafting Up at the World Famous Bobby's Fish Camp

Date:                           November 15, 2013

Day on the Cruise:     193

From:                          Demopolis, AL

To:                              Bobby's Fish Camp, Bladon Springs, AL

Statute Miles:              96.9 SM

Time:                           9.75 Hrs

Cumulative Miles:       5,047.6 SM

On Board:                   Susan, Chuck, Maggie, Trooper, Peanut

Tonight we are at the world famous Bobby's Fish Camp on the RDB of the Tombigbee River at Bladon Springs, AL, literally out in the middle of no where!!! We traveled almost 100 miles on a long day ............and WE PASSED THE 5,000 MILES MILESTONE FOR THE GREAT LOOP TRIP!!!!!!

Location of Bobby's Fish Camp

This morning we got up at 4:00 once again, but this time things were in our favor. I called the Demopolis Lock on the VHF and got to talk to a "Lock Master with an Attitude".  I told him that I certainly understood that he could not "schedule" us for a lock through at any specific time. Not our first Rodeo here, buddy! But, I held my cool and told him we would see him shortly.

Once again, "Let's Drift" wanted to sleep in, so it was us, "Sun Gypsy" and a non-Looper boat that was just hanging out at the Marina that agreed to depart at first light. It was warm this morning and no fog, but the skies were very cloudy, so we couldn't see to leave until 6:00.

We departed using our search light to get into the River, then 3.1 miles down to Demopolis Lock to be greeted by the Lock Master with an Attitude. He wanted our boat information, which was OK, then he allowed the three of us into the lock. No waiting, thank goodness. Into the lock at 6:25, then out going down river at 6:44. A very quick lock through, and we were done with Demopolis. Have a Great Day, Mr. Lock Master with an attitude!

Leaving Demopolis below the Lock

We traveled in the heavy overcast all morning. Below Demopolis we passed the Gulf States Paper Company plant where we did a lot of work back in the mid 90's. I got a good view of the Lime Kiln structure on which we worked. I visited he project several times. We also passed our buddy, the "Joe Cain" again this morning. It was a much better pass today than yesterday!

Coming up on Gulf States Paper Co.

The Lime Kiln at Gulf States

There was smoke on the river in several places, and about 10:00 it started to rain. It was not bitter cold, but it was damp, and this made it sort of bone chilling. The bimini top leaks in a couple of places, and rain was coming in, and the Isinglass windshield was covered with rain and it was hard to see, so we retreated to the lower station and finished the trip operating the boat from down there. At least we could see through the rain and it was much warmer and dryer!

Smoke on the River

Piloting from the Lower Station

We arrived at Bobby's Fish Camp at 3:40. After getting no response on the VHF, Sun Gypsy called them and they told us that they already had 5 boats docked and we would have to raft up.

Bobby's is about half way between Demopolis and Mobile. It is about 100 miles from Demopolis and 118 miles from Mobile. It is the only "marina" at which to stay and to refuel between Demopolis and Mobile. Sort of like the "Hoppies" of the Black Warrior-Tombigbee River. Bobby's consists of a face dock that is about 130' long right on the river bank. There is a fuel hose holder on the dock, a water hose, and some power outlets. On shore, there is a store and some trailers spread about. There is also a small boat ramp at Bobby's. And Bobby's is out in the middle of freaking nowhere!

By this time, "Let's Drift" had pulled up with us, so the three of us negotiated rafting arrangements with the other boats already there. Luckily, we knew three of the five boats there. We were able to raft up with "Journey" and Tom and Meleisa who we had traveled with coming out of Chicago. Journey was already rafted to "Franchesca" whom we had met at Pickensville. A big thanks to both boats for letting us tie up to Journey. Sun Gypsy rafted to "Ozone III" and "Lets's Drift" rafted to Sun Gypsy. We had a total of 8 boats to spend the night here at Bobby's.

Looking up at the Store and Restaurant at Bobby's Fish Camp

"Blue Moon" on the Raft at Bobby's

Looking across "Journey" and "Franchesca" to the Dock

"Let's Drfit", "Sun Gypsy" and "Ozone III" Rafted Up at Bobby's Fish Camp

We had to put our two long shore power cords together to reach across Journey and Franchesca to the power outlets. This worked OK. Getting Maggie to the dock was a wild experience. We had to get her onto Journey, then onto Franchesca, then onto the dock, then do it all over again to get her back to Blue Moon.

After all the gymnastics of tie up and boat crossing, etc., we ate dinner up at the store and restaurant. It was raining and the area was very muddy. This is truly a camp atmosphere and setting! Dinner was very good. We ate with Sun Gypsy and Let's Drift. Most of us had catfish.We really enjoyed the meal and the very neat store/restaurant that is not to be missed! Sheila was our waitress and she was so nice and did a great job!

Bobby's is world famous! Almost all Loopers stop here, and Bobby's gets a lot of publicity in Looper Blogs. This is old rural Alabama with zero frills. It is what it is. Take it or leave it! Very basic, but is is very charming as a throwback to what life is like in the rural areas of our state.

Tomorrow we plan to get to the Alabama River Cut-off Anchorage at mile 52 point something!

Thanks for Reading!

Thursday, November 14: The Tenn-Tom is Behind Us as We Reach the Big City of Demopolis,AL

Date:                           November 14, 2013

Day on the Cruise:     192

From:                          Sumter Recreation Area Anchorage, Mile 270 on Tenn-Tom Waterway
                                     
To:                              Demopolis, AL

Statute Miles:              53.6 SM

Time:                           7.5 Hrs

Cumulative Miles:       4,950.7 SM

On Board:                   Susan, Chuck, Maggie, Trooper, Peanut

Tonight we are at Kingfisher Marina at Demopolis Yacht Basin in Demopolis, AL.

