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.
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| Dog River just South of Downtown Mobile, AL |
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| 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!
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| 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.
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| The I-65 "Dolly Parton" Bridge |
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| 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.
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| Cochran Bridge and the Port of Mobile |
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| 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.
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| Alabama State Docks at Mobile |
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| Floating Dry Dock Along the River |
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| Navy Ship Being Built at Mobile |
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| Heading Through the Port of Mobile |
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| Unloading a Ship in Mobile |
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| Navy Stealth Ship Being Built in Mobile |
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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?
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| 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!
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