On Saturday, May 7th, we left Little Sabine Bay at 10:30 a.m. and were anchored at Ingram Bayou by 2:00 p.m. After several days of virtually no boat traffic, we encountered considerable boat traffic along the way – and in Ingram Bayou. The locals were buzzing in and out, skiing, etc., with no concern for their wakes. Oh well, no harm done. After all, it is the weekend!
Late that afternoon we did a little dinghy exploring as far back in the bayou as we could go, which wasn’t very far! But it was interesting. We also dinghied along each side of the bayou, to the mouth and back, in search of a piece of beach big enough to build a fire on. But the only one we found didn’t have any wood on it or near it so we gave up and went back to the boat.
Sunday (Mother’s Day) we took the day off from traveling. Todd fished that morning and brought back enough sea trout for a nice meal. Other than the locals buzzing around again, we had a quiet, relaxing day on the the boat. Meanwhile, back in Missouri my younger brother has been busy mushroom-hunting. And he found quite a prize! We learned that his picture had been featured on the local news so we looked it up online and copied the photos.
Nice one, Jimmy! Way to go!
We were off by 8:00 Monday morning for a 60-mile day through Mobile Bay to the Tensaw River Cut-off. Along the way we stopped at The Wharf Marina to pump out the holding tanks, get ice and rinse some of the saltwater off the boat. We are SO looking forward to being in fresh water again!
It was very calm in Mobile Bay for the first few hours. Then the waves started to build. By the time we re-entered the ship channel, we had two- to three-foot rollers pushing us from behind! It was also very busy with commercial traffic around the downtown area, plus there was considerable debris in the water. Plenty to keep you on your toes!
By 4:30 we were happy to be anchored at the Tensaw River Cut-off with a nice breeze. Temperatures are definitely warming up. That evening we made the mistake of leaving our doors and windows open and ended up with several bloodthirsty visitors in the aft stateroom. Time to start shutting things up at dusk!
Tuesday morning was very foggy so we weren’t able to leave the anchorage until after 9:00. With the current against us, it took more than seven hours to cover 52 miles but we were anchored at Three Rivers Lake by 4:30. There was also a lot of barge traffic, mostly southbound. Did I mention it is warming up? Near 90 degrees with virtually no breeze.
This is the 14-mile railroad bridge. Looks like they are finally going to replace the old swing bridge with a new lift bridge.
One of eight tows we saw on Tuesday.
This is the new railroad lift bridge, apparently being built six miles upriver at the I-65 bridge.
I’ve always wondered how they inspect the underside of these tall bridges. Now I know!
This is the Barry Steam Plant with its colorful red and white striped stacks.
After the recent flooding, washed-up buoys are a common sight along the shoreline.
We had more thick fog Wednesday morning but most of it had burned off by 8:30 so we headed out. We weren’t sure where we were going to anchor that evening but we decided to at least get through the Coffeeville Lock. It was a very quiet day on the water – no pleasure craft and only one tow – and we were able to lock through without delay.
Lots of sandy beaches along this part of the waterway.
This is the only tow we saw on Wednesday.
At 4:30 we checked out the area just south of Bobby’s Fish Camp as a possible anchorage and found more than 30 feet of water 20 feet from shore! We also looked at Turkey Creek but decided against it. Okatuppa Creek was another possibility but by then we had decided to go as far as Bashi Creek, another 25 miles. We figured we could make it by 8:00 p.m. at the latest, which would give us just enough light (we hoped!).
Beautiful scenery above the Coffeeville Lock.
In the end, though, after 71 miles and a lock over a ten-hour period, we stopped ten miles shy of Bashi Creek at Mile 135. As we rounded the bend at White’s Bluff, we saw a beautiful sandy area on the port side that was just too nice to pass up. So we turned around and came back to check it out and decided it would be perfect! We nosed in to the steep sandy bank, put the bow anchor in the sand, tossed a stern anchor off the swim platform and called it good!
Within about 30 minutes, we heard “Final Fantasy” making its way up the river toward us. “Final Fantasy” is an 80+ foot houseboat that pulled in to Three Rivers Lake to anchor Tuesday evening. Todd hailed them on the radio and told them this was a great spot if they were interested. So they pulled in as well and we dinghied over to meet the four-man crew. As it turns out three of the guys are helping the owner, a builder for Fantasy Yachts, move the boat to Chattanooga.
