#16 Nov.13 - 23rd

We left you with our arrival in Fairhope, Alabama. Eastern Shore Marina. The folks there were more than pleasant and helpful. A good thing when you plan to be there for a week.  It is very much a working maintenance yard in addition to a stopping off spot for many Loopers arriving in Mobile Bay before heading East along the Panhandle. There is a courtesy van we took advantage of - then it quit on us, overheated and we had to be rescued. Ha!  We used our time there changing oil and checking fluids in Transmission, Engine and Generator, laundry shopping and errands. Then shared a rental car with Tom and Coletta from Greeks  Folly to do sight seeing. The most disconcerting issue was the weather.  At least 3 days and nights were in the 20's. Everyone was freezing and running heaters.  Subsequently the electrical system at the Marina suffered.  The current coming in to the boat should be 120 but it fluctuated between 104 - 109; at one point it was registering only 100.9. Yikes! Using such low wattage can ruin motors in appliances.  We shut off all systems to the boat accept one outlet to which we plugged in a little $18 space heater which we placed in our forward berth to keep it tolerable to sleep at night.

One of our excursions was to visit the Battleship Alabama in Mobile

Lots of obsolete military planes and machines on site

Great traveling companions and friends, Tom and Colletta Kataras

 We toured downtown Fairhope and enjoyed their 'millions of lights' Christmas decor.  Every tree on main was covered completely in lights.  The best part about the evening was a visit to the Chocolatier. Decadent!

Sunset over the channel entrance the night before our departure. 

We stopped along the way at LuLu's, Jimmy Buffet's sister's restaurant for lunch. In season this place must be hoppin.  They have a huge sand beach, volleyball, rope climbing maze, outdoor bars.

More Looper friends caught our lines as we docked and we shared Lunch, Dan and Angie Frick

Our next stop was Orange Beach, Alabama. Now we are in Dolphin territory. Many visits as we make our way across the Panhandle.

All along we have encountered Military installations and vessels. Here is a very strange looking craft that is anchored in the Bay across from Panama City. Sure would like to know what it is used for.

 11/19 we stayed at the Wharf Marina Resort complex in Orange Beach, Condos, Pool, Shops, Water Park, totally complete facility. On the 20th we left there at 0800 and at 0930 we entered Florida and made our way to Fort Walton Beach where we found the City Free Dock.  Free is always nice! And the burgers were great at KC's.
11/21 69 miles to go today, a long 8 hour day to Panama City.  We are greatful to be this far as the weather is turning dirty.  High winds and thunderstorms in the forecast.
11/22 we deploy the Bicycles and head for the boat store; need a fitting to fix a mirror to see behind us when traveling down the canals. Sometimes boats approach very fast and their wakes can throw you into a deep wallowing situation that is not comfortable and things go flying around.  We also found a grand opening of a guys favorite store - - Harbor Freight!
Although the day was overcast and misting we managed to stay fairly dry. The temps have increased to a comfortable 60+ degrees but the winds and skies are angry.

We had to stop here for lunch - Tom's Hot Dogs

 11/23 We are still here in Panama City - - our next stop is Appalachiacola and then Carrabelle. Both of those villages are chock full of Loopers waiting to cross the Big Bend of Florida. So if we leave there may not be a place for us. Lots of places to anchor but the winds are too strong 25 and 30 to comfortably be anchored for perhaps a week or more before Mother Nature calms the seas enough to make the crossing.  We plan to do the shorter run to Steinhatchee, some 70 miles.

Had this visitor for about 3 hours last night. To windy to fly! 

11/23  This is what  we are seeing right now. This will pass in an hour or so then tonight another front is passing through. 

After these storms there will be a few days of calm and we will be on the move again. All is well.

#15 Demopolis to Mobile

11/9 Greeks Folly and Simpatico cast off from Demopolis yacht basin at at 6am.  This is the first day of 3 very long days on the river.  There are no other Marinas till Mobile Bay.  And actually very few anchorages that are OFF the river.

This is the 12th and last Lock we exited on the Tenn-Tom Waterway from Tennessee River. Dropping us a total of 352 feet to sea level in 350 miles. We have 140 miles to go.

