Day 169 – Monday, November 29, 2010

85° 43.699’ W

30° 08.723’ N

Bay Point Marina

Panama City, Florida



Along the Ditch



Approaching the Ditch



Today was a long day filled with every imaginable weather condition. We departed under marginal conditions which turned ugly within minutes. As we proceeded east into Choctawhatchee Bay the weather started to build rapidly. As we worked our way out of the 3 to 4 foot seas it settled down to 2 footers. About 4 hours into the day it turned to a rough chop with the exception of the DITCH for rest of the way. The Ditch is a man made channel connecting the Choctawhatchee Bay and the West Bay. The water is protected from the wind so we had a couple of hours of scenic and calm cruising. The Ditch is how the ICW was constructed, connecting natural bodies of water together forming an inside passage, ie; ICW. The sand is white, and viewed from the Ditch looks like snow. (Video is crusing along the Ditch)



West Bay



About an hour out from the marina we spotted the three boats we had followed yesterday. A few hours later we caught up with them and slipped into line as we had done the day before.



Arriving at Bay Point Marina

Six hours later we broke away from the convoy and entered Bay Point Marina to begin a one month stay. This is a very beautiful marina within a gated community. I think we picked a winner to leave the boat. Once we leave the marina the harbor master will reposition the boat letting it float free from the dock which is good for the boat in a tidal area!

When we arrived, there were Loopers to great us and help us get tied up. Within an hour we were on a neighbors Yacht having happy hour. A group of other boaters cane over and we were introduced to all. What a great life!

 

Day 168 – Sunday, November 28, 2010

86° 35.580’ W

30° 25.580’ N

Fort Walton Yacht Club

Choctawhatchee Bay in Cinco Bayou

Fort Walton Beach, Florida



Leaving Orange Beach, Alabama



Welcome to Florida!



Aloong the ICW



Along the ICW



Barb and I were up early and got underway by 7am. For the first four hours the wind kept building resulting in 2 to 3 foot waves with the wind on our nose. By the end of the day the wind was gone and the seas were flat! We did a total of 65 miles which we consider a long day. Tomorrow we hope to reach Panama City weather permitting! Once there we will ready the boat for its one month stay while we return home!



Along the ICW



Along the ICW



The Yacht Club were staying at tonight was recommended by Jim Hanrahan a fellow SRYC member. He had called all the right people so when we called from our boat on the ICW they knew who we were and took great care of our needs! Thanks Jim!





Skip - Barb - Darlene - Neal

Barb contacted old friends from LaGrange - Darlene & Neal Anderson who live in Niceville, Florida. They came to the boat for a visit and from there we went to dinner and had a very enjoyable evening. During our dinner conversation she mentioned a name who happens to be the sister of my oldest friend both who lived next door to me while growing up in Bellwood, Illinois! We do live in a small world!



Day 167 – Saturday, November 27, 2010

87° 31.535’ W

30° 18.587’ N

Bear Point Marina

Orange Beach, Alabama



Leaving Marina



The day started out with me stepping on an icy dock and falling on my -------! Other than being sore and a little dinged up we decided to get underway. There was small craft warnings posted but the bay didn’t look that bad so three boats got under way. Barb and I have a plane to catch December 2^nd so we don’t have time to waste! One of the three boats was Scoperta (Barb and John Flint). It was fun cruising with them again even if it was only for one day! The weather turned out to be mild and we cruised 41 miles. I am pleased to be out of Mobile Bay and into the ICW (Intercoastal Waterway)!

Approaching the ICW!

When we arrived at Bear Point Marina the wind was really blowing  and backing into the slip was a challenge.

Our friends Ricki and Carl on “Quest” drove to Bear Point to join us for dinner while waiting for their boat to be repaired. They arrived just in time for happy hour with Jim and Cathy on “Merried with Her”! The eight of us had dinner at the marina which was very good.



