Short & Sweet

This is a short & sweet posting.  We are now in our new home port in Biloxi, MS after staying one additional day in Mobile, AL waiting for the wind and waves to calm down for our trip.  While we were in Mobile, we enjoyed a birthday dinner with other loopers at a seafood restaurant called Felix's.  We also enjoyed an afternoon of music with Joel from Water Music and Bill from Carried Away.  Both are very talented musicians.

Felix Restaurant in Mobile, AL

Joyce's birthday dinner at Felix's Seafood restaurant

Joel (WaterMusic) and Bill (Carried Away) and Jessie (Louise)

What an amazing trip it has been.  On the way across the Mississippi Sound today we got to see lots of dolphins which was really an amazing treat.  Prior to departing this morning all the loopers had a big pot luck dinner last night.  Hilary counted about 40.  It was hard to say goodbye to so many new friends we've met over the past three months as today as we turned west for Biloxi, everyone else turned east for Florida to continue on the loop.

Our final looper potluck

Time to celebrate!  We made it!

Our first Biloxi sunset

Going down . . . .

And down a little more . . . .

In total we traveled 2,143 miles over the past three months and put 261.5 engine hours on our very reliable engines.  Average price for diesel was $4.05 per gallon and the average price for the transient well each night  was $1.04 per foot.

Thank you all who have been faithful blog followers.  With the completion of our journey, our blog is also complete.

We have entered Mobile Bay!!!

On day 84 of our trip, nearly three months since we started, we have reached the salty, open water of Mobile Bay in Mobile, AL!!  Entering Mobile Bay with us were with Water Music, Carried Away and The Zone.  After three days of travel and two nights at anchor, we were met yet again by many looper boats upon arrival at the marina.  As is typical, at least a dozen or more are here and last night many of us enjoyed movie night.  One looper graciously brought his TV and DVD off the boat and set it up in the common area.  The double feature was Captain Ron and Deliverance.  Very glad to be done with the river before watching Deliverance.

We struggled with fog 2 of the last 3 mornings and even though the fog has been discussed before, we got some really great pictures and video of the wall of fog to give an appreciation of how quickly visibility can be lost when you hit the wall of fog.

The "Wall of Fog"

Lead boat turning around to go back to the marina.

Because of a nearly 2 hour fog delay, we couldn't make Bobby's Fish Camp to tie for the night before dark so we chose to anchor off the main channel at Bashi Creek with Water Music about 27 miles short of our goal for the day.  Bashi Creek is about 10' deep, but narrow so the guide book recommends setting both a bow and a stern anchor to keep from swinging into the bank.  Because we were with our buddy boat Water Music, both boats set bow anchors and then back into each other and raft together, effectively setting the recommended two anchors to prevent swinging.  We had about half hour of daylight for docktails before darkness came.

Heading into Bashi Creek Anchorage
Deep but narrow

Water Music backing up to raft with us.

Debby from Water Music

Joel from Water Music securing a spring line between the boats

Rafted together for the night

Sunset during docktails on Water Music

The next morning - fog again and more waiting.  Once the fog cleared and we could get started, the river was like glass and we got some really neat pictures, including our first alligator.  We saw three on the way down at MM158, MM130 & MM123.  It is amazing that these creatures are so far up the river and above the last lock.  But as has been pointed out to us, the alligators can use the locks too!

Spillway at Coffeeville Lock - the last lock!

Coffeeville Lock - spillway side

Coffeeville Lock - still a bit foggy downriver

The river is like glass with a perfect reflection
of the trees back on the water.
Fog still looms ahead.

Smooth river - nice reflection

Alligator is there on the bank.
Click on picture to enlarge.

 The Black Warrior river has been very twisty as you can see from the chart plotter on the bridge.

We've gone north, south, east and west!!!

At the end of the day as the sun starts to set, it is beautiful, but blinding.  It reflects back off the water, so Bert came up with this hat configuration to protect his eyes from both the sun above in the sky and the sun below reflecting off the water.  The solution didn't last for long, because breathing became a problem.

Bert protecting his eyes from the sun and
the sun's reflection on the water

On the second night we anchored again with Water Music and Joel entertained us with some guitar music.  Joel is very talented and we all enjoyed singing along to the songs we knew.

Heading into anchorage night #2
at Three Rivers Lake

Joel entertaining us with his guitar
during docktails.

After weeks of a peaceful river ride, entering Mobile Bay was nothing but peaceful.  The northern part is very commercial with lots of activity and traffic on the waterway.  It was sort of shocking to see civilization after seeing only nature for many weeks.

