Sunday April 15th, 2012

Up at 6:30, off the dock at 7:15. This should be our last day on the river as we expect to get to Demopolis tonight. 

Early morning barge just before daybreak was very cool.  Three barges in the channel at 1AM rocked us with their wake.  I downloaded the Garmin instruction manual before we left and now have AIS working correctly after Trick read the instructions to me.  It seemed to work properly all day.  

We caught Jackson III again at a railroad bridge.  Very few fishing boats today.  

Occasionally we would come upon a group with boats beached on shore enjoying the sunny afternoon.  One southern gentleman chased after us to let us know he did not like our wake striking their boats on shore.  What I don’t understand is what do they do when a barge comes along? 

Demopolis Dam

The Demopolis Lock Master was all business.  He told me I should have hailed him on the radio 3 miles downstream.  Good to know.  Once we were in the lock and the water started up, the current in the lock was MUCH stronger than at Coffeeville. 

Demopolis Lock

 The current was so bad, Trick struggled hanging on to the line so I scrambled down to help.  As the water got higher the current lessened. 

River bank between Coffeeville and Demopolis

Very few homes along the Mobile River

Trick used his IPhone to figure out what made up these river banks.  Anyone able to guess???

Demopolis Yacht Basin was just upstream and we pulled in at 6PM.  Archie, the guard, helped us in.  Very nice guy!   I gave the boat a good wash to get all the salt off of her now that we are in fresh water.  I’ll bet the boat has never been in fresh water before and this is also probably the first time she has been above sea level (74 feet right now, only about 700 more to get to get to St. Paul).  Pizza on board for dinner.  Talked to Missy and hit the sack.

Saturday April 14th, 2012

HOLY CRAP!!!! Bass boats screaming by at 50 freaking miles per hour at 6AM!!!  These guys in the Bass Boats were wearing helmets for crying out loud!  HELMETS!  Ya gotta be freaking kidding me!  It was not scary but it was bizarre!  

Okay, we were warned by the Marine Police.  It was apparent the bass fishermen were aware that we were going to be there. 

 But it was so surreal to have soooooooooooo many boats screaming by before daylight it was unreal.

 I had no idea that bass fishing tournaments involved top speed across the water to get to your favorite fishing spot before the other competitor does.  It was NUTS!

Trick and I hauled anchor and got the bleep out of there.  Once we were in the main channel all was back to normal.  Motored along and had breakfast.  We came across a few barges, a few power plants, and 50 or 60 of those Bass Boats. 

Passed a cruiser at around 2 in the afternoon.  This is the first cruiser we have seen on the river.  “Trust Me” from OK.  Just after we passed the cruiser we passed a barge, “Jackson III”.  We caught him in some pretty tight turns so with the barge Captain’s permission I hauled butt and ran full throttle past him just before the next tight bend in the river.

A few minutes later I heard “Trust Me” on the radio asking for permission to pass the barge.  The barge Captain radioed back saying his was run aground and the cruiser would have to wait.  Never did hear any further radio transmissions from them.

The lock at Coffeeville was a breeze.  Easy in. Easy out.

 Fenders and lines worked as planned. 

Got to Bobby’s Fish Camp around 6:45 – right on time.  Bobby’s is a real hoot!  Real “Country”.

I had to explain what AYE is and how it is pronounced to the lady that owns the place.  The restroom is a glorified outhouse with plastic walls and indoor plumbing.

There was a young lady that met us at the dock when we got in.  She was doing some sort of school project and wanted to take our picture.  I got a pic of her on the helm as she was posing for a picture her mom took of her.  People are so friendly every where we go.

They have a restaurant that is only open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday so we lucked out.  There was a group of six couples there that looked like they were going out to Easter Sunday dinner.  Very cute.  I had Catfish.  Pretty good!

Three large barges when by about 1AM and rocked us pretty good with their wake as we are side tied to a dock right on the river bank.  

Friday the 13th!!!

Home Port Marina in Gulf Shores AL

Slept in a little (7:30) since we had been up late.  Worked on the blog for a while, ran to West Marine for longer docking lines (for the locks), then stopped at WinnDixie for provisions.  Dropped groceries off at the boat then took the rental car back.  Put the Bimini back up so Trick would not melt and headed out at 12:30.  

We have no idea where we are stopping tonight.  Just as we approached Mobile my AIS started acting up.  It no longer picks up other vessels at a long distance, only when very close.  It was working just fine for the first couple of hours.  I am puzzled. 

Mobile was a hoot.  Big ocean going vessel right behind us in the channel coming in. 

 Lots to look at.  Lots of logs and other crap in the river.

Ship in dry dock in Mobile

 Met several barges. 

We pulled into a creek just before 7PM to anchor for the night.  Trick and I screwed around with the anchors as the creek was narrow and deep but not much current. 

About 8:30PM Trick noticed a boat coming.  I went outside to look and there was an officer from the Alabama Marine Police.  He asked some general questions and then remarked we were in the middle of the channel.  Yea, a 60 foot wide channel bank to bank so not much room to get off to any one side.  Then he tells me there is a Bass Fishing Tournament the next morning and we could expect a hundred boats to zoom by at 6AM. 

I watched NASCAR until 10 and hit the sack.  

Ready for the River

Bye Bye Florida

Hello Alabama.

Left Ft. Walton Beach just after sunrise for an easy run to Gulf Shores.  Started out with a military installation on the barrier island to port and grand estates to starboard.

 I picked up a family of Dolphins that played in my wake for a half mile.  Very entertaining.

Up ahead I saw a red American Tug.  It looked like it was coming toward me and I wondered if it was our Buddy Boat with Bud and Phil aboard.  It looked too big at first but then I realized it was anchored.

