Departed November 3 after heavy fog lifted. While in Fulton Lock, had to wait for 4 additional boats. Made an egg and cheese sandwich for the lockmaster. Lovely day on the water.

More locks and more miles. As we entered Aberdeen Lock, YOLO advised us of a huge log in the chamber. Because of recent storms, there is a ton of debris in the water and you sometimes feel like you’re playing Frogger at the helm.

We were planning to anchor out, but were making good miles, so continued on to Columbus Marina. Took the courtesy car into town for dinner with the crews of YOLO and As You Wish. The harbormaster advised us the driver’s door didn’t work, so the driver had to enter via the passenger door and climb over things. Easy enough. Mike drove, I sat shotgun, and the other 2 couples sat in the back. Upon arrival at the restaurant, we could not get either of the rear doors open. Never a dull moment with the courtesy cars… We were treated to another beautiful sunset.

The following morning, there was no fog!!! Some sights are familiar from last year. A phone booth in the middle of nowhere was one of them.

Lots of commercial traffic on this river. Always in awe of the tow captains and how well they maneuver so many barges.

After about 69 statute miles and 4 locks, pulled off into a lovely anchorage around sunset. Joy Girl, a Nordic Tug 42, was snugged in nicely.

This oxbow is just downriver of the dam which was letting out a lot of water. The current was ripping! After we set the hook (on the second try), our prop was rotating due to the 6 or 7 knot current (could hear the shaft turning inside the boat). Mike had to McGuyver some vice grips, tape and a towel to make it stop. Sunset just kept going.

Departed the next morning at 7:15 as we again had no fog. The current was strong in our favor. We were traveling 9.1 knots only burning 2.8 gallons an hour. There was even more debris. After about 50 miles, we dropped the hook just below Demopolis, AL, at Foscue Creek which was right behind a Coast Guard Station. It was so picturesque.

We hopped in the dinghy and rode into Demopolis Marina to dump a bag of trash properly. It was nice to get off the boat for a bit. We were only 1/2 a mile north of Demopolis Lock, so hit the hay early to get an early start the next day.

Departed our anchorage 5:40am. Followed our electronic breadcrumbs to the channel and tied up in the Lock along with a few other boats. There were some stragglers, so we had to wait in the lock for a while. About an hour after tying up, we started bobbing up and down. Did not know what it was, but later found out the last boat that came in did so on plane and brought in a bunch of water. It was in the 30s outside, so not really pleasant waiting.

When the Lock gates opened, the lock master advised “first in, first out” to exit the lock. 2 boats subsequently passed us (politely by requesting a slow pass on the marine radio). The latecomer to the lock wanted to pass everybody, and did so going about 15 knots and throwing up a huge wake. Luckily, I saw the wake coming and was able to pull some stuff down before it was knocked down. YOLO was ahead of us and got ROCKED! Joy Girl was ahead of her and hailed the asshole driver on the radio and asked he slow down. He didn’t.

Not a great way to start the day. Plan A was to travel about ~60 miles to Bashi Creek anchorage. Another lovely weather day.

Again, we had such a favorable current, and were making great time, so made the questionable decision to continue on to Bobby’s Fish Camp, a place we vowed we would never hit again. The anchorages above and below here were not accessible due to the storms. Bobby’s it was. Rafted up with 9 other boats, 1 of which was the asshole who waked everyone! Mike gave him a little what for. He didn’t really care. (If you haven’t already, read the blog from November, 2018 involving Bobby’s Fish Camp. I still have PTSD from last year’s events.)

We thankfully got through the evening with no injuries or property damage. Departed the next morning at 6:15 and got through Coffeeville Lock, our last lock for a long time!!!! Yay! Had sunshine, rain, fog and thunderstorms. Heard a weather announcement noting a tornado that had touched down in Mobile and severe thunderstorms for the remainder of the afternoon. After about 83 miles, we tucked into the Tensaw River and dropped the hook. We were about 40 miles north of Mobile here. Beautiful anchorage with a good holding current and lots of swing room. Let out 200 feet of chain and rode out some storms. Some good rain and fog.

Did a short run the next day to meet up with Joy Girl. There was a Small Craft Advisory, so we didn’t want to get out into Mobile Bay, but figured it wouldn’t hurt to get as close as possible to it for a likely Sunday crossing. Dropped the hook in Big Bayou Canot, which was a scene straight out of Deliverance. There was no shortage of logs either.

Yesterday, departed Big Bayou and went about 6 miles south to Mobile-Tensas Cutoff anchorage. We had a chunk of the afternoon, so deployed and hopped in the dink. There was a fishin’ (no G in the south) camp near us. We stopped and talked to the guys hanging out there. They told us of a place up the Tensas River we could go for a beer. On our way, we stopped by an anchored boat and chatted with the crew from Deanna. (Last we spoke to them was on the radio while going into the Atlantic Ocean from Cape May, NJ. They were going toward the ICW and we hailed them on the radio and advised them that wasn’t a good course for their 6 foot draft. After touching bottom a couple of times, they had done an about face & went out the same inlet we had taken.) Continued on to the River Pub in Cliff’s Landing, Alabama.

You could hear cheering as we approached. I remembered my dad telling me today was the LSU v Alabama game. Oh, this was going to be good! Walking into a plume of smoke…yes, there are ashtrays on every table in the River Pub…everybody dressed in red looked at us in our shorts and t-shirts and PFDs like we were aliens. So, we ordered a couple PBRs to try and fit in. Watched some of the game there. Alabama was being outplayed, and we needed to get back to the boat before dark. Fun stop.

On our way back to FF, stopped at the fish camp and met RC. He invited us to tie up our dinghy and come inside to check the place out. RC told us this place had been in his family for about a hundred years. When not fishing, or simply relaxing, RC uses a .22 rifle to shoot hogs, and sometimes squirrels that apparently pair well with rice. RC was awesome. Offered us beer and smoke, neither of which we needed. Went back to the boat and made dinner. Really liked this anchorage.

Had a lazy morning today. Made breakfast. Took off around 9:10am. As I write this, we are almost across Mobile Bay. Beautiful day with lovely seas. Had our first alligator sighting while still on the Mobile River, and dolphins as we entered the bay!

Heading to Ocean Beach, AL where we’ll be for a few days to wait out some weather, provision, do laundry and some chores. God willing, next blog will be from Florida.

Happy Veteran’s Day tomorrow to all who have served in our armed forces, with a special shout out to my dad (Navy) and husband (Army). Very grateful for your service. Cheers! M&M