November 16 – 26, 2019
With our goal of going 90 miles to Bobby’s Fish Camp for the night, we need an early start. At 5:30am we get word from Demopolis Lock we have a green light, four of us make a mad dash out of the marina and to the lock with just a bit of low fog over the water.
The weather is good, clear sky a bit cold but forecasted to warm above 60. The sun heats up the flybridge like a solarium but until such time, the early hours are just plain cold. So Maggie makes hot oatmeal for breakfast, with a cup of coffee and cranberry bread, all is good.
Mile marker 145, as all Loopers know, is the entrance to Bashi Creek (see photo above). It is 72 miles out from Kingfisher Bay Marina and one of few anchorages available to down bound boaters if you can’t make it to Bobby’s Fish Camp. It has been reported that as many as 6+ boats have rafted together in this tiny spot. No thanks, onward we press to Bobby’s.
Arrive Bobby’s at 4:15pm, about 30 minutes before sunset. We kept in contact with Dave & Denise on ‘Adagio’ who were already at the dock earlier today. They did great work to rearrange a couple sailboats who were at the dock such that we could get our group of four secured, two at the dock, two rafted. It got dark fast and now it’s time to indulge in the finer joys of Bobby’s Fish Camp; catfish, hush puppies and slaw. It doesn’t get any better when you enjoy good food with friends in the middle of nowhere at a idyllically rustic establishment.
From the photo above, front to rear: Brian & Dorthy, ‘Seasons’; Dave & Denise, ‘Adagio’; Maggie & Greg, ‘Serenity Blue’; Rev & Sam, ‘Here’s to Us’ and (last two names escape me, if you know, please advise) aboard ‘Grace’
The next morning was another early departure and our last lock, Coffeeville Lock, for this section of the Loop. At 6:15am everyone was ready to go, our boat had to leave first due to the way we were stacked into the dock. However, a group of locals decided to launch their john-boats via the ramp directly behind us, so we waited. We notice they are not carrying fishing rods, but rather they all have shot guns. So Maggie asks, “what are you going to catch with guns?” “Squirrels” they reply. Yea Sure. Hmm.
Since Amory Lock & Dam we have been in what is called the River Section of the Tenn-Tom. Once we are lowered at Cofferville Lock we will be in brackish water that is tidal.
To date we have completed passage of 13 locks, when the loop is closed we will pass through 100+ locks. At this point we want to give a shout out to all the lock masters on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, they have been great, very accommodating and just a pleasure to work with on our voyage.
For a brief couple miles we pass through civilization with a power plant and pulp and paper plant.
Then we are back to remote wilderness were the only other living things are wildlife, deer, bald eagles and now the occasional alligator sunning on the shore.
Our original planned anchorage was Alabama Cut as a group (4 boats). We just felt the need to go further to Tensas River, so we campaigned for the change and all agreed. We arrive Tensas River at 3:45pm, set anchor in 15′ of water about 3/4 mile off the Blackwarrior-Tombigbee Waterway. A nice 1 knot current holds us steady and parallel to shore all night long. ‘Seasons’ decides to drop their dinghy and explore. We consider doing same and taking the furry mates ashore, then reconsider with the possibility of an alligator encounter. We settle for staying on the boat and watch the most beautiful Sunday evening sunset we have ever seen. (#21 Obedience always brings blessing.) This was a great anchorage and a great way to end a day. A true blessing indeed.
Monday morning. With no rush to a lock, we have a leisure breakfast and host anchor at 9am; next stop Dog River Marina, in salt water!
Cruising toward Mobile we note the scenery change to marsh and palm trees before we enter the shipping channel in downtown Mobile. Commercial boat traffic increases to an intense level until we pass into Mobile Bay where we are greeted by our first pod of dolphins swimming near the boat.
We arrive Dog River Marina at 3:30pm, take on fuel and settle into our assigned slip to realize we are in company with Loopers we have met weeks ago including Susan & Phil of ‘Callin in Gone’. Susan has just purchased fresh caught shrimp from the shrimpers across the way and has extra, so guess what we had for dinner. Yes! This is salt water and the shrimp are delicious.
Dog River Marina is a working marina and over the course of our travels from Green Turtle Bay we have a couple of mechanical write-ups we want them to fix. The autopilot is inoperable, that is a Raymarine issue and Roger Turner of Turner Marina just next door will handle that. The starboard engine starter solenoid is giving us an occasional dead starter button so Dog River’s mechanic will check that out.
We had hoped to get everything done and out of here in a few days, as we learn that ain’t happening. The starter solenoid is a non-issue, we buy a spare just in case. The autopilot requires recalibration which must be done out in the bay on a calm day; the earliest Roger Turner can do it is Friday. Friday got pushed to Monday due to rough conditions.
So as they say, when you get lemons, you make lemonade. We spend our time in Mobile to rent a car and travel back to Columbus, MS to get our truck and take it back to Mobile. We tour Fairhope, a quaint little town that takes one back in time. Check out some local restaurants; Guido’s, The Mariner and Mobile Yacht Club. Greg spends a day touring the USS Alabama battleship and accompanying sub and aircraft exhibits while Maggie does an impromptu tour of Mobile.
Family are clamoring for our presence at Thanksgiving, so after we complete the autopilot sea trial on Monday with Roger Turner, we pack up and head home on Tuesday.