Navy ships Freedom and Independence are being built in Mobile, AL by the Australian ship building company Austal USA.  These two vessels are part of the Littoral Combat Ship series (LCS) and will be used for patrols close to shore, sort of like Border Patrol.

Navy ships Freedom and Independence

Now that we have reached the gulf, where do we go from here?  Well, the answer to that question was answered for us last week.  Hilary received a great job offer in Biloxi, MS, only about 50 miles from here.  Our last travel day will be to our new home port in Biloxi, MS pending good weather on Tuesday.

Black Warrior River - the final leg of the trip

The mega yacht Freedom was our beacon of light for a second day in a row.  Originally we thought Freedom would leave very early from Columbus in the dark and we would catch the next lock after them once daylight came around 6:00 a.m.  Hilary had set the alarm clock for 5:30 am and finally rose at 5:40 a.m. to start her morning coffee anticipating a departure time around 6:30-7:00 a.m.  At 5:43 a.m. she noticed Freedom was still on the dock and just preparing to leave.  Suffice to say we set a new record to get off the dock to make the 1st lock with Freedom that morning - still about 1/2 hour before daylight.  Hilary ran to the bridge and turned on the blowers and started unhooking water, electric, lines, etc.  Bert managed to rouse out of bed and get to the bridge to start the engines.  We left the dock at 5:50 a.m. - a mere 7 minutes later and made the 1st lock with Freedom.  After the 2nd lock of the day we bid Freedom goodbye and mid afternoon pulled into our anchorage point for the night.

Sumpter Recreation Area was a  perfect anchorage to experience.  We were the only boat in the pool for the evening.  There was one unoccupied sailboat at anchor and one camper on the shore.  Unlike the 1st night of anchorage many weeks ago at the Olmsted Lock, Hilary had a very peaceful nights sleep in the master stateroom, rather than on the floor on the bridge.  It helped greatly that we arrived at 2:00 in the afternoon - three hours before dark so she could get accustomed to her surroundings.

Sumpter Rec Area - view from the stern

Sumpter Rec Area - view from port

Sumpter Rec area - view from starboard

Sumpter Rec Area - view from bow
Entrance from the Tenn-Tom waterway

 After a peaceful overnight anchorage, we traveled onto Demopolis Yacht Basin which marks the end of our journey down the Tenn-Tom waterway.   On the way we passed the Epes Cliffs, a breathtaking view.  The contrasting white is something we hadn't seen yet on the river.

Epes Cliffs

Epes Cliffs

Epes Cliffs

Epes Cliffs

Upon our arrival at Demopolis, we were greeted by many looper boats we hadn't seen since the Rendezvous  a couple weeks ago and we were thrilled to see them all.  To our surprise, Freedom was also still at the dock.  After an afternoon of periodically visiting with loopers and Freedom's crew, Captain Dan invited Bert and Hilary along with Bill and Chris from Catmandu to have a private tour of Freedom.  It was an amazing tour and we'd guess being allowed to tour a 150' privately owned mega yacht is something very few people get to do.  We have many pictures and only a few shown here.  Freedom even has a 4 story elevator in it.  Every detail was exquisite.   

Bar on the sundeck - Deckhand Allen on the far left.
Don't worry - he's drinking Mountain Dew.

Sun Deck and a gorgeous sunset in the background

One of the dining rooms, salon in the background

Walk in refrigerator - walk in freezer to the right

A view from the bow

Bert/Hilary, Allen, Chris on bow.
Check out the windlass to pull the anchors up.

Pilot House

One of the bars

Bert/Hilary and Bill/Chris in the elevator

After the tour of Freedom, six looper couples went to dinner at the marina restaurant.

Friday morning at 6:00 a.m. we will start the last 217 miles to the Gulf of Mexico (Mobile Bay) with WaterMusic (Joel/Deby).  This last section of the trip to the gulf is on the Black Warrior River and from what we've been told is heavy with commercial traffic.  There are no more marina's until we reach Mobile Bay.  Our goal is to travel 97 miles and traverse one lock to reach Bobby's Fish Camp.  It is a riverside restaurant where loopers are allowed to tie overnight for a premium price of $1.50 per foot.  No electric and no water from what we've been told.  It is an aggressive goal and several anchorage points are identified in case we can't make it that far before darkness falls tomorrow night.  The good news is, we will have a travel buddy for the next few days.

