Demopolis to Mobile Bay...   

                3 OOPS of differing degrees 😀

December 2, 2022




Leaving Demopolis, we were traveling alone or at least we thought.  The Lockmaster told us to come on down and they would move us through the lock.  The Demopolis lock was 2 miles from the Marina and some of the Locks ask personal watercraft like us to call them before coming to the Lock so we won't have to wait.  We had the Restless T join us in the Lock.  It is a 100 ton steel hull fishing trawler that the couple have redone (We both went in it and it was gorgeous).  There was much debris in the water from the tornados- trees, big branches, large root balls.  We dodged debris all day and made out well.  In the picture, you can see the Restless T behind us in the distance as we were going into the lock.


This Great white Egret went past us with the current.  We gained 3.5 MPH from the current alone.  The Egret looked like it was surfing past us down the river! 

With the current, we traveled 99 miles to Bobby's Fish Camp. They have an area you can tie up and they sell gas.  It was an interesting arrival.  I believe the guy who owns the place(not Bobby any longer but a relative) and provides services was out hunting.  We waited 90 minutes but we were staying there for the night so no big deal.  I also took a much needed walk.  There has been much written about his lack of niceness.  And I would agree!  Once he saw Danny's Dallas Cowboys shirt, he became our best friend😒...While at Bobby's, we talked to the owners of the Restless T.  During the tornados, they had anchored out and one came turning their boat 360 degrees 5 times and pushing them up on the side of the river in a mud field.  Tow BoatUS said they couldn't help them due to their weight.  Ultimately, they found someone 4 hours away that had a boat to get them off the mud.  Given there was no tidal action here, I can't imagine how that worked.  I asked the woman, weren't you scared, she said no, I have lived in Huntsville, Alabama all my life, you just get used to it unless it is a F5 which I am assuming is more dangerous.  According to the news reports, a total of 29 tornados touched down from Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama on the night of our adventure in the shelter in Demopolis. 





We continued to have the current help us as we left Bobby's on the way to Mobile.  The Coffeeville Lock which dropped us the last 40 feet will be the last for some time.  Completion of 13 locks with no difficulties- Danny driving the boat and I did the lines and looping the Bollard to keep us stable in the Lock and we made our goal of anchoring at the Tensaw River MM39.4- 80 miles total.  The anchorage was quiet.  Restless T also joined us.  The captain called Danny on the radio due to a fuel leak on his generator.  It was dark, the current still ripping and I wasn't comfortable with Danny going out and Danny wasn't either.  Danny was concerned the current could take him away and I would be in big trouble.  We told them we would come by in the morning.  He understood.  By morning, he had found a work around and was okay. A woman who had anchored here a couple weeks ago made note she had seen an alligator, I looked hard but never saw one.  Continued to see Great blue herons, great egrets, and a beautiful Eagle going down the river.  You can see how wide our anchorage was in the Tensaw River, it made us feel better with all the junk in the water!

                                     

                                  

                                           

Here is where the 3 OOPS come in...



  • Despite being diligent in not hitting any big pieces, we heard a thud and then a vibrating engine at 12.1 miles or greater (sign of dinged prop).  Danny being proactive had a pair of extra props so we didn't get stuck somewhere for weeks waiting- A Big Expensive OOPS!
  • We have several radios on the boat, one for main communication Channel 16- this goes out to everyone and then you change to another channel, we had Channel 68 with the Restless T as they had some engines issues while we traveled in case they needed something.  Danny was calling me on the Channel 77 between the two of us.  I was downstairs in the bathroom.  Of course, I coming running out to grab the radio and told him..."Danny, I'm in the bathroom!"  When I put down the hand held VHF, I realized I picked up the one on Channel 16, OMG! everyone on the River knew I was in the bathroom.  Good thing it was no one I knew! An Embarrassing OOPS!
  •  Once anchored in the Tensaw River,  Danny wanted to try his new propane grill on the side of the boat.  I had Poppyseed chicken to eat.  We agreed probably needed 20-25 minutes to cook.  He comes down from the grill and says it's crispy.  I look over, it's burnt.  Danny says, "I think it's just the top."  Next thing I know he is throwing it in the trash.  So, turkey and cheese sandwich for Danny and bologna and miracle whip sandwich for me.  Because I like bologna, that was a Good OOPS!


  We approached what they call the 14 Mile Bridge .  This is a very active train track.  You have to call to ask them to raise the track for you.  We waited about 15-20 minutes while the train passed then the person raised it for us.


We reached Mobile Bay and I felt like I was in civilization again.  The boat needed some routine maintenance done as well as pulling the boat out for the dinged prop so we arrived at Dog River Marina.  You can see The Other Woman after being hauled out!  There is not much around Dog River except the Mobile Yacht Club.  We walked 2.8 miles over the bridge to the other side of Dog River and Mobile Bay to the River Shack.  Good food, more craft beers for Danny, live music while watching football games. I got to catch the sun going down as we walked back at the top of the bridge.  We went over to the yacht club where they were having a Christmas market but the bar and restaurant were closed.


Back to the 1st OOPS, yes the prop was dinged.  Prop replaced and engine maintenance done and we will be on our way to cross the bay to Fairhope, Alabama.  I got the "loaner" car to go to Mudbugs seafood market near here and the last 2 nights, Danny has enjoyed blackened grouper and I have enjoyed lump blue crab in butter on the boat. My favorite!


TOTAL MILES TRAVELLED   509.3 miles

TOTAL DAYS  23








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