Channel marker



Moor $tuff  & Scoperta on right



Barb and I are now back on our boat and planning to leave early tomorrow and log another 50 to 60 miles. The weather is questionable but we don’t anticipate having any problems. Our goal is to be underway by 7am and head to Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

 



Day 166 – Friday, November 26, 2010

87° 54.060’ W

30° 32.60’ N

Eastern Shore Marina, east shore of Mobile Bay on Fly Creek (day 5)

Fairhope, Alabama

Today was cold and wet! Carl and I drove Bill to pick up his car in Columbus, Mississippi! When I signed on for the road trip I thought the trip was about 120 miles to Columbus – wrong it was 250 miles plus or 500 miles round trip! We left at 7 am and returned around 5:15 pm and a good time was had by all! On return, I was told that we should have had adult supervision! I can’t imagine why!

The wind was blowing and the temperature dropped from the high 70s to the low 40s by the time we returned to the boat! The weather doesn’t look good for getting out of here tomorrow as small craft warnings have been posted! I will set an alarm and check the weather early tomorrow morning!

Day 165 – Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 2010

87° 54.060’ W

30° 32.60’ N

Eastern Shore Marina, east shore of Mobile Bay on Fly Creek (day 4)

Fairhope, Alabama

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

It’s 10:15 am and we are sitting in our boat watching the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade! It’s in the high 70s with a little breeze gently blowing through the boat. It’s a lot different than being home with the fireplace going!

We got a call from Bruce and Chris early this am. Their safely in Tarpon Springs after an adventuresome trip! Jim and Brenda on Dream Catcher, who were traveling with them, picked up a crab pot and had to be towed into Tarpon Springs. Every one is safe and glad to be in port.

Barb and I will make our crossing taking the longer and slower route some time in January. For now were waiting for a weather front to blow through for we can get started again. At present it appears that Saturday afternoon will be our first chance to get out of Mobile Bay and enter the ICWW.



Loopers

 Today we had a great experience having Thanksgiving dinner with new friends as well as some old friends we had met while cruising the Great Loop. I’m not sure of the final count at dinner but I do know that there were 19 AGLCA loopers at the dinner including our host and hostess Vicki and Bob Riggs. They opened their home to all of us while providing a wonderful meal for all to enjoy. Thanks again – Vicki and Bob! 

Dessert



Main Course















Day 164 – Wednesday, November 24, 2010

87° 54.060’ W

30° 32.60’ N

Eastern Shore Marina, east shore of Mobile Bay on Fly Creek (day 3)

Fairhope, Alabama

Today Barb and I have stayed on the boat and just enjoyed visiting and doing a lot of nothing.

Barb and John are back on their boat after traveling to New Orleans. We spent some time catching up with their travels and future plans.

An hour later another boat we had traveled with arrived in port. Bill and Charlotte on “Precious Time” came over to our boat for a visit and are planning to join the Loopers attending the Thanksgiving Dinner tomorrow. We met some new loopers that will also be there……………..sounds like its going be a lot of fun.

Not being with immediate family tomorrow will be strange but we will be home in eight days!

Early this afternoon we talked with Chris and Bruce that were in the process of crossing the Gulf. They couldn’t talk due to some type of problem with the boat they were traveling with. I sure hope they didn’t get into an area of crab pots! Said they would call when they got to land…………we haven’t heard from them yet.

Day 163 – Tuesday, November 23, 2010

87° 54.060’ W

30° 32.60’ N

Eastern Shore Marina, east shore of Mobile Bay on Fly Creek (day 2)

Fairhope, Alabama

It’s been a great day full of surprises. This morning we received a knock on the boat and Bob Riggs came to our boat to invite us to their home for Thanksgiving dinner! Bob and his wife Vicki, who was waiting in the car with a broken foot, are the AGLCA harbor hosts in Fairhope! They are hosting a Thanksgiving Dinner for loopers passing through this area. Once we realized who was coming we changed our travel plans and quickly accepted their gracious invitation. 



Fairhope Avenue



Panini Pete's



Later, Carl called and said he and Ricki would pick us up around noon. We drove into Fairhope to do a little Christmas shopping and just enjoy the town. Lunch was in order so we ate at Panini Pete’s Café and Bakeshop. The restaurant was featured on the food channel and is listed as one of the top 100 places to eat in Alabama! The temperature was close to 80 degrees so eating outside was perfect as was the food!