The Tenn-Tom Has many switchbacks where you really don't advance very far at all.  In this instance we passed with in a football field length of where we were 3 miles ago. All the more reason for that great little electronic devise called AIS. (Automatic Identification System) Notice the little triangles on the screen - the two in front are other pleasure boats with the system. The one at the bottom of the screen is a tow we passed  a few miles back. Any tows approaching us will show pointing the other direction. On these curves, and sometimes very narrow curves it is critical we are aware of approaching traffic.

Thats Greeks Folly anchored in front of us along side the River. 

Mr. Sailor Man and his rum after a long day on the river.

This is the only "Marina" till Mobile.  Bobby's Fish Camp. Much too early for a stop.

11/10 this night along the River there were two tows, each the same distance from our spot but approaching from opposite directions.  We contacted them on radio to let them know where we were. Fortunately, we did not have to feel like the "double stuff" in an Oreo for long as one two stopped to let the other pass. They constantly swept their spotlights watching for us and the bouys. 

Affectionate name for this bridge is "Dolly Parton"

 11/12 After 3 nine hour days coming down the Tenn-Tom we are leaving the wilderness delta and before us is Mobile! It is cloudy and overcast and a bit hard to see how massive this port is.  First freighters we've seen since Chicago. Hundreds of barges and tows, ship repair docks, loading docks, and military vessels.

We have no idea what these stealth looking catamarans are for.  Definitely military.Hopefully if we get a chance to visit Mobile we will find out.

Never seen anything like this.  Traversing through this fairway was intimidating. Tows and tugs everywhere. And then - - we were in Mobile Bay; average depth 8-9 feet.  We followed the ship channel (26 feet) to bouy #72 and turned East to Fairhope and Eastern Shore Marine across the Bay from Mobile.  

This will be our home for at least a week while we regroup and plan our next leg across the Panhandle of Florida.  The trip down these great rivers has been very interesting and exciting.  We have traversed more than 50 locks and met great folks along the way. Now we will plan our  Gulf Intercoastal Waterway cruise.The portion of North Gulf called the Big Bend is shallow and we will have to be aware of Tides.

#14 Wheeler to Demopolis - halfway to Mobile Alabama

10/31 Well, we are excited to get on with our trip after a visit home, the rendezvous and side trip to Chattanooga with brother Fred. The day is a bit breezy and a little overcast. I decided to do my last blog this morn so we didn't get away until around 11.  We are going only 22 miles today to Florence, but we have two lock to go through.  3 boats left at 830 am and we discovered that it is a good thing we didn't leave with them because as we approached the second lock we needed to traverse - - there they were tied to a barg off to the side of the lock when we arrived at 1:30.  They had been awaiting to traverse for 2 hours and we were just told we would have to wait for 2 1/2 hours. We all finally got in the lock at ten to four.  Sometimes the tows just get in your way and they have priority. It just gets tough when the tows have to be split and need two cycles of the lock to get through.  We have really been lucky -- of the 15 or so locks we have gone through we have only had extended delays twice.

I know you are probably getting tired of seeing these locks. BUT, it is such an incredible fete of construction and holding back so much water creating huge lakes.  This is the Whitten with a 93 ft lift. Third highest lift  in the world. There is another in Washington State and one in Africa that is higher. We are tied to a floating bollard that slides up and down the slot you see.

Just another perception from the boat. I promise not to do anymore pics of locks!  :)

After leaving the Tennessee River We have  finally headed South again. Now on the Tenn-Tom Waterway and this particular section is 280 foot wide and 24 miles long.  No stopping or anchoring allowed. When meeting one of these tows it wants to be intimidating but really no different than passing a great freighter on the St. Mary's River near Detour.

Baffles are built where streams and smaller rivers spill into the 24 mile straight ditch to stop erosion and blocking the waterway.

Again the scenery changes as we leave the restricted section and realize that --- Nope, you don't want to leave the channel.  There are stumps and fallen trees just waiting to give a boater a big headache!  Also, some if not all of the stumps are trying to grow again.  Miracle of life! Always striving to go on.

