CAPTAIN NOTES OCTOBER 21,22, 2005

Well we finally got service so we can include some pictures. We awoke in Demopolis to dense fog and waited for it to begin to lift at 10:30am. We actually left in fog and made our way to Demopolis lock about 2 miles. Oil and Water and Binimi Twist were with us. We needed about 6 hours of day light to make the 100 mile run to Bobby's Fish Camp, so noon was our deadline to leave. After we left the lock the fog seem to lift and we ran at about 23kts with very little fisherman, but a lot of tow interruption. However, about 20 miles from Bobby's, Binimi hit a log. On futher examination he probably bent one of the prop blades enough to create a small viberation. Not enough to create a major problem. Thank heavens, since it is 150 miles to service.
We arrived late at Bobby's and splashed some fuel. This was a real treat, since the fuel is gravity feed from up near the house. You may be able to see the pumps in the picture. Again we are in the self-serve mode. They don't meet you and if you want fuel you walk to the house and they turn it on. When you are done you walk back to the house and pay. As to dockage he charges full prices with no services...water or electric. So you get to run your generator and burn up the fuel you just purchased. Bobby's daughter runs the resturarant and it is open if you tell them you plan to eat there that evening. Fresh catfish from the river is the main item...fresh if they caught some that day, otherwise fresh frozen.
The evening was our first bad experience with boaters...not loopers. After we traveled for two days with them, helped tie up and fuel the boats, and spend some time talking over a couple of beers, the other two couples decided to prepare dinner. An invitation was not extended, and this was a little upsetting to ML. However, she did prepare a great meal and I wouldn't wanted to have shared it. All of you that know ML, know she would have never been that rude, and was a little put out.
The morning of the 22nd we were up early, removed the dew and were underway at 7:30am and cleared our last lock of the trip at 8:15am. From there it was 115 miles of tree lined river banks, tows and a few logs. We needed to reach Mobile before the weather set in at around 3:00pm. We ran at about 25kts to make the time.
The Pelicans greeted us at the first sign of salt water, around 17 miles from Mobile. At 17 mile mark the GPS does not have details of the rivers until we reached Mobile, mile 3. Know all that chart plotting that ML had been doing came in handy as we selected the right canals and rivers into Mobile.
Mobile is the 14th largest seaport in the US and is a working port, transferring ocean freight to land and barges. To top it all off, everything was moved off to the side as a ship was moving down the channel with offshore oil rig mounted on it. To pass it we actually were under the extended arms. Now the ship is not under it's own power, but that of about 6 tows. Mobile harbor is about 10 miles long at slow speed...again we have different definitions of slow speed. I really do think the ship made it easier by eliminating all the traffic in the harbor...except for himself.
We entered Mobile bay and followed the channel for about 12 miles before turning off into a 4 mile channel back to Grand Mariner Marina. What we didn't realize, is that Mobile Bay, outside the channel, is only 6 to 8 feet deep. Not as deep as Sandusky Bay. Once we turned into the Marina channel we never had more than 6 feet of water...low tide. The channel was poorly marked and you had to rely on a compass setting to find the few markers. Add to this the wind had started to whip up the bay and made it even harder to find the markers or maintain a course at slow speed.
The marina refused to answer the radio until we were nearly on top it. A little local knowledge would have been nice. Once, we did get a response we were advised it was another self-serve dockage. However, there were a couple of people on the gas dock that caught lines and we completed another controlled crash...no actually with the wind and tide, and compare to what other boats did we looked like pros. ML does need a pair of track shoes however. By the time she throws the bow line, I have the stern at the dock and she has to run to get the stern line. The marina was definitely a self help...pump your own gas and pump out your own holding tanks.
We are exposed in the marina, so we have a lot of wave slapping and rocking. However, I think we were both so tired nothing would keep us awake and we had a good night sleep. Today, Monday, is cold, but a beautiful blue sky and windy. Again a lot of relaxing slapping on the haul...except for the occassional wave that sounds like a boat ran into you.
Our plan is to be here until the leak is fixed and if possible catch up with the pictures on the blog. The washing machine is already running, and I need to wash the salt off the boat. Already I remembered why I like fresh water boating.