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.
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| Anchored just up the Tensas River about 40 miles North of Mobile, AL |
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,
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| Here is the "Joe Cain" again, passing Bobby's Fish camp at Daylight |
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| 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!
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| 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!
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| Waiting for "Let's Drift" to come into Coffeeville Lock |
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| "Young America" in Coffeeville Lock. We had Docktails with Fred and Linda at Pickensville |
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| "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.
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| Tending the mooring line around the floating pin in Coffeeville Lock |
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| 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! |
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| 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.
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| Final Lock Doors Opening! |
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| 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.
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| 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!
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