11/6 anchored just past Heflin Lock at mm265. That's the moon on the right. The other "moons" are lights of the lock. A nice quiet place off the main waterway.

Limestone Cliffs near Epps, Alabama

 Bill and Tom from Greek's Folly. They are on their way to pick up a courtesy car for us and Colletta, togo to the grocery to stock up for our trek South to Mobile, Alabama. We arrived here at Demopolis Yacht Basin on 11/7. Halfway to Mobile from the Tennessee River.  From here to Mile 0 at Mobile there are no marinas and only one fuel stop at 'Bobby's Fish Camp" in the next 216 miles so we need to have all the provisions we'll need. Should take around 5 days with one day at Bobby's, the rest anchoring. Will be fun to travel with Greek's Folly.

We are looking forward to reaching the Gulf, exploring Mobile, then find a place on the Panhandle of Florida and sit for a while.

#13 Chattanooga and more

Our trip back down to Rogersville, Alabama with Fred Bill's brother, was uneventful and most pleasant rather than flying.  We were anxious to get on with the Rendezvous -- a gathering of all sorts of boats (55 or so) and 225 folks who are doing the Loop, have done the Loop and those who want to do the Loop.  All kinds of seminars with infromation on the next segments of the trip all the way to Norfolk Virgina. Very informative. The food was great and the camaraderie was outstanding.  Finally on the 17th of October Fred, Pheobe(the cute little dog) Bill and I cast off for Chattanooga up the Tennessee River. We made stops at Riverwalk Marina again, Hit the Hard Dock Cafe and AGAIN, no one around to pay.  It has become Bill's favorite stop.  :)  Hunstville proved to be the highlight for Fred so far and his visit to the Space and Rocket Center. Bill and I ran errands and did a little shopping while there. 

10/22 Our first anchorage, Bull Frog Cove, rather weedy and Fred had a bit of trouble finding a place to get ashore with Phoebe. But accomplish it we did. Phoebe was grateful! and we didn't hear even one Bull Frog!

Here a train is hugging the bluff as it makes it way. We have entered what they call the "Canyons of Tennessee".

After supper conversation

10/23 Hales Bar Marina, next to Abandoned Hydroelectric dam. Eight years, 5000 workers faced consirerable risk. many accidents, injuries and even deaths. Also bloody labor disputes.  Nov. 1913 the world's largest hydroelectric generating plant opened. Only Niagra was larger. There was a great celebration; bands, dancing, speeches and fireworks. Almost from the beginning there were serious leaking problems through the rock strata under the dam. AND the lock was too small for modern navigation needs.  They stripped the machinery, closed her up and replaced it with the NickaJack Dam several miles up river. 

We are in Sequatchit Valley, which is one of two "rifts" in the world. The other is in Africa. A rift is where the earth actually splits apart.  This particular bluff is being quarried.

Pictures cannot, no matter how hard I try, capture the all around beauty of the hills, mountains and vistas. The leaves are just beginning to show a change 

Volley ball net awaiting participants for the weekend at the shallows along the river.

Trucks on Highway as we round the curve into the Chattanooga area.

World Class Tennessee Aquarium. Fresh water on the right, Salt water on the left.

We are docked right in fromt of the Aquariums

Phoebe and friends!

Yep, we had a ringside seat to this spectacle!

OOOPS!

Someone told us we would see all kinds of craft on the Rivers. I love his fenders!

Heading back down from Chattanooga at the Nickajack Lock and dam. All our locks from here on will be drops. It is interesting to realize we are high in the Appalachian Mountains. 634 feet above sea level before we reach Mobile, Alabama.

We are back at Wheeler where Fred will pick up his car and head South to his place in Florida.  We were treated to a Championship Bass Tournament.  140 boats with two people each on board. One Pro and one Co-angler. They congregated at 7am. at 7:30 they were allowed to start one at a time 1 through  140. It didn't take long since they had 250 hp motors.  They all started to arrive back at 3pm for the weigh in.  They will fish Thurs and Fri. the top ten will fish on Saturday. At the moment the heaviest catch 18 lb. 5 oz. Spots 1 through 40 will pay out.  Top No. 1 gets $125,000 and both the Co-angler gets a new boat.

