Getting Ready for Christmas - Loop Trip - Days 21 - 28

So Day 21 turned out to be just what we had hoped for and we departed for Destin. The morning was sunny and cool as in 41 degrees, but the wind had finally died down to about 15 mph.  Now that's still a bit windy, but so much better than the rain and 25 mph wind that had been the last few days!  The trip over to Destin was pretty smooth.  We only saw a few other boats along the way and those were mostly tows with barges and one other looper.  Our biggest event of the day was the first encounter with a sport fisher.  I had heard a lot about these guys who believe that the world and the waterway revolves around them.  Polite folks slow down when passing so as not to rock other boats like a roller coaster ride with their wake - not these guys!  They roared past us without backing down at all - and had the gall to wave!!  At least nothing got broken.  In Destin. we found our slip which was behind Harbor Docks restaurant.  Nothing fancy and no frills, but near the center of everything.  Track and photos - www.ramblr.com/web/mymap/trip/273527/911773

The gang's all here!!

An amazing sunset

Adding our dollar

Here it is

Just a few or the millions on the walls and ceilings

The next three days were spent in Destin.  We got to visit with Michelle and Cam
 at their condo on the beach.  The sunsets were beyond amazing and had some strange effects that were not expected. Our friends suggested dinner at McGuires which is basically a very cool, large Irish pub that serves one of the best steaks that you will ever taste!  The place is covered with dollar bills - the estimate is $1.2 M to $1.4M!!  Of course, we added one to the collection.  Our next outing, which was on our anniversary, took us back to their condo for drinks and another sunset before heading to Miller's Ale House for pitchers of mojitos and racks of ribs!  Dining our way through Destin and we barely made a dent in the choices.

Destin harbor

Cam giving instructions

My JackFrost created by Cam and his ice machine!

Another Destin sunset

Look what Michelle wrote for us!

On Day 26, we left Destin for the trip over to Panama City.  It was another sunny and fairly warm day with very little wind.  We had two large bays to cross which were connected by a fairly narrow, dredged channel.  Not much to see through here, but when we got to West Bay approaching Panama City, the dolphins came out to play!  It was the first time we had seen them jumping in our wake.  It is just so crazy cool to watch these big mammals swimming with you!  Track and photos - www.ramblr.com/web/mymap/trip/273527/914097

Panama City Marina slip

Muy Wayne O's for lunch

Panama City Beach

So now we are heading to Atlanta for the Holidays and Brittany's birthday.  The boat is set up in a slip a Panama City Marina and we will return on December 28 to pick up the trip.  So for now, Merry Christmas to all.  Best wishes for a wonderful and magical day.

Loop Trip - Days 12 - 20

Days 12, 13 and 14 were the last three on the Tennessee-Tombigbee waterway.  We attempted departure from Demopolis early on November 30, but it was very foggy so we waited at the marina for it to clear.  At about 8:30, things were looking better so we headed out for the three miles downstream to Demopolis lock and headed on toward the Bay.  Interesting fact, look at the lock picture tagged about the flood of 1979.  The water level was 57' above flood stage.  So this dam and the next one, Coffeeville, were both totally underwater!!  I can't even imagine that.  So we went through the lock and moved on until we ran into a thick fog bank.  The next six miles were totally IFR,   We went on radar, AIS and the chart plotter at about 6 knots.  It finally broke up and we made it to an anchorage at Bashi Creek and were joined by Breeze, another looper from Chicago.  Track and photos - www.ramblr.com/web/mymap/trip/273527/904568

Bashi Creek

On December 1, we left our anchorage a little before 8:00 hoping for a nice day, but all we got was clouds and drizzle.  Our last lock was about 10 miles below the anchorage and we went through with Breeze and Gypsy Lee, a looper from Massachusetts.  This was our longest day so far as we traveled 84 mikes to another anchorage called Three Rivers.  This was a most interesting spot as we had to go down a narrow channel for almost 1/2 mile to an open area where we stopped.  Breeze arrived here about an hour behind us.  Track and photos - www.ramblr.com/web/mymap/trip/273527/904615