Demopolis is Southwest of Birmingham

Kingfisher Marina is in a man-made harbor off the Tombigbee River just South of its confluence with the Black Warrior River

This morning was another 4:00 AM wake up call as we were going to get on the water at daylight to make a 50 mile trip to Demopolis. Were we amazed at what we found in the dark this morning! the temps plummeted into the mid 20's overnight and there was ice and frost on the outside of the boat. There was also fog on the river as the very cold temps over the warm river created a canopy of the white stuff.

A call on the VHF to the Howell Heflin Lock just below us yielded news that there was a tow that had spent the night IN the Lock because of the fog, and still had to go down when the fog let up. The lock master said she would let us know when she could get us through. Back to bed for the Admiral!

At 7:30, the sun was well up and helping to burn the fog off. It was a beautiful day. Frost was 3/8' thick on the dinghy, which we had left in the water overnight, and I actually made a snowball and threw it at the dog! The sun melted the ice on the decks and handrails, and it was safe to get out of the cabin. We got Maggie into the dingy and motored over to shore. She did her thing and we motored over to "Sun Gypsy" and "Let's Drift". It would be us and Sun Gypsy starting out. Let's Drift wanted to sleep in and catch up with us later.

We pulled the anchor and left Sumter at 8:30, heading to Heflin Lock. We were in the lock at 9:00 after going 4 miles or so, and we were locked out by 9:15. A very quick drop down into what is now the Tombigbee River got us officially off the Tenn-Tom Waterway. It will now be the Black Warrior Tombigbee River System into the Mobile River to Mobile Bay.

Heflin Lock is named for Senator Howell Heflin of Alabama who passed away some years ago. He was a long time US Senator and before that, was Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court. Senator Heflin was from the Florence-Sheffeld-Muscle Shoals area of North Alabama. He was a very distinguished politician and a someone with whom I crossed paths several times in construction in North Alabama. Senator Heflin had a wonderful sense of humor and had as thick a Southern Accent as I have ever heard.

I remember one occasion when he spoke at a ground breaking for the Lockheed-Martin Thaad Missile Assembly Complex that we built at Courtland Airport in North Alabama. We had a luncheon at the Civic Center in Moulton, AL for the event. There was a line of folks waiting to get into the men's room before lunch, and I was one of those in line. As I got to the door, Senator Heflin emerged from the Men's Room and looked at us and remarked "You all hold your own in there, now"! We all got a kick out of this.

The tow that spent the night in the lock was none other than the "Joe Cain". We had passed him yesterday, and he was ahead of us today. So, one of our first orders of business was to get by him. We caught up with him shortly before he was to enter a bend. Talking to him on the VHF, we initially negotiated a two whistle pass. He left the decision us to us on which side to get him on, which is unusual. As we up close behind him, I changed my mind and told him I wanted a one whistle pass, because I could see him swing the tow over to the left side of the channel to get around the bend. So, we changed course and went by him on his starboard side, in a lot of prop wash and very close to the bank, which I did not like. It was one of the worse passes that we have and. When ewe got by him, he called and said "we might should of stayed over there on the two whistle" ha ha.

Following "Sun Gypsy" as we go on the One Whistle to pass the "Joe Cain"

Talking to the "Joe Cain" to negotiate a pass this morning

Coming up right astern of the "Joe Cain"

Seeing the "Joe Cain" "On the One"

Well, anyway, we got by him and didn't have to see him again today. We passed under the I-59/20 high way bridge and headed to Demopolis. One of the more interesting sights on this part of the river trip is the "White Cliffs of Epes". For my friend Jack Woodburn, these cliffs are part of the Selma Chalk Deposit and were created about the same time as the White Cliffs of Dover, England. We are very close to the town of Emelle. AL where there is a very large Hazardous Waste Landfill. The landfill was located here because the underlying soils very very impervious to leaching. Of course the landfills are lined to further inhibit the waste from leaving its resting place and leaching into the ground.

The White Cliffs of Epes are breathtaking. The two bridges crossing the river at the Cliffs and the fall colors made a great vista as we traveled by.

Beautiful Fall Colors at the White Cliffs of Epes

Formations at the White Cliffs of Epes

Red Leaves at the White Cliffs of Epes

Railroad Bridge at the White Cliffs of Epes

Bridge Support on the White Cliffs of Epes

Looking Back at the White Cliffs of Epes

At 3:00 or so we passed the confluence of the Black Warrior River with the Tombigbee River. I have been here before! Back in the early 60's my father and I took a river trip with a neighbor and his son in our two small boats down the Black Warrior River to Demopolis. We were in a 15' boat and the other boat was a 20'. We started up near Birmingham and traveled through the locks down the River to Demopolis, then back again. It was a great trip, as we camped in the boats at night as we anchored out. We saw tows, experienced locking, and saw many water snakes and fish. What a great trip! Our ultimate goal was to take another boat trip from Birmingham to Mobile, but alas, we never made it. Maybe this Great Loop Trip is a sub conscious way that we are fulfilling this dream?

At 3:20 we pulled into the fuel dock at the Demopolis Yacht Basin. Let's Drift caught up with us and we all took on fuel, then went for the night in slips at the newer Kingfisher Marina which is part of the Yacht Basin and adjacent to it. The owner and developer of the facility met us at the slip and tied us up. He is very nice and welcomed us to Kingfisher with open arms. This is an excellent facility. Great docks, power, and facilities.

We enjoyed dinner at the marina restaurant. A drawback to this marina might be that the distance from the slips at Kingfisher to the restaurant is so far that you really need transportation. They have golf carts that you can use, which makes it more palatable.

Onward to Bobby's Fish Camp tomorrow.

Thanks for Reading!