After two mornings of dense fog, Thursday morning was clear and “Final Fantasy” left at first light, determined to reach Demopolis (81 miles and a lock) by evening. Todd heard them preparing to leave and went over to see them off. Unfortunately, he did not take a photo of the boat to share on the blog.
Another destroyed buoy. Very few are still in the river.
We had planned to take the day off from traveling so we could enjoy the beautiful sand beach and have a nice fire that evening; however, Todd listened to the NOAA weather forecast just before noon and learned there was a chance of severe thunderstorms Thursday evening and Friday. So we decided it would be in our best interests to put some miles under the keel and try to get to Demopolis as soon as possible on Friday.
We traveled 53 miles between noon and 6:30 to drop the hook just off the waterway outside Chickasaw Bogue about Mile 188. It was an interesting anchorage and not one we would necessarily recommend, but our options were limited and we were out of the way of the tows, which is all that really matters!
Approaching Chickasaw Bogue in about five feet of water!
Before we reached Chickasaw Bogue, we passed through an area where you could clearly see evidence of at least one of the many tornadoes that devastated parts of Alabama in late April. This swath is pretty minor compared to the destruction in many areas and especially around Tuscaloosa.
Thursday night remained storm-free. Friday we were underway by 7:45 a.m. with 25 miles to go to reach the Demopolis Lock and another three to reach the Demopolis Yacht Basin. While we were in the lock waiting to be lifted, the lockmaster told Todd that it takes an amazing 21 million gallons of water to fill the lock. And it only lifts 40 feet as compared to Whitten Lock at Bay Springs Lake which lifts 84 feet!
Approaching the Demopolis Lock & Dam.
We arrived at the Yacht Basin just before noon and found Mike & Harriet off “Dual Dreams” ready to catch a line for us. As Todd said to Trenilla on the fuel dock: “Sweet Home Alabama – Demopolis, that is!” It always feels like home when we pull in here, partly because we became intimately familiar with the marina in June of 2006 when we spent seven weeks here after blowing a transmission two days into our live-aboard journey!
That afternoon the “gang” started happy hour at the wall early. And it wasn’t long before the storms that had been forecast materialized. They were relatively short-lived but still packed quite a punch. Mike & Harriet had friends in town for the evening so when they retired to their boat for dinner, David on “Moonstruck” joined us at the New Orleans Bar & Grill for dinner.
This is “The Wall” at the Boater’s Lounge. The colorful graphics are courtesy of Goldie, a long-time boater who spent a lot of time at the Demopolis Yacht Basin.
Saturday was spent defrosting the freezer, catching up on laundry, changing the generator oil and doing a little shopping before making our way to the wall between 4:30 and 5:00 p.m. The front that pushed through Friday afternoon brought considerably cooler air with it and we actually had to move inside the Boater’s Lounge in search of a little warmth!
Sunday was also cool and the cool weather is forecast to remain with us for several more days, although Monday is supposed to be the coldest with a high of 58 degrees and a low of 45. Hard to believe it was 90 degrees just a few days ago! But the 80’s should return by Thursday, which is much more typical for May in Alabama.
The cool weather didn’t keep the Captain from his bass fishing. Very nice!
Sunday evening we had dinner with good friends Rick & Peggy who we originally met at the marina in 2007. They have since moved off their boat and built a very nice home bordering the Black Warrior River. Rick & Peggy have done much of the work themselves and even though it is still a work in progress, they have done an impressive job and it looks wonderful!
This is the downstairs kitchen, complete with a hammock and a bathroom. You could just about enclose it and have fully functional living quarters.
This beautiful lot is next to Rick & Peggy’s house and is “For Sale By Owner.” Spread the word if you know of anyone who might be interested.
Enjoying another of Peggy’s wonderful home-cooked meals.
And her famous pecan pie, the Captain’s favorite!
Today is Monday, May 16th, and our plan is to spend a couple of weeks in Demopolis doing some boat maintenance and cleaning. Even though everything was in pretty good shape when we left St. Petersburg less than four weeks ago, it doesn’t stay that way very long. And we have company coming (Todd’s parents) in early June so there is much to be done!
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