November 29, 2009

Intracoastal Waterway at Fort Walton Beach
Pelicans Mark the Way
Looks Like We Trained the Dolphins
Fort Walton Beach to Bay Point Marina, Panama City, Florida - A beautiful sunny day, temperature got to 72 F. The dolphin continued to play in front of the boat, following us. They were on three sides. I just love watching those dolphins, we should import some for Lake Superior. Every navigation marker seemed to have a pelican on it. At the Bay Point Marina, we had to back into our slip as we only have 10 feet of dock and then you have pelican poles to tie to. This is a new way of docking for us. We are leaving our boat here as we are heading to Natchitoches, Louisiana for Christmas Fest. Eddie and Jeannie Mahon are picking us up in the morning and we will be away for a week.

November 27 - 28, 2009

Colourful Condo Complex with Sand Beach
Miles and Miles of Sand Beaches
Welcome Sign
First Lighthouse Since the Great Lakes
Dolphins at Play
Dolphins at Play
Christmas at the Park in Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Roberts Bayou to Fort Walton Beach, Florida - It was very cold this morning with frost on the roofs of the houses but the sun was shinning and it warmed up quickly. The sand beaches in this area are beautiful and plentiful. Lots of dolphins playing in the bow wake. This makes my day. Seen my first lighthouse since we left the Great Lakes. We are now in Florida staying at the town dock in Fort Walton Beach. A beautiful park and we are right downtown. I think we will stay another day.

November 26, 2009

Start of the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW)
LuLu's Restaruant (Jimmy Buffet's Sister)
Derelict Boats at Roberts Bayou
Fairhope, Alabama to Pirates Cove, Roberts Bayou - Crossed Mobile Bay to the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW), we have tides and salt water to contend with. In this area it is a 2 foot tide. Lots of pelicans and sea birds fishing to entertain us. The dolphin are swimming in our bow wake, can't seem to get a good picture. They aren't posing like Flipper. We stopped at Lulu's (Jimmy Buffet's sister) for brunch but it was closed due to Thanksgiving. Beautiful homes on the ICW not like the river systems much more palaceous. We anchored in Roberts Bayou for the night a beautiful anchorage with lots of boats littering the shores, remnants from Hurricane Katrina, apparently you can not salvage these boats as they do have owners, even though it does not look like it.

November 24 - 25, 2009

Downtown Fairhope, Alabama
Some of the Grounds at the Grand Hotel
Francine and Me at the Grand Hotel
Dog River Marina Mobile, Alabama to Eastern Shores Marina Fairhope, Alabama - We stayed at Dog River until Danny finished installing the solar panels on the roof. A partial install, he will finish the job when he has some time. The weather on both days was warm but the evenings cooled down. We decided at last minute to go across the bay to the town of Fairhope. A beautiful town with its four season planting beds. Fine homes and a beautiful downtown area. We did some exploring with Wayne and Francine from the vessel My Way, a fun couple. The town lights up when all trees sparkle with the mini lights for the holiday season. I wonder who keeps those mini lights going as everyone knows it is a big job. We had the courtesy car for most of the time we were there. We ate in the local restaurnats, the finest being the Grand Hotel. The hotel was destroyed by hurricanes numerous times, the latest being Katrina when it was closed for a year. You think they would cut there loses and not rebuild. I was the designated driver as the guys were over served.

November 23, 2009

Yet Another River House
Tenn-Tom Black Warrior River Flooding
Tow Captains Refer to This as the Dolly Parton Bridge
Coming into Mobile Alabama
Ship Loading
Ship Repair
New Style U.S. Navy Ship Being Built
U.S. Navy Ship at Dry Dock
Ship Graveyard
Pelicans Fishing
Shrimp Boat
Bates Lake Anchorage Mileage 54 to Dog River Marina, Mobile Alabama - We followed 3 other looper boats down the river. It was cool and overcast but the sun did come out. There was lots of flooding in the lower river due to the heavy rains. Mobile is a very busy seaport with lots of activity for miles and miles. Thank god we are finally off the river and onto some open salt water. We are not river people. Mobile Bay is 8 to 10 deep with the shipping lanes deeper. A little intimidating. Dog River Marina is a working marina, with lots of boats being repaired so we only stayed one night.

November 22, 2009

Everything Goes in the River
Tire Retaining Wall - Redneck Landscaping
Okatuppa Creek Mileage 123.2 to Bates Lake Mileage 54- Heavy rain most of the night, overcast and drizzled all day. We did the last lock today, we are now at sea level, Coffeeville Lock only 116 miles of river left. We anchored in Bates Lake, we talked to a fisherman who owned a cabin on the lake and he let us use is dock and grounds to take the dogs to shore. Thank goodness as everything was flooded it was a little muddy as the water just went down. We are now in alligator country. We took the dogs to shore in the morning, Danny thought I should go by myself but I was too afraid and made him come with me.

