Day 4 (continued). Mobile Bay is a large but shallow body of water. It can be very rough but we crossed it on our way to Gulf Shores in very nice conditions following Priorities. We saw pelicans and playful dolphins along the way and few other boats. Jane and Regina swore that one dolphin looked them straight in the eye while surfacing... whatever.

Easy crossing right into the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway to Lulu's Marina in Gulf Shores. That Buffett family knows how to have a good time! We really enjoyed our time at the marina, and in the area, sampling great sea food and checking out nearby sites. Got in a couple of walks that almost killed us (story for another time).

This is where our latest leg ends and where we prepare for the next by getting a bunch of work done at nearby Saunders Marine Service. The next leg will take us the rest of the way across the panhandle to an 18 hour overnight crossing from Carabelle to Tarpon Springs. Nothing like boating in the dark. We are all looking forward to the other side.

 Day 4. On to Mobile! We met the challenge of another 5:00 call and were ready to roll by 6. We were all excited for the next change of scenery 10 miles down the river.  Cruising through the city of Mobile after an hour on the river did not disappoint. We saw ships, tugs, industrial docks of all kinds, boat yards and barges and even US Navy ships under construction against the back drop of the picturesque port city of Mobile Alabama. Lucky to putt by without a lot of traffic. 

 Day 3 (continued). Anchor windless was still broken at the time we anchored at Brier Creek with two other boats. "You meet the nicest people on the water", you often hear. The crew of "the Bles-sing" can testify. After settling in a scenic swampy setting, our friends from two boats piled into a dingy launched from Priorities and headed over. Rick and Monica from Best Mate, Randy and Sherri from Priorities. Rick arrived with multi meter in hand to test for electrical problems. Thankfully we did not spend a lot of time fixing the problem but quickly moved on to a fun happy hour with our friends. Not exactly docktails, let's call it swamptails. 

 Day 3. Everyone was excited to get up early and cruise across Mobile Bay. Mother Nature, however, had her own plan as we woke up to thick fog. The kind you don't mess with and the type of pea soup that makes you want to stay put until it clears. So we did until about 10 am. Our friends made the best of it by suggesting a shorter day of cruising to wonderful anchorage in a remote location... Brier Creek... off the Tensaw River... off Mobile River. Turn left when the banjos start playing.

Day 2. Up early waiting to lock through at Coffeeville Dam, the last one! Had to wait on a couple of barges who take priority at dams. We finally got the call from the lockmaster and we all headed to the chamber. A total of 12 boats locked through requiring us to raft up so we could all fit in. We tied up along our buddy boat, Priorities, without incident. Our destination was a beautiful anchorage on the Tensaw River just off of the Mobile River. We made about 70 miles and arrived about 30 minutes before sunset. Beautiful... great protected anchorage that led to a great night's sleep.

 

The October Birthdays Cruise

 Day 1. Left Kingfisher Bay Marina at 6 am with 11 other boats of all shapes and sizes. We had power cats, sail boats, cruisers, new boats and old boats. A regular fleet of boaters headed for the promised land of sunshine and crystal blue water. After locking through the Demopolis Lock and Dam we made 92 miles on the Black Warrior/Tombigbee Rivers of winding switchbacks arriving at our anchorage on the river across from Okatuppa Creek. We anchored nearby our boat buddies on Priorities and had a nice night’s sleep after several attempts at anchoring. Couple of glitches but with Tom’s mechanical genius at work got the anchor down manually and settled in. Enjoyed hot chili on cold night that got down to 39!

Beautiful day here in Kingfisher Bay Marina. "the Bles-sing" is fueled up and ready to head south in the morning. Happy Halloween!

Walked all over Demopolis and saw some historical sights. We plan to fuel up today which will require us to leave the slip in a stiff breeze, putt over to the fuel dock in shallow water, dock in a cross wind, back out when we leave and back into our slip again. Looking forward to it... not.

The Bles-sing and her crew made it through Zeta in ship shape. Winds could have been a lot worse. We were lucky and it is beautiful here today.  For a week now we have been hanging out, performing a few maintenance items and going to nightly happy hours where we have learned so much about looping and met some great new friends. We will be buddy boating for a while with 3 or 4 others when we leave here Sunday November 1st.  Plan to be in Fairhope Alabama mid next week and on to Gulf Shores from there.

 After 9 hurricanes we thought surely we will be good to sneak down into the gulf a little early. So much for that theory. Looks like Zeta has other plans as it is taking aim at the gulf coast and will likely generate high winds and big waves in Mobile Bay. So we wait. The current plan is to leave here Friday the 30th. Surely this will be the last storm of the season... or will it? 