Barb and Ricki continued to shop so Carl and I found a watering hole and waited for their return! They didn’t take long to return so Carl and I didn’t get into to much trouble!



They just dropped us off at our boat and departed for Dog River where their boat is being repaired. We will see them again Thursday at diner.



We had a call from Bruce and Chris who will cross the Gulf tomorrow morning starting around 4am! They will take the fast route a 180 mile run to Tarpon Springs from Carrabelle.

When Barb and I start out for the west coast of Florida we will do the slow route to conserve fuel as well as visit a few additional cities along the way. Considering we don’t have a schedule to keep and the additional cost for gas for accelerated speed --- slower makes a lot of sense!

Day 162 – Monday, November 22, 2010

87° 54.060’ W

30° 32.60’ N

Eastern Shore Marina, east shore of Mobile Bay on Fly Creek

Fairhope, Alabama



Leaving Dog River



Carl and Ricki’s boat was pulled this morning and the damage to their boat was more extensive than they had anticipated. Both props need to be changed as well as the starboard shaft and coupler. With the additional work and the uncertainties of when it will be completed Barb and I said farewell to them and headed across the bay.



With the exception of a rain squall just before we left Dog River and a few drops of rain during our crossing the day was very pleasant!



Headed across Mobile Bay to Fairhope

Once we realized that we were only 45 minutes away by car we invited Carl and Ricki to join us tomorrow for touring the quaint little town of Fairhope. We sure hope they can join us for the day considering their situation.

We have actually have caught up with John and Barb, as their boat is in a slip, 75 feet from ours! No one was home so Barb gave them a phone call and found out that they are on a road trip and will return back in a few days. There’s a small possibility that we will see each other before we must move ahead to where we will leave our boat in December.



View of Mobile Bay from where
we are docked at Eastern Shore

Bruce and Chris have moved ahead and will attempt to cross the Gulf to where they will leave their boat when they return home. Barb and I will probably see them in Illinois when we are home!

There are few loopers here so obtaining the courtesy car wasn’t a problem. We drove into town to see the holiday decorations and pick up a small amount of supplies. The town of Fairhope is beautifully decorated for the holidays with thousands of tiny white lights and all of the other trappings that go with it.



Day 161 – Sunday, November 21, 2010

88° 05.512’ W

30° 34.063’ N

Dog River Marina / west shore of Mobile Bay on Dog River (day 3)

Mobile, Alabama



Next Endeavour leaving



The morning started with Stan and Colleen fueling their boat then leaving the dock and headed west to Houston, Texas. It was a very sad moment for all but that’s what happens as you are traveling and meeting great people then separating and going different directions!



Barb and I have decided to wait for Carl and Ricki to get their boat repaired tomorrow then move across the bay to Fairhope, Alabama with them.



USS Alabama



USS Alabama



The four of us went to visit the battleship USS Alabama! All I can say is if you are anywhere close to Mobile, Alabama please take the opportunity to visit her! There are three different self guided tours available, and we did all three!

On the way back to our boats we stopped for a delightful shrimp dinner at The Mariner Restaurant which is across the channel from Dog River Marina.



Day 160 – Saturday, November 20, 2010

88° 05.512’ W

30° 34.063’ N

Dog River Marina in Mobile Bay (day 2)

Mobile, Alabama

Last night while trying to sleep we heard the pitter patter of foot steps on the deck over our heads. We were not to sure what it was so I got up to take a look. It probably was a large pelican that I saw fly off only to return later on. I do know - that big birds leave big messes on your deck!

Today we reviewed navigation charts and planned our next few days of cruising. Barb did some house keeping and I checked out the engines. When ever we decide to leave Dog River Marina we will be prepared to go.

Stan dropped his new $300 cell phone into the water. Carl and I dragged a magnet across the bottom of the harbor for an hour until we recovered it! We had the fun of fishing for it and Stan gets to turn it in for a new replacement!