November 21, 2009

Judi's Friend - Imagine Finding This on Your Bollard - Rattle Snake
Anchored in Okatuppa Creek
Demopolis Alabama to Mileage 123.2 Okatuppa Creek - We got up early to catch the 6.00a.m. lock down. We did not get lock down until 7.30 a.m. as we were waiting for others to get there. I was a little nervous about doing this lock as I did not want to see Judi's friend the rattle snake. She went to tie off their boat to a bollard and that is what she found. She managed to take pictures. I would of been screaming and there would of been no pictures. It rained and was overcast most of the day and we travelled with our furnace on. Anchored in a creek with a bow and stern anchor as it was very narrow.

November 19-20 2009

The Restaurant Greeters
Dredge Cleaning the Silt from the River
Note the Addition to the Trailer
Sandstone Bluffs
Anchorage 265.8 to Demopolis Alabama - It was another cold morning but warmed up in the afternoon. The morning was very foggy, we were planning an early start but that did not happen. We lifted the anchor at around 7.00 a.m. but turned around and went back to the anchorage as it was very foggy on the main part of the river. I made Danny steak and eggs and we left again at 8.30 a.m. to a clear and sunny morning. Lovely ride down the river to the Marina. We went to the marina and were greeted by at least a dozen loopers. Went out for dinner at the marina restaurant. Danny had his usual catfish. On Friday we used the courtesy car and went you guessed it the Super Walmart. Walmart is now my favourite store. You can get everything there. One stop shopping. We did also go to the hardware store and you know you are in red neck country when you see camouflage vinyl siding. Danny did wash the boat and boy did it need it.

November 18, 2009

Pelicans on the River
Keeping in Touch on the River
US Snagboat Montgomery
Columbus Mississippi to Mileage 265.8 Anchorage - Another cold day and we left the furnace on. We did another 3 locks and now the canal is twisty and turny. We did see the Snagboat Montomery which was the last steam powered sternwheeler to keep seven of the south's major rivers navigable. We anchored near a boat launch which made it easy to take the dogs to shore. The launch was busy all evening and night with crew changes for the dredge barge downstream and survey crews.

November 17, 2009

Operational Pulp and Paper Mill
Smithville Mississippi to Columbus Mississippi - Very cold this morning, ran with the furnace on for the whole day. We did 3 locks and a long straight canal. Not to much exciting in this part of the river. We did pass by a number of pulp and paper mills that were operational, not like where we come from. We pulled into the marina in Columbus early as we did not want a repeat performance of yesterday. Used the marina courtesy van to run a few errands what a death trap with engine shaking and banging and poor brakes.

November 16, 2009

The Ditch 25 Miles Long and 280 Feet Wide
Tie Up at the Jamie Whitten Lock
Lock 85 Feet Down
Grand Harbor Marina Mississippi to Smithville Marina Mississippi - Calm and clear in the morning, overcast the rest of the day ending with heavy rain and fog. We went down a big ditch for 25 miles which is 280 feet wide. We now are starting to go down to the Gulf. We are now 414 feet above sea level. We went down the Jamie Whitten Lock which is the first and tallest lock southbound. It dropped us down 85 feet. Darkness seemed to arrive early today and we did the last five miles in darkness, rain and fog, made for a few tense moments. The marina is in the middle of swamps and farmland.

November 15, 2009

Early Morning Fog on River
Sunrise and Yes I Did See It
Stately Southern Home on the River
Pickwick Dam
Grand Harbor Marina and Resort
Clifton Marina Tennessee to Grand Harbor Mississippi -It was cold in the morning but warmed up nicely in the afternoon to 75 F. We ran against a high downstream current all day from 2 1/2 knots to 3 1/4 knots which slowed us down. Pickwick Lock and Dam was turbulent as they are dumping the maximum volume of water permitted. We stayed at Grand Harbor Resort. It is a beautiful marina and condo complex. Oh I know I am in the South when I was referred to as Miss Susan.

CHECK OUT ARE NEW (TO US)FEATURE TO GIVE OUR CURRENT POSITION

November 14, 2009

House Built to Resemble a Light House
A Little Structure on the River with the Leaf Colour
River Scenery
East, West, North and Maybe a Little South
Potest Fieri Tied Up at Clifton Marina
Pebble Isle Marina to Clifton Tennessee - Cool morning with river fog it warmed up to 70 F in the afternoon. The water is high with 1 1/2 knot current with lots of debris in the water. There seems to be more structure in the landscape and some beautiful homes built along this part of the Tennessee River. Clifton Marina was a good stop with a town close by. We walked to the town for a look around and picked up a few dogs who insisted on following us.