Finally, Mobile Bay

Friday, 1 February 2013

We departed Pirates Marina Cove (mile 307) at about 0630, still not daylight yet, called the lock and got right in.  (two locks this section, both a breeze) Headed 91 miles downriver to Demopolis Yacht Basin.  Weather was delightful with no debris till 16 miles above Demopolis.  We pulled into the Demopolis Yacht Basin fuel dock (Mile 217) about 4:30 P.M. and filled up with gas.  Wayne, the marina man on duty, said we could stay in the fuel dock basin (old marina) or go back up river 200 yards to the new addition.  We opted to go to the new facility and man was it amazing.  It is two years old with an on dock building with showers, laundry, and big screen television. They provided us an on dock golf cart for travelling to the fuel dock offices for obtaining the marina courtesy car.

  

We met an 89 year old boater named “Buell” who is kind of a year long live aboard on his 36’ Albin Trawler.  He was a wealth of knowledge (which he shared).  After spending 10 plus hours on the river and determining that between Demopolis and Mobile, there was no television reception (or much of anything else) we decided to stay over till Monday morning and watch the Super Bowl there.  Also on the dock, we met two other couples with sailboats doing extended cruising. 






We also found on this dock the local Oasis on which you can see the three of us enjoying the sun.

 We watched the Super Bowl with them and retired for another early morning departure for Bobby’s Fish Camp 99 miles on downstream.

 Monday, 4 February 2013

Departed Demopolis for Bobby’s Fish Camp, (Mile 118) which is nothing more than a dock right on the river, with an allegedly excellent restaurant (open only Thursday thru Sunday). 

 

Got right through the lock (only one today). The dam at this lock does not have gates. All the water goes over the top and it was quite a sight as the river is in near flood stage at this point.

The weather was cold and miserable with little or no sun.  We had to get to Bobby’s for electricity to run the heaters. We made good time to Bobby’s Fish Camp.  We were the only boat to stay the night.  Bobby is now deceased and lies here outside the restaurant entrance. 

Tuesday, 5 February 2013

Awoke early as we wanted to get as far down river as we could to find a good anchorage, as there are no more facilities till Mobile Bay (130 miles to Dog River Marina).  After warming up the engines, I called the lock which was two miles downriver, to determine our locking through status, the lockmaster told me that it would be an hour and a half at least.  A hour and a half later I called him and got a bunch of mumbo jumbo about two tows up and one down and that it would be even longer, but the tow headed down called him and told him to let us go ahead, for which we were greatly grateful.  The weather was sunny most of the day.  We found an anchorage that worked for us (Mile 54) located about a half mile up a bayou.  Anchored fore and aft and wrapped ourselves up in multiple blankets for the night.  Planned an early departure for Dog River Marina. Selected scenic photos.

 Wednesday, 6 February 2013

Had set my alarm for 0600 for a early departure.  When we looked outside, there was nothing to see, the fog was so thick we could not see the shore 50 yards away.  The weather report said that the fog would be gone by 9:00 a.m.  At 9:00 a.m we departed into the fog navigating with radar and the fog horn on automatic, (One five second blast every two minutes).  The fog finally disappeared at 12:00 noon. 

The next 54 miles were through bayou country and once the fog was gone it was sunny, hot and pretty. We spotted Joe’s new house along the left bank.

 This is the "14 Mile Bridge, a railroad
 bridge with only 10 feet of clearance.
 We followed this tow through,,,,,,,,, then sighted the skyline of Mobile.

We motored through the Port of Mobile Bay dock area and were amazed at the quantity and size of the ships there. 

 

Here is a mystery ship that we are not sure what it is.

 

We entered the head of Mobile Bay proper and became somewhat nervous as the immense size of the open water, the moving ocean ships, endless debris in the water, and the 2-3 foot seas. 

This was one of three ocean going vessels that we passed during the six miles to the Dog River Turn off.  This video was made for Jermiah who wanted to know when Grandma got to the Big Water.

We had about 6 miles of this to the Dog River Channel, and then another 4 miles into the Dog River and The Dog River Marina Complex.  The Dog River Highway bridge.

The marina personnel, along with some volunteer dock assistants got us tied up.  After three hours of navigating through the fog, and two more in the open bay, we jumped in the courtesy car and went to Waffle House for some comfort food.

Thursday, 7 February 2013

After a calm night we awoke to pouring rain, follwed by a severe thunderstorn with 60 mph winds.  We will stay in port today and reprovision.  All exterior surfaces are now covered with stick salt from the spray. (But it is tasty) There is an onsite West Marine Store and a nearby WalMart.  By 0900 the sun was out and heating up. Tomorrow we head south on Mobile Bay and turn east on the Intra-Coastal Waterway for Pensacola.