The six of us went to dinner across the channel from where our boats are docked! The food was good but the mood was a little flat as Stan and Colleen will depart tomorrow and move their boat to Texas! We sure did enjoy their company and look forward to seeing them in the spring when they return to Florida in their motor home.

Day 159 – Friday, November 19, 2010

88° 05.512’ W

30° 34.063’ N

Dog River Marina in Mobile Bay

Mobile, Alabama



Pelicans



Mobile here we come!



Mobile Harbor



Mobile Harbor



What a spectacular experience it was to enter Mobile Bay! For over an hour we slowly dodged very large ocean going ships and newly loaded barges being pushed from the bay side docks into the river system! Old ships were in dry dock getting new life while new ships were being built at the water front. Oil rigs were being repaired as well as newly built. All in all there was a lot of activity going on with boats, tugs and ships moving in every direction. Once past the shipping harbor we entered Mobile Bay a large open bay that stretches for miles in every direction. The routes are marked very carefully because the water depth is shallow and if out of the channel the boat will run aground. Another problem is the tide! You need to know what is going on or you will be on the bottom without enough water to float your boat!



Mobile Harbor



Mobile Harbor



Barb and I followed our friends into Dog River Marina where they will have some minor repairs made to their boats. We may stay here for up to four nights before crossing the Bay to a town called Fairhope. At this point in time were dragging our feet and killing time before placing our boat in a marina and returning home for the holidays.



Mobile Harbor



Mobile Harbor



Chris and Bruce were at this marina less than 24 hours ago and had an electrical problem checked as well as his props changed. Last I heard they were moving quickly to get across the gulf and store their boat before returning home.



Entering Mobile Bay



The six of us bowered the courtesy car and drove into Mobile for dinner. Dinner was good and a good time was had by all.





Day 158 – Thursday, November 18, 2010

87° 59.708’ W

30° 52.145’ N

At anchor Big Bayou Canot – mile 16.6 on Mobile River

Alabama



Leaving last nights anchorage



Dolly Parton bridge
(this is what the locals call it)



Getting ready to anchor for the night



Another great day on our way to the Gulf! We woke to rain that stopped by the time we were ready to weigh anchor and get underway. After a few minutes of fumbling around, the three boats starter down river. A few minutes later our Canadian friends in The Old Grouch weighed anchor and joined us for the day. Sixty-five miles later we entered Big Bayou Canot and found a location that was perfect for the three of us to have enough room to anchor together as we did the night before.



Our Canadian friends anchored a few hundred feet from us and joined us for dinner on Stan and Colleen’s boat. As always the food was superb but the company was great!



Tomorrow we will enter Mobile Bay and go to Dog Harbor Marina. Carl will have his props checked, Stan will change his oil and Barb and I will do a little house keeping.

Its 8 pm and everyone has returned to their boats for the night. With the cold night air and total darkness it’s easy to sleep!



Day 157 – Wednesday, November 17, 2010

87° 54.545’ W

31° 24.395’ N

Black Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway 

At anchor – mile 79

Alabama



Morning for in Bashi Creek



Another great day on the river! Once the fog lifted everyone untied the boats and slowly entered the river. We waited another 20 minutes for better vision due to a little light fog before moving down stream.



Leaving Bashi Creek



As the day progressed we decided to move further south than originally planned. We did complete over 70 miles today - a full day when cruising on a boat. The scenery is quite beautiful but repetitious. There is nothing out there but trees and more trees. On rare occasions there may by a house but their few and far between. Since we passed through the last lock on the waterway we are now at sea level and will experience tides.

We are now anchored on the edge of the river in 20 feet of water. The two larger boats anchored with their bows pointing up stream and I anchored with by bow pointing down stream. The end result is we have a three point tie since were rafted together. I think tonight is going to be rocky due to the barges passing by, They know were here and slow down when passing, but they do kick up one heck of a wake even when going slow!

Tomorrow we will do another 70 miles and anchor out again before entering Mobile Bay the next day. Mobile Bay has the reputation to be full of floating debris both on and under the surface of the water. Debris can rein havoc with your props! Also the bay is generally windy and rough and very busy with ship traffic.



