Nov 9-14 Off the River System!! Salt water, dolphins and pelicans!

Well we did stay through Monday at the Demopolis Kingfisher Marina.  Got the boat washed and some laundry done before joining a large group on the dock for docktails.  We stayed the extra day as the river was still high and we did not want to risk large debris taking out an anchor overnight.  From here to Mobile is all anchoring out...well, one exception is Bobby's Fish Camp, a barge along the river that charges $1.50 a foot plus electric for the ability to raft out two or three boats.  We are planning to skip this "institution" as fried catfish is not on the health food plan.  :>) We are planning two anchor out nights and then going to Saunders marina in Gulf Shores where we have repairs/maintenance scheduled for monday 11/16.
A number of boats left the marina at 6 AM bound for Bobby's.  We (plus LeeLoo and Mazel Tug) opted for a later departure (7:30) and stopped at mile 147, a spot called Picken's Landing, after leaving Demopolis.

Linda piloting Mazel Tug into the lock....she is getting very skilled at this.  But this will be their last lock on the loop (unless they cut through lake Okeechobee) as New Bern NC will be their wake crossing.

 

It was a nice spot along a sandy shore on the inside of a turn in the river.  Carey/Nancy and Ralph/Linda dinghyed over around 4 PM for some relaxation on the flybridge in the sun for a change.  It has been cloudy for about a week now, so the sun was a welcome sight. It gets dark shortly after 5 now and with the clear skies it turned cold quickly so it was short lived.

 

Julie had cooked ribs in the oven as we went down the river and we finished them up with some sweet potatoes on the grill after dark along with a great spinach salad.  Julie is such a great cook, who needs restaurants!
We even turned on the generator for some heat as we were watching some TV before an early bedtime.  I left the AIS on all night so tows could see us anchored just out of the channel. We only saw one tow around 7 or 8 PM. It honked at Linda as she waved at them as they passed.  A nice quiet night with the current holding the boat parallel to shore. 
It seems like our bodies are adjusting to the light cycles...up at 6 AM in bed by 9 PM.  They say 9 is Looper midnight and we are now seeing why.  After all the driving, fresh air, boat chores, dinner, etc one is ready to retire by then!
Woke up Wed morning to some really thick fog.  It cleared by 8 or so and we got underway then.  We had a 70 mile day plus a lock to get to the targeted anchorage so we needed to get moving...remember 9 knots is only about 10.4 MPH so it is a full day of travel.  But it is really peaceful on this river.  Very low tow traffic compared to the Illinois, Mississippi and Ohio.  Rarely see another boat or even a fisherman. 
Arrived at Upper Sunflower East anchorage (MM 79) at around 3 PM.  Set stern anchors too as the wind was overtaking the current and we did not want to drift out into the channel as we slept!  The new aluminum Fortress anchor worrked really well (first time out of the box).  Not too heavy to handle and digs in well. 

We had a tow pass late afternoon and then early morning, but again a very nice spot.  Mazel Tug and Sum Escape left at first light as we decided to beat the forecasted wind on Friday and arrive in Mobile on Thursday instead.  Anchor retrieval:

 Lots of miles, little southern progress....

 

Coming out of the river into Mobile was quite a contrast.  Within a few hundred yards one enters a huge commercial traffic zone.  Container ships, Navy vessels, lots of tow fleeting areas, and plenty of river traffic.  And the building rise up on the horizon as you approach....feels like you are coming back to civilization after a few days of anchoring! 

 Room to pass!

We arrived in Mobile Bay and almost immediately saw dolphins playing in the wakes of our boats!  And pelicans were fishing all around us.  We spent just two days shy of 2 months on the rivers after entering in Calumet harbor on Sept 14. 
Brett texted us and said we showed up in Mobile bay on the Marine Traffic website.  We can't hide I guess!

Had the restaurant accross Dog River pick up 8 of us on their pontoon boat for dinner at the Grand Mariner.  They had a West Indies salad that is made of crab, onions and marinated for 24+ hours in vinegar, oil and seasonings that is awesome! We plan to go back once more for the Jonah
crab...somehow we missed it on the menu and ordered crab claws which were also very good.  And the gulf shrimp in the area are awsoe appetizers for sure.  Lots of great seafood here!

Friday we took a nice long walk, bought some supplies at West Marine and went to Wal Mart and dinner with Ralph/Linda, Kenny/Kathy (No Zip Code) and Nancy/Carey (LeeLoo).  I picked up new batteries for the inverter and generator and installed them on Sat.  Should be good for extended anchoring out now.  New batteries will hold up better and less generator run time will be required with the fresh inverter batteries.  And a new generator starting battery will be a peace of mind item.  Also took a nice walk and greeted a number of other Loppers who came in today. 
Took the pontoon boat accross the river again Sat night for the Jonah crab....it was wonderful!

 

 

Had two tables as the docks here are packed with Loopers and it was so easy for everyone to take the pontoon across the river.  It was fun talking to everyone.
Heading for Gulf Shores tomorrow.  Need to balance tides against waves and find the right time to leave.  It looks like 7 AM for the 35 mile trip with Mazel Tug and No Zip Code.  We'll stay at Saunders Yachtworks (or a hotel nearby if hauled for a long time) until they complete the work on our boat, then hopefully move further east and leave the boat on Sunday 11/22
to start driving to Michigan for a few days. It will be great to see everyone for Thanksgiving!
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