So the last day on the waterway started much like day 12, we got up to try for an early start and there was fog.  Hoping for the best, we inched our way back down the channel to the river and pulled out into the channel totally blind.  The fog was so thick you couldn't see 30' in front of the boat so we crossed the channel and re-anchored outside a marker and waited.  Fortunately, the fog began to lift in about 45 minutes and we were able to get back underway.  It was another long day as we traveled about 80 miles to reach Mobile Bay.  Lots of interesting things to see in Mobile ship channel.  Be sure to look at all the pictures.  Track and photos - www.ramblr.com/web/mymap/trip/273527/905738

Boats in the Dog River parade

Day 15 was the long leg across Mobile Bay to get to the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GICWW).  Weather was finally clear and sunny without fog!!  Winds were really light today so the ride across was very smooth.  We passed a gigantic freighter, fishing boats and got to see a lot of dolphin - so cool! The first stop on the GICWW was at Homeport Marina and Lulu's restaurant.  Now Lulu is Jimmy Buffet's sister and this location is quite the place to visit.  I had my Cheesburger in Paradise and Regina did the local shrimp.  We met a couple here who is touring the USA in their RV while towing motorcycles for local travel. A grand time was had by all with Buffet music playing in the background!!  Track and photos - www.ramblr.com/web/mymap/trip/273527/909771

Lulu's has it all - indoor and outdoor fun

Day 16 took us from Lulu's to Pensacola Beach which included some GICWW and several large bays.  It was sunny and fairly warm, but the wind started to blow pretty strong directly from the east so we were headed straight into it which made for some waves on the bow.  There were no dolphin to be seen today, but we were concentrating on finding markers.  The wind roughed up the water and we were taking an occasional spray over the bow.  Yes, I did want that glass windshield with wipers for a reason.  We finally got Pensacola in sight and began hunting for the marina entry.  All of the landmarks were in plain sight, but they didn't match the verbal instructions.  It turned out to be a sort of water mirage and we located the channel into the marina and got tied up with assistance as the wind was now blowing at about 16 mph.  Track and photos - www.ramblr.com/web/mymap/trip/273527/909772

Pensacola Beach Marina

So now we have spent days 17, 18, 19 and 20 at Pensacola Beach Marina.  The idea was to stay for maybe three days, but the front that was coming in on Monday has not moved out.  There has been heavy rain showers, thunderstorms and high winds every day.  My buddy Tom, his wife and two daughters live here so we have gotten to visit with them, dine at some great places, view a fabulous sunset and visit downtown Pensacola.  What a really cool city!!  Tom tells me the place was a dump not all that many years ago and has been resurrected into a beautiful place.  Amazing houses, both large and small, shops, restaurants, parks, Christmas lights and even a marina right downtown.  

Peg Leg's is a Pensacola Beach tradition

Entry to The Bridge

Sunset from The Bridge deck

Three layer key lime pie at Flounders!!!

So hopefully tomorrow will be the day we head for Destin.  Weather is forecast to be sunny!!  The wind may not have died down completely but should be much less than the last few days.  Wish us luck - at least it's not snowing like it is in Atlanta!!

The Loop Continues - Days 6 - 11

Day 6 was our next day on the water after spending Thanksgiving at Joe Wheeler State Park.  We planned an early start to get rolling and shoot for making Grand Harbor at the top of the Tenn-Tom today.  Things didn’t look too good after calling the Wheeler Lock only to find out that they had a barge coming up and we would have to wait for two hours.  So much for getting up early!!  So we waited (not like we had a choice) and left the marina to be out in the channel about the time suggested.  The barge came out pretty close to the expected time and made the first lock.  Next was Wilson Lock that has been under repair for a couple of months.  Instead of having to go through in the dark (6PM to 6AM) we got a Thanksgiving treat and basically zipped through at 11AM!!  The rest of the trip down to Grand Harbor was virtually us and a few fishing boaters.  Beautiful sunny day that warmed up from 27 degrees to about 60!  At Grand Harbor, we took the courtesy car and went to Freddy-T’s for dinner.  Great place for dinner that also is a sort of sports bar with a DJ and dance club – you got to multi-task in a small town!!  Track and photos - www.ramblr.com/web/mymap/trip/273527/899024

Grand sunset at Grand Harbor

Freddy T's

The boat table

Water skis on the ceiling

So did you notice in the track photos?  It was your first teaser pic. Wilson lock at Florence, Alabama, constructed between 1918 - 1925, was once the world’s largest dam and highest single lift lock.  Today is the 3^rd highest with a vertical lift of 94’.  Wilson Dam is the oldest TVA dam and is constructed of brick.  It is 4,541’ wide and 137’ high.  It is a National Historic Landmark and pretty impressive to see and pass through.

