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!