Warm Weather, Blue Water

Thursday, 7 February 2013 (Continued)

This was the best day yet, weather wise.  70+ degrees and sunny, I finally broke out the pool attire and got some sun on the dock while waiting for the courtesy car to return so we could go shopping.  While I was sunning, Joe was visiting with the dock personnel.

But here was the actual brains for the conversation! 

The courtesy car reappeared around 4:00 and we went to get two 12v batteries and groceries.  Dave, one of the marina guys, had told Joe that we had super special priviledges at the nearby Mobile Bay Yacht Club for dinner, so on the way back from shopping we stopped there.  We wore jeans and tee shirts, so we did not qualify for the members only catfish dinner.  However, dinner was excellent.  Returned to the boat and stored stuff, installed batteries and retired.

Friday, 8 February 2013

 

Awoke to 58 degrees, and no wind.  We cast off and headed 25 miles down and across Mobile Bay.  The water was very smooth.  Here is a view of nothing in sight except for water,  This is also where we spotted our first porpoise's.




Once we got out of Mobile Bay, the journey was pretty much like on the rivers, except the water was clear.  One of the cruising guides mentioned "Lulu's", a fine drinking and dining emporium on the Intra-Coastal.  Beth was at the helm as I came up from below, and low and behold here we were: Lulu is Lulu Buffett, sister of Jimmy Buffett. It is said, that often, Jimmy stops in for a guest appearance.  He did not today.  In his place were about 200 middle shool age children on a field trip.  After much pondering, Joe discovered the reason why they were there. In the attached harbor to Lulu's were the replica ships Pinta and The Nina, two of Columbus' ships on the discovery of America cruise.  We had previously seen these at Grafton, Illinois, on the Mississippi River four years ago.  Beth and I had to have the "CheeseBurger in Paradise" menu item, very tasty.
  
 Many of the customers were admiring this fine Yacht at the dock. 

Continuing on, we were very happy to see this sign: 

Now, after moving into Florida, the water in our wake was exciting in that it was not brown.

 

Moving on through many "No Wake Zones" we arrived at the Naval Air Station Pensacola's Sherman Cove Marina.  A fine example of the best that tax dollars can buy. Here is JULI-IV secured, with the Gulf of Mexico just behind us over the trees.

This is an excellent MWR facility, utilizing all of the best engineering minds that are available, they came up with this:

Now, I am only a logistician, so I am baffled as to how this will save water.  Our delicious dinner layout for the evening:

See you all tomorrow, it's on to Fort Walton Beach.