Boats were streaming in here all day yesterday. We are all in the same boats.

Weather was not permitting. Staying put in Kingfisher Bay Marina to wait out the rain. We will try to depart again tomorrow. Got the new anchor system installed yesterday and washed the boat down. Another day in port will give us time to do a few more maintenance things and relax. 

We had fun at the pool and visiting with Jan and Steve Young (Forever Young), who are good friends from Lake Barkley, ended up in the slip right next to us!

The next leg is on! The October birthday cruise for Regina and Doug is almost underway. We arrived back in Demopolis yesterday and will target Saturday to leave Kingfisher Bay Marina to be back on the water and heading south, weather permitting.  Today the crew will be working on several maintenance items including changing out and upgrading our anchor and rode. Pretty important stuff as it looks like we will be on the hook the next three nights, after we launch, on the river. Stay tuned!

 Day 9. Made it to Demopolis Alabama! We are tucked away and secure in Kingfisher Bay Marina for one month. Why? Because most marine insurance companies will not let travelling boats go further south until hurricane season is over. We are going to check with our insurer to see if we can go as far as Mobile before December 1st and what the additional insurance would cost.

So, the first leg, let's call it Jane's Birthday Cruise, was a great time. Here are a few stats:

• We traveled 464 miles on 5 bodies of water; Cumberland, Tennessee, Tenn-Tom Waterway, Tombigbee and Black Warrior
• Used approximately 514 gallons of diesel
• Locked through 9 dams
• Stayed in 6 marinas
• Spent 1 night out on the hook
• Averaged between 8 and 9 miles per hour

Next stop... Mobile Bay in late October!

 Day 8. Went about 60 miles from Columbus MS and locked through two more dams. Spent the night out in a great anchorage the Warsaw Cutoff just north of Demopolis Alabama. Cool temperatures made for a good  night's sleep without running the generator. The inverter batteries stopped at about 4 am and had to start the generator to charge everything back up. 

 Day 7. One week on the water! We went through 4  locks today and travel approximately 60 miles. We stayed in Columbus Marina in Columbus MS. Used the courtesy van to take a quick look at Columbus and discovered that it is the birthplace of Tennessee Williams. Will leave today to continue south and our first overnight stay on the hook!

 Day 6. Woke up to a peaceful and cool fall morning here in Fulton Mississippi at Midway Marina on the Tom Bigbee River.  Pumped out the heads and took on 250 gallons of diesel before leaving Aqua Yacht Harbor at 9:00. Spent the next 8 hours travelling south through the Tenn-Tom Waterway. We went through 3 locks very smoothly. The first lock, Whitten Lock, we dropped over 90 feet and the next two around 30 feet. Great dinner of shrimp and grits at the marina grill!

 Day 5. Stayed in Aqua Yacht Harbor and enjoyed the day. We used the courtesy van to go to nearby Shilo Battlefield, site of one of the bloodiest battles of the civil war. Over 23,000 soldiers died during the battle. 30 years after the war veterans from both sides worked together to create this beautiful and moving historic park. 

 Day 4. Made it to Aqua Yacht Harbor! Went through our first lock at Pickwick Dam without a problem, always exciting though. Strong currents made a slow go, about 8 mph, so a longer day. Left Clifton about 10 and arrived at 5:15. Got buzzed by a fighter jet and thought the boat had blown up on his first flyby!

 Day 3. Made 44 miles starting at 10 and arriving at 3 to Clifton City marina. Beautiful scenery the entire way with gorgeous houses perched on both banks. Soon after arriving we heard a boat call the marina in distress because of mechanical issue. He limped in on one engine so we help secure him to the dock by us. He  is a great guy traveling on a beautiful Chris Craft while working and managing his company remotely as he goes. Huh, what an idea. 

 Day 2. Made 51 miles from Paris Landing to Cuba Landing leaving at 10 and arriving at 4. Ran into a lot of debris from big rains to the south the last couple of days. Saw about a dozen military people parachuting into the Big Sandy, very cool sight. Everyone at Cuba Landing is very friendly and willing to help.

 Day 1. Pretty day of cruising in great weather. Left Lake Barkley marina around 7:15 and arrived at Green Turtle Bay around 9:45 to fill up with diesel. Made it to Paris Landing State Park marina around 3:30. Cross wind made getting in the slip interesting. Celebrated Jane's birthday with steaks! 

 Jane???

She was born sixty years ago!

Happy Birthday to Jane. 

Can't think of a better way to celebrate than launching off on a great new adventure together on "The Bles-sing!" 

Love you!