We should reach the Gulf after three or four 10+ hour days.  At that point we will be back at a marina with WiFi access, electric, and water.  Until then, we anchor out.  

77 Miles, 7 Locks and a Mega Yacht

Our journey last left off with us in Grand Harbor near Iuka, MS and at the beginning of the Tenn Tom waterway.  The Tenn Tom is divided into three sections.  The first 25 miles are the "divide cut". The next 52 miles are the "canal section" which is really a series of dams and pools.  The final 149 miles are considered "the river" with lots of Ox Bows.

As planned, we traveled the "divide cut" to Bay Springs Marina and enjoyed our first covered well.  The Tenn Tom is relatively desolate with few houses or towns along the way.  Below are some pictures from the "divide cut".

Beginning of the 25 mile "divide cut".
No stopping, no anchoring.

Left Descending Bank in the "divide cut"

Right Descending Bank in the "divide cut"

Baffles along the "divide cut" used to
prevent creeks from rushing in during
periods of high water.

Just scenery along the "divide cut".
No houses, no towns.

Being assigned a covered well has several advantages:  (1) no direct sunlight so the boat stays cool; (2) the boat stays dry when it rains; and (3) no dew on the windshield when you want to leave very early in the morning before the sun dries it up.  Well it rained for the first time in probably two weeks and it was nice to be in a covered well Saturday night.

Late in the day on Sunday, Freedom, a 150' mega yacht pulled in next to us for the night.  She is a beautiful vessel built in 2008 with a crew of five on-board who were all very friendly.  Freedom happened to be on the way back to Ft. Lauderdale, FL from a football game (Tennessee vs. Alabama) in Knoxville, TN.  Took the Plunge was dwarfed by her.  Freedom is so large, it was really tough to get any pictures of the entire vessel in the camera frame.

Port side of Freedom.
Notice how small Took the Plunge looks on the right.

Port side of Freedom.
The lines to tie her are as big around as your wrist.

Notice the size of the fender in comparison to the power pole.

Port side of Freedom with crew members.
Took the Plunge is on the left.
Freedom is taller than the building.

Shortly after Freedom arrived, Bliss, a trawler style vessel pulled into the marina too.  The captain of Bliss, Rusty, and Bert decided to go discuss morning departure time with Dan, the captain of Freedom so all three vessels could all catch the first lock together.  Because of the size of Freedom, there aren't many marinas large enough to accommodate her so Dan indicated they wanted to clear the first lock at daybreak because they had a long travel day planned to get to the next marina.  The decision was made to leave the dock at 5:15 a.m. - about 45 minutes before daylight.

The alarm went off at 4:30 a.m. and all three vessels departed in the dark promptly at 5:15 a.m.  Took the Plunge had a dew free, dry windshield from being in the covered well.  All three cleared the first lock at daybreak and were met with extremely heavy fog.

Freedom in the 1st Lock

We traveled about 400' behind Freedom for about an hour until the next lock in fog so heavy, sometimes we couldn't see her at all.  Thank goodness for radar.  Once we cleared the second lock, the fog dissipated and the day was going very smoothly.

Freedom in the 2nd Lock

Our original intention was to make a couple overnight stops and not arrive in Columbus, MS for a couple more days, but everything fell in place so well, we continued to follow Freedom past all our planned stops.  Nearly 12 hours (11 1/2 hours) after we all started this morning, all three vessels pulled into Columbus, MS just at dark having traveled 77 miles and passing through 7 locks.  It was an exceptional travel day!  Every lock we pulled up to had the doors open and the green light to enter the lock was flashing to proceed.  We've never had such good luck with the locks.  We dropped 252' total today in the 7 locks and have about 163' remaining in the last 5 locks until we reach sea-level at the Gulf of Mexico.

Upon our arrival at Columbus, MS, the crew member responsible for the engine room allowed us a tour of the engine room on Freedom.

Engine in Freedom's engine room

Freedom's Engine room

Engine Exhaust - so shiny!

Freedom's service panel for batteries

Tomorrow Freedom will leave before daybreak for Demopolis, AL, which is three locks and 118 miles away.  We however, will wait until daylight and anchor at Sumpter Landing Recreation Area tomorrow night after passing through two locks and covering 66 miles.  Sumpter is a popular anchorage and we likely won't be alone there tomorrow.    Sumpter is a nice protected basin and an excellent anchorage according to other loopers.  Hilary is tentatively looking forward to a peaceful night "on the hook" at Sumpter.  With luck, Wednesday evening we'll be in Demopolis, AL - in half the time we originally predicted.