December 7, 2015

We arrived in Fairhope, AL on Nov. 25, the night before Thanksgiving. It took 3 days and locking through 4 Locks to make it down the Tombigbee/Black Warrior River to Mobile. Here's how those days went:


11-22-2015
First night after leaving Pirate's Cove Marina we anchored out at Rattlesnake II. Beautiful anchorage just off the River - quiet and peaceful, no rattlesnakes. We could see the Tows go by but we didn't feel them.  It has a constant gentle current, just enough to hold the boat from swinging.
We woke up to 27 degrees outside, making Florida sound better all the time.

11-23-2015

Kingfisher at Demopolis

The next afternoon we reached Demopolis Yacht Basin and stayed at Kingfisher Marina. That is a well equipped Marina with the best laundry room and bathrooms we've seen.  Pretty nice with pumpout fixture on each slip and very wide new concrete finger docks.




11-24-2015

Kit with a couple of new friends, Dick and Randy, we met at Columbus Marina.

We woke early the next morning to heavy, low fog. We had planned to leave with 6 other boats to lock through Demopolis Lock but the Lockmaster wouldn't allow passage in the fog. We waited about an hour and when we got the call we all made our way to the Lock and 
each boat was able to tie up to a bollard. Phew! I am really not looking forward to having to "raft up" in a Lock.

We traveled 98 miles that day to Bobby's Fish Camp. It's a funky dock on the side of the River with some Fish Camp Lodges on the hillside. The reason it is so well known is that it is the only dock to tie up to and the only place to take on fuel for a 200 mile stretch. The India Jayne holds 500 gallons of fuel but some boats carry much less and cannot make the entire 200 miles from Demopolis to Mobile on one tank. 

Bobby's Fish Camp is also known for the fresh catfish dinners the little restaurant will cook up if there are at least 8 diners. There were 8 of us so we feasted on catfish and cold slaw. We spent the night tied up to the dock but not at the end with electricity! We used the generator to power the heater and went to bed early.





11-25-2015
On Wednesday we left by 6:00 a.m. basically because the other 3 boats were leaving at that time and the Lockmaster wanted us all to come through the Coffeeville Lock together. We've heard stories about the one boat that sleeps in and ends up waiting at the Lock for several hours before the Lockmaster will open up again.

 

 

We traveled the last 118 miles to Mobile at a speed of 17 (14.8 knots) miles per hour. Mobile is a very busy port with big boat (commercial and military) traffic. There are so many interesting structures and buildings to see in Mobile after having been on the River for 2 months. 

Stelth Attack Ships made od aluminum

But there is nowhere to dock in the Mobile Harbor area so we  continued on down and across the Bay for another 20 miles or so to reach Eastern Shore Marine in Fairhope, AL. Boating on the Bay feels really different than the River. The Bay has bigger waves and a long fetch of wind which changes a smooth ride to a choppy, wet ride. AND, it's salt water.

               EASTERNSHORE MARINE, FAIRHOPE,AL.

We've been tied up in Fairhope for the last 2 weeks while many jobs are being done on The India Jayne. Eastern Shore Marine is a small yard with sail and power boats. There are liveaboards and transient boaters here as well as commercial shrimp boats and fishing vessels.

NOTE: Other Loopers should know that the staff here at Eastern Shore Marine, headed by Ed and Keith, is professional, courteous, considerate, reasonable, expedient and, above all, competent. Technicians, Mike and Dwell, address, locate and solve boat problems quickly and effectively while making the boat owner feel in good hands and at ease.  They have given us great service in a family-like, caring atmosphere. 

 

The Fairhope Yacht Club is just across the narrow channel of Fly Creek. With the Eastern Shore Marine complimentary loaner car we've been able to see a good part of the community. Fairhope is a charming town with some stately bay side homes. It has a village atmosphere that reminds me of Carmel and Mendocino at the same time.

 

 

There we are to the right of the sport fisher under the roof.

Docktails

 DAYS END

 

 

We have been treated to a beautiful sunset every day we've been here



Shrimp Boats



Shrimpers return with their catch, and we've bought

 

some huge shrimp (I know, I know...oxymoron) . I've learned how to pull the heads off and slide the shells off! Cooked a tasty cajun dinner with some herbs and spices given to us by Annie off "Rock Me Baby".

 







West from yacht club into Mobile Bay



A FEW GOOD MEALS

Christopher and Stephanie, the Canadian sailors


 
 


Bill and Annie from Rock Me Baby, Don and Joanne whose boat name I cannot remember, and me and Kit at Fly Creek Cafe. I am not a fan of the Snapper Cheeks but loved the Grilled Shrimp Bowl and the fried pickles.

 

 

 

Kit making an enduring friendship

 

 

 

Afternoon walk on the dock

 

 

 

Janis and Chris Soper from Paraiso. Great dinner at Gambino's.