 Just as I went by and was looking in my binoculars Bud called me on the radio.  He offered to help me and Trick get the van up to Demopolis.  Talk about Southern Hospitality!!  I really hope that Melissa and I can connect with them next fall as I am sure the four of us would have a great time talking about our adventures.

I passed by Navarre Beach on the port side.  I had stopped there January of 2011 on the way back to Minnesota and then again in December on the way back down with Melissa, Rachael, and Jamie.  Sure is fun to see places from a different perspective.  It would be fun to anchor there sometime.

USCG towing USCG

As I entered Pensacola Harbor there was plenty of activity.  Planes all over the place.  Then I noticed some activity in the middle of the Harbor.  Bunch of boats running back and forth.  I looked through the binoculars and observed people parachuting into the water.  Turns out it was a training exercise and they were launching these guys/gals from the deck of a barge.  They were attached to a two line connected to the boats, the boats would tow them off the deck into the air, they would climb a hundred feet or two, then release the line and drop into the water.  Then the boats would go pick them up and bring them back to the barge.  It was a very busy operation.

I got to the fuel dock at Home Port Marina about 3 and Trick was waiting for me like always.  Fueled up and then tied up in the slip.  There are dolphins swimming around right here in the marina.  Very entertaining marina with a lot of activities.

Trick and I rented a car and ran the van up to Demopolis as we had just enough time to get up there and back before midnight. I am going to make a quick run to West Marina, study charts, take the rental car back and then head up river.  I may not have an internet connection as we venture north so it may be a few days before the next update.

Pensacola Harbor Lighthouse.

Take care everybody.  I will see all of you in Minnesota soon.

Ft. Walton Beach

I had a good night sleep and got up just before sunrise to start out the day.  This was a short trip today from Panama City to Ft. Walton Beach.  I have to plan stops based on marinas or anchorages.  With Trick driving the van we are meeting at marinas and so I plan the stops based on reasonable mileage for the day.

Today was pretty uneventful.  Motored 12 nautical miles through West bay, then 16 miles of transit through a land cut known to some as the "Grand Canyon" because of the high banks of trees and sand with absolutely no sign of life.

It was straighter and wider than the creeks yesterday and there were no debris to contend with.

I started the day off with a sweatshirt as it was a little chilly.  I decided to take the Bimini down to let the sun warm things up.  Finally I felt like I was still in Florida.

Choctawhatchee Bay was next.

 30 Nautical miles to Ft. Walton Beach.  Most of it was so calm the water was like glass.

 I came across 4 police boats that included some divers.

I don't know if was a search and rescue operation or a training exercise.

I got so bored crossing the smooth water I pulled out a book to read.  Then I got so distracted I ended up going to the wrong marina.  I was looking for Ft. Walton Beach Yacht Basin and found myself at Ft. Walton Beach Yacht Club.  Opps!

When I got to the marina Trick was waiting for me on the dock.  I tried to get into the slip without him on board but the wind and current was just too strong.  After two failed attempts to get into the slip I motored up to the fuel dock and he came aboard.  Then I pulled along a piling and Trick cleated a line on the piling and I pivoted off of it to turn into the slip.  It worked out really well and was kind of proud of my accomplishment.  I had observed this maneuver before but never pulled it off myself.

The Crab Shack Restaurant is right at the end of the dock we are at so we walked over for some shrimp and crab cakes.


Tomorrow will be a longer run with the plan to get to Mobile harbor. Friday we will move the van north to Demopolis.  Saturday and Sunday we will motor up there.  Hopefully we can start back to Minnesota on Monday, Tuesday latest.  That is all depending on weather and so far so good but that can change.

Carrabelle to Panama City

Dockside rocking chairs at Carrabelle

I really liked Carrabelle.  Nice marina with really nice people.

Two fishermen getting advice from six guides.

Trick and I could not help but notice how economically depressed the region is.  Store closed every where.  It seemed as though ever other property was for sale.  We noticed the same thing here in Panama City.

This boat had a bad day.

With Melissa back in Minnesota, Trick and I have to be a little creative to get both the boat and our van home to the land of 10,000 lakes. Trick helped me cast off this morning and then he drove the van while I single handed the boat.  In calm waters it is no big deal as I have full controls at the lower helm so when I need to run down for something I can still look at the front and drive the boat.  I can slow down, adjust the autopilot, and read the depth sounder easily from the lower helm.

Dock Dog in Panama City

Trick then met me at the dock at Panama City Marina.  I picked a wide slip so I could back in far enough so he could steady the boat while I quickly threw some dock lines.  It all worked out just fine.

The trip went well with no problems but I sure missed my wife as she is the perfect traveling partner.  She has lots to do back in Minnesota (even reporting to Interstate Truck Driving School tomorrow morning) but is missing a lot of interesting scenery.  It will all probably still be here in the fall when we come back so at least I will know what to look for.

The trip took me out in to Apalachicola Bay, then into a narrow creek (Saul Creek), into a small lake ( Lake Wimico), followed by another creek (Wetappo Creek), then into St. Andrew Sound.  The creeks were filled with floating junk so I had to be on the look out constantly.

 I had a short but entertaining Dolphin show.

How cool is this???????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And spotted a young sea turtle.  There was a dredging operation that had to be avoided in Apalachicola Bay and some racing boats practicing as I approached St. Andrew Sound.

One advantage to having the van handy is Trick and I drove into town for Mexican food.  Good dinner and great service.  Then we were treated to a show back at the marina when a Dinner Cruise Ship came in to drop off their passengers.

I am off to Ft Walton Beach in the morning and then to Mobil AL.  I hear the weather in Minnesota is a bit cold so maybe I will slow down a little.