Phoebe's last stroll through Joe Wheeler State Park, Alabama

Brothers. A good time sharing.

10/31 It's Halloween, Fred is on his way home to Florida and we are planning our next few days. Probably a short run today to Florence - about 17 miles. Actually the top ten anglers are going to weigh in their fish at the WalMart store in Florence. (WalMart sponsors this tourney). Sure would like to see the results. We will continue down the Tennessee to Yellow Creek, the beginning of the Tenn-Tom Waterway south. Then 450 miles to Mobile, Alabama.

#12 I can't beleive . . .

I can't believe it has been more than a month since I posted!  We traveled up the Tennessee to Huntersville where we picked up our friends Pam and Bruce Fritz visiting from Michigan.  As you can see below we visited the Space and Rocket center there. Huntsville, Alabama is known as Rocket City since it is the home of the huge complex, Redstone Arsenal and Marshall Space Flight Center where Wernher Von Braun world foremost rocket scientist helped lead the U.S. into the space age. The museum has the largest and finest collection of NASA rockets and army missiles.  There are dozens of hands-on exhibits, flight simulators, 354 foot Saturn V moon Rocket, 98 ton full size model of the Space Shuttle, Hubble Space Telescope - - it goes on and on.  Well worth a trip to Huntsville to visit.

Aldren, Bowman, Fritz, Fritz and Bowman

Life size!  This place is awesome!

Here is Pam and Bruce enjoying some of the Bluffs along the river as we leave Huntsville. It was a joy to share our experiences with these dear Friends.  We traveled on through Guntersville Lock to an anchorage and then headed back to Joe Wheeler State Park after a few days where we accompanied them back to Michigan on the 26th  of September. And yes, we were supposed to fly through Chicago but got caught up on the great shutdown of O'Hare airport there.  Was to leave Huntsville at 9:30 am but didn't get a flight till 5:40 pm to Dallas for a connect to Detroit at 10:30pm  Bill and I finally made it home at 1:30 am the next day.

It doesn't seem possible that we left home this year on June 8th. 3 and 1/2 months ago.  Everything was in order, we scooted up to Detour to winterize the cabin, back down to Kelly's in Traverse City, visited with Wendi, Jeff and kids and Sandi and JR and children.  Did Doctor checkups, Dentist Checkups and then were completely bored and ready to be back on the boat.  But, worth waiting for was Connie's 55th Class Reunion on Sat. Oct. 11th.  What a hoot!  Such fun to see everyone again. Unfortunately, 20% of us are gone, but the 20% that attended had a great time and looking forward to the 60th.

Bill's brother Fred was heading down to his place in Florida and offered to drive us back to Alabama where we left the boat. We invited him to attend the "Loopers" rendezvous with us and then on to Chattanooga for a few days up the Tennessee River. We will drop him off back at the Park where he left his car to head to Florida. We will then head South on the Tenn-Tom waterway toward Mobile, then on to Florida.  I think Fred will beat us there!!

This is some of the folks at the rendezvous getting gathered for a group photo. 225 people and some 55 boats.

some of the boats

Friday morn after the Rendezvous, 20 + boats head out at 8:30 am for a mass transit of the Joe Wheeler Lock and Dam 1 mile South of the marina.  I would have loved to be at the top of the lock  to photo all those boats in the lock at the same time. Yes, the lock is big enough.

Bill, Fred and I left around 1pm for Riverwalk Marina in Decator, Alabama, our favorite marina, Never anyone around, nobody in the office. Free!

We arrived late afternoon and headed for the Cafe, a bit of libation and supper. Decator is across the River.  Friday night at the Hard Dock is a happenin' place! Hard Rock at the Hard Dock til 2pm!!

We are on our way to Huntsville for a few days. Fred will visit the Space and Rocket Center; then off to Chattanooga.  We should be there around the 24th of  October. World Class Aquariums, Fresh and Salt water, Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga Choo Choo!  Looking forward to the visit.  It is great to be back on the water.