Yes - that teaser was Wilson Lock

Day 7 was our next change of plan.  We learned that the Tenn-Tom Locks now communicate and coordinate for river traffic.  So instead of doing a short run to Bay Springs prepare for a day of locking, we took advantage and made 56 mile run to Midway Marina.  We had stopped here on the way up after buying the boat so this was a familiar location and is a nice break after doing 24 miles of the “divide cut” and 3 (Whitten, Montgomery & Rankin) closely spaced locks.  When you look at the photos on the Ramblr track, it is easy to understand this section of the waterway.  Not too interesting as it is the excavated portion that created the link to the Tennessee River – pretty straight, rip-rap banks and nothing too see.  We’re going to spend an extra day here and go over to Tupelo to see Elvis’ birthplace and museum.  Track and photos - www.ramblr.com/web/mymap/trip/273527/899995

Day 8 and we are off to Tupelo in the marina courtesy car to visit Elvis Presley's birthplace.  Allen, this one's for you!  It was about a 25 minute drive over from the marina and a huge step back in time.  We saw the house, and room, where Elvis was born.  A little, white, two room house of just barely more than 400 SF as well as the church he went to up until the age of 13 when the family moved to Memphis.  There was a museum with a lot about his early life and influences in Mississippi.  Really interesting to see and have a better understanding of what the early years were like for him!  So I'm sure all of you Elvis fans know that his mother was 4 years older than his father, he was a twin (older brother was stillborn) and that his father was sent to prison (for forgery).

The House

Room where Elvis was born

Kitchen

13 year old Elvis

His Church

Inside Church

Check out the numbers on the wall plaque.  The donations are $5.31 and $3.58!  Got to remember that this was about 1940.

Day 9 has us moving on down the river toward the Gulf.  We woke up early to fairly thick fog on the river which delayed departure by about an hour, but when it cleared it was like a curtain being lifted - bam it was gone!  We had four locks (Fulton, Wilkins, Armory & Aberdeen) to pass through today on the way to Columbus Marina.  The weather, which began a foggy and cold (29 degrees) went to beautiful sun and upper 60's.  I had to get rid of my long sleeves and get down to a t-shirt - not bad for almost December.  In Columbus, we took the courtesy car into town for dinner at Huck's which I would highly recommend to anyone who might happen to be in this part of the world.  Food was great and the staff was friendly and attentive.  Track and photos - www.ramblr.com/web/mymap/trip/273527/902054

Day 10 was cold just like the previous day, but the fog did not form so we were able to get started when we had wanted.  This is basically just another day moving south on the waterway to get to the Gulf.  We got through the locks at Stennis and Bevill with no waits - continuing proof that the lock coordination really does work.  There were several barges along the way to provide some change to the scenery.  We traveled for a little over 6 hours and anchored in a cutoff channel for the evening.  Track and photos - www.ramblr.com/web/mymap/trip/273527/903276

Watching a tow pass our anchorage

Sunset in Upper Crooks Cutoff

Day 11 - the morning was much warmer than the previous days so no fog formed on the water.  We woke up early and decided to just go ahead and get started.  The only lock to do today is Heflin which is about 11 miles downstream from our anchorage.  The only traffic we have on the river is a few tows and their barges.  Not another pleasure boat anywhere.  All the other loopers have gotten down the river and are apparently well ahead of us!  One of the most interesting sights today were the white cliffs of Epes, Alabama.  These are chalk cliffs of the same basic composition as the White Cliffs of Dover in England.  We traveled just under 6 hours and stopped at Demopolis for fuel and to stay overnight. Much to our surprise, there are 4 or 5 other looper boats here.  Several of us will be continuing on down toward the Gulf tomorrow.  Track and photos - www.ramblr.com/web/mymap/trip/273527/903277

Kingfisher Marina at Demopolis Yacht Basin

We are now 3 travel days from Mobile Bay.  The next two nights will be spent in anchorages as there are no facilities other than Bobby's Fish Camp between here and the Bay.  Bobby's was once a great stop for a catfish dinner, but unfortunately Bobby passed away a few years ago and things are just not the same.  Next time we will have WiFi will be at Dog River Marina in Mobile Bay.