Day 156 – Tuesday, November 16, 2010

88° 04.257’ W

31° 27.321’ N

Black Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway 

Bashi Creek – at anchor – mile 145

Alabama



Leaving Demopolis



In Demopolis Lock



Waiting for lock to open



We woke up to one heck of a storm! It rained all night and became windy and ugly about the time we were planning to get underway. There were two weather fronts moving our way and we ducked out of the harbor as the first storm passed through and headed to the lock between the storms. The lock took five of us in and dropped us 40 feet as the second storm just missed us while in the lock! It remained cool and windy all day but we still made our 70 miles to Bashi Creek.



Bashi Creek



Bashi Creek is narrow and shallow but protected! Next Endeavour entered first and dropped her anchor 10 feet from the bank then put out a stern line to a tree on the other side of the creek. This was a pretty good feat for a 48 foot long by 18 foot wide catamaran! Next, Quest a 40 foot boat rafted to her then our 35 foot boat rafted to the two of them! We look like a big plug in this little creek! It will be interesting tomorrow morning when we get underway. All of us are resting close to the bottom and will kick up a little mud in the process of getting out of here!



While under way today, Ricki cooked a pork roast with dressing and Barb and Colleen made the side dishes and desert. The food was great and the company even better! A little food, a few drinks --- life is good!

It’s 8am and every one is back on their boats to get some sleep. A 7am departure comes early considering what need to be done before leaving the anchorage!

Tomorrow we hope to do another 70 miles.

Day 155 – Monday, November 15, 2010

87° 50.327’ W

32° 31.631’ N

Demopolis, Alabama (day 2)

While the Anderson’s had their boat checked for an electrical problem the weather turned bad so we all elected to spend an additional day. We consider ourselves lucky that the marina had the space to accommodate all of us.

Barb and Ricki went to town to shop while the rest of us dried out and rested up for happy hour!

Ricki made chili and every one else brought something else to enjoy. Actually - in a short period of time a dinner party was put together for all to enjoy. In addition to the three boats traveling together another boat from Canada, “The Old Grouch” joined us. It was a fun evening, but early, with everyone agreeing that 7am was a good time to get underway tomorrow.

The weather man said it wasn’t going to be very nice tomorrow – tomorrow will tell the story!

Day 154 – Sunday, November 14, 2010

87° 50.327’ W

32° 31.631’ N

Leaving the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway and entering the

     Black Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway (mile-217)

Demopolis Yacht Basin (mile 216.1)

Demopolis, Alabama



Next Endeavour and Quest
 leaving Ox Bow



Approaching "White CLiffs"



White Cliffs



White Cliffs



A good portion of today was spent cruising in a light mist. The sky was overcast and the temperature was cool and bone chilling damp all day. Our pace was slow with a lot of scenery and wildlife to see. There was a section of the river flanked with white cliffs that are compared with the white cliffs of Dover, England. Our average speed was 7.5 mph which was a delightful pace considering we are now dragging our feet and don’t have a schedule to make until we leave the boat the first of December. Our fuel economy almost doubled from the 10 mph we were traveling a few days before. Once in the Gulf I will pick up the pace again for some of the longer distance runs.



Along the way - wonderful colors!



Tonight we are considering ourselves lucky to have a marina to stay at. The number of boats on the river moving south has been overwhelming for the marinas to handle especially since the water level is down. While topping off my gas tanks with 80 gallons of fuel a barge pulled into the terminal which was on the other side of the dock from me. The barge was expected to take to take on 16,000 galloons of diesel! Size does matter!



Stan and Colleen, on Next Endeavour have an electrician coming to their boat to check out a potential charging problem. This could delay our start a few hours but no one is in a hurry – especially Barb and I! Carl and Ricki, on Quest, have invited all for dinner tomorrow night while we anchor together --- somewhere TBD on the river!



We are now planning to anchor out for the next three nights on our way to Mobile. Once in Mobile we will return to staying at marinas.


For the next few days we will probably not have phone or internet service! Once back to civilization in Mobile – we will post the blog!