 

Here are some pictures of the living space inside the boat. The India Jayne has a forward stateroom and head, an aft stateroom and head, galley down, salon and lower helm station.

 

Under the galley stairs is the entrance to the engine room and an all in one washer/dryer unit. It works quite well actually.

 

There is also an aft patio deck and a fly bridge with the upper helm.

 

 

 

11-13-2015


We departed Aqua Marina on 11-13 and anchored out for the next two nights. Peaceful settings with birds swooping by and fish jumping out of the water....

We pulled into Columbus, Mississippi on the 15th. Weather said storm was due in 2 days so we decided to stay put for the wind and rain. We ended up staying a week waiting for the high water and the debris to subside. While we were there we borrowed the car and checked out the area.

We see so many beautiful sun
sets on the water.

Found my photo of Tennessee Williams childhood home.

Plantation Home 



beautiful grounds but it is winter now

Quite surprised to see my dining room chairs in their dining room!

We left Columbus through a flood of water hyacinth blocking the entry to the lock. The rain had carried the hyacinth down river until it stopped up at the lock. We went very, very slowly...

Friends on this sailboat needed some assistance. Their engine overheated in the hyacinth and we towed them to the side of the river where they anchored just barely off the ship channel. There they stayed for over 24 cold, scary hours waiting for a tow. The tow boat couldn't get through the hyacinth!

 

Here are some views on the River.

Some real estate on the river

Making our way to the next Marina. I know it looks peaceful but the wind was coming up.

Ah...found it. Entrance is only 4 1/2 ft deep.

We tied up across the dock from this boat. Wow, that was some storm!

We got back to our boat and found this itty, bitty little tug tied up next to her. Sooo cute!

Arrival at Aqua Marina in Mississippi

The India Jayne tied up at the Aqua Marina transient dock

The view from our aft sundeck at the transient dock

Dock Master Bo and Kit taking care of a dirty job

Morning after anchoring out near Fulton, MS

Captain Kit thinking about Neon Cheese Fries and ribs

Mmmmm.....fries

In Columbus, MS. I accidentally erased the house photo but here is the placard

If you can enlarge this recipe and mix this up you will have the best olive oil bread dip. We found this in Florence, Alabama.

Waiting for this tow to vacate the Lock. Took about an hour. It's a typical 8 barge tow and carries the equivalent cargo of 480 semi trucks, about 12,000 tons .

Finally got to enter the Lock. We're down bound toward Mobile but still in Mississippi here.

Nov. 10, 2015

Leaving Wheeler Marina for Aqua Marina




WHEELER LODGE IN FALL

It was sunny and calm, just the kind of day we'd awaited for a 60 miles transit. 0800, a record early departure, sent us right to Wheeler Lock, then, ten miles later, Wilson lock. From there was just a nice cruise downstream, destination Aqua Marina at the north end of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. We had two days of boat repairs and BBQ ribs research here.  

NEON FRIES!

We also visited the Shiloh Civil War Battlefield twice, getting perspective on what had to happen to keep us one country.
 
While side-tied at Aqua the wind shifted at night to SSE and slammed us against the dock with great force. We were compelled to deploy all fenders and fender boards to protect the boat from the dock, as the surface is covered with jagged bolt heads.



WORLDS BIGGEST FENDER DISPLAY

 The Tenn-Tom is the largest project ever undertaken by the Army Corp. of Engineers.  It required moving 1/3 more earth than the Panama Canal and is 5 times as long.  It actually connects two separate drainages, that of the Tennessee River and the Tombigbee, sending Tennessee R. water down to Mississippi and Alabama. The politics had to have been convoluted, to say the least. The project, finished in 1984, took 12 years to build and was  over 200 years in the planning, starting with French explorers.

The Tenn-Tom cuts many days off the barge trip from the Gulf to Chattanooga and beyond.  An average barge "tow" carries the equivalent of 500 semi trucks. 



Nov. 7th, 2015, Wheeler Marina, northwest Alabama

Power of the Burgee

We have been here a week now, doing lots of projects, meeting some good people and touring the surrounding areas. Living, so to speak, in different parts of the country is fascinating, seeing the different styles, cultures, foods, economies and historical sites.

Weather has had some rain, not good for biking, so a car is very nice at times as we are a few miles from town.

One day, having noticed our AGLCA Burgee, Wayne of  Help Me Rhonda, a Gold Looper, stopped by the boat and offered to take us shopping.  Wayne and Rhonda took us to lunch and all over the area for provisions.  They gave up their day to help us out, which we think is pretty special. Thanks, you guys, and thanks, AGLCA!

Our boat neighbors, Steve and Eva, have a rental car and have taken us riding as well.  We feel lucky.

Our boat is one of  only two remaining at the once-packed transient dock. 
Yesterday was balmy. The air has acquired a chill today.  I'm thinking like a duck, time to head south. 
Tomorrow we too, will be gone.




All Alone for now






Wheeler Lodge in November