Happy Thanksgiving - First 5 Days

The section of the river we did on Day 1 was below Chattanooga passing Lookout Mountain, going around Moccasin Bend and then through what is referred to as the Grand Canyon of Tennessee.  Perhaps a bit of a stretch, but a beautiful section lined with steep, mountainous banks in full color with fall leaves.  A particular portion of the river in this area is referred to as The Suck.  The area is very narrow and deep – as in 110’ water depths and not much wider.  Stories of the river section before TVA dam construction tell of extreme rapids, whirlpools and sinking’s.  Our ride was nothing like that, but we did get about a 3 mph push from the current!  Below this area and just before Nickajack dam are the remains of Hales Bar Dam.  This is quite a story so to get all the details without paraphrasing just Google that name. Here is a link to our track and photos along the way – www.ramblr.com/web/mymap/trip/273527/896171

Here's what you will find when following the link

Our first night on the loop was spent at an anchorage adjacent to Shellmound Recreation Area.  We went into a small, well protected cove and anchored looking at a large home in one direction and Nickajack Dam in the other.  Morning came with a temperature of about 27 degrees and a good 1/8” of frost on the deck.  We had a slight delay waiting for the lockmaster get an abandoned boat moved from in front of the lock doors and then we were off on our way down stream.

Sunset on the river

For Day 2, after locking, we traveled about 47 miles to another anchorage just above Goose Bay Marina.  I had really wanted to stay at the marina, but their restaurant was closed and we really had no other reason to go there.  This anchorage was identified as a Federal Mooring as it has three large pilings apparently for barges, although I’m not sure how they could have ever been utilized.  This location was very quiet and calm, but full of hydrilla.  We pulled up about ten pounds of the stuff on our anchor which I really should have gotten a picture of – imagine a chia head with bright green dreadlocks!!  Track and photos – www.ramblr.com/web/mymap/trip/273527/896172

One more sample of where the link takes you

The anchorage

Day 3 continued after doing a haircut on the anchor by continuing about 30 miles to   Guntersville Lock.  It was a warmer morning than the previous day.  Sunny and about 37 degrees warming to 60!!  We went through he auxiliary lock at Guntersville as the main had some kind of repair work in progress.  This was actually a good thing as barges were backed up in both directions waiting on a break in the construction work.  After passing through the lock, we decided to alter the plan for the day and travel about 42 miles to Riverwalk Marina in Decatur, Alabama.  This little marina had a good restaurant to visit and was a very inexpensive stop to give us a place to get off the river in a protected location.  Track and photos – www.ramblr.com/web/mymap/trip/273527/896933.

Slip at Riverwalk Marina

Day 4 – This has turned out be a short day since we extended yesterday’s trip so we slept in a bit, had coffee and a muffin while Regina watched Kelly and Ryan.  We pulled out of Riverwalk marina, eased back onto the river and called the Decatur railroad bridge to request an opening.  His response was “it will be a little while” so we started looking and yes, here comes the train.  It was a short train that seemed like would require an equally short wait, but no, one of those pickup trucks with train wheels was following a distance behind.  This guy did something at the bridge while we circled in the channel and we finally got our opening after about a 20 minute wait.  Not too bad all considered!!  We are on Joe Wheeler lake and from Decatur to the dam the lake is pretty wide and not very deep.  The wind was blowing out of the northwest at roughly 10 to 15 mph which roughed up the water enough for us to get a little spray over the bow.  There are lots of industrial buildings in this area so barge traffic increases to match.  We arrived at Joe Wheeler State Park after about 3 hours, backed into a slip and checked in at the lodge.  This will be our Thanksgiving Day location as they serve a huge buffet with all of the traditional fixin’s.  Track and photos - www.ramblr.com/web/mymap/trip/273527/897583.

Slip at Joe Wheeler State Park

A Wheeler sunset

Day 5 – Thanksgiving Day arrived with 27 degrees and sunny.  It will be spent here at the lodge so we are already changing the plan.  Just seemed like the thing to do so we can watch the Macy's parade, eat turkey and watch football.  With luck we will make up the day by skipping Florence.  Wilson lock is under construction for "major repairs", but for this weekend, no work is being done so operations will be on a normal schedule.  We will get an early start to hopefully get ahead of any commercial traffic.  Hope everyone had a great day and we will have more updates to come.