Mobile Ala (mile 1) to Aqua yacht Harbor (mile 480) fall of 2009

After a windy night at Grand Mariner Marina on Dog river we set out for Mobile and the the Tenn-Tom water way to escape the wind and waves.

 

As soon as we passed into the protection of the Mobile Harbor area the waves were gone!!  We were among ships that were huge.  Bridge ahead is start (mile one) of the Mobile River and the Tenn-Tom waterway.

A new type Navy vessel being built.

Downtown Mobile

After passing under the bridge we entered the waterway that would take us to Kentucky Lake.

In some areas it is so wide you can barely see acrost and in others its very narrow.

Swampy

The famous "Bobby's Fish Camp" that every Looper has memories of.

Aqua Yacht Harbor Marina ar the top of the Tenn-Tom 480 miles  and 12 locks later.

Anchoring with alligators can be standard fare on the Tenn8Tom.  This is a creek out of "Three River Lake" at flood stage on the lower part of the waterway.

Apalachicola to Mobile Bay (Remembering fall of 2009)

On our way.  Apalachicola river is swampy, beautiful and full of alligators.  JoAnn actually became fond of one little fella following his mom???  This is a woman who is terrified by a garter snake.  Go Figure!  Said he was qute but not enough to cuddle.

Great Escape at St Andrews Marina on St. Andrews Bay. 

bridge on the intercostal waterway ( ICW )

Lake Wimico is a beautiful treat on the ICW but it is very shallow and you gotta stay in the narrow channel!  This is not easy as the markers are very far apart, requireing binoculars to see them.  We didn't go aground but did touch bottom in there.  Scarry!

Panama City Bridge after crossing East Bay after comming out of Lake Wimico.

Saville Harbor is a wonderful stop in Pensicola Bay.  The "Fish House Resturant" in the backround is a must while staying there. 

Bear Point Marina's boat store at the gas dock.  Bear Point is one of our favorite stops in Orange Beach on the ICW off of Perdido Bay.  We've actually docked there 3 times over the years.  Free coffee on the porch every morning and great people there.

Bear Point Marina.  The porch at the store is called "the porch of knowledge" and no matter what the subject in the morning someone will proclaim to have all the answers. There is also a resturant called "Flippers".

LuLu's dock and resturant on the ICW is a favorite Orange Beach "hangout".  LuLu is Jimmy Buffett's sister and he occasionaly makes unanouced appearences to play there.  She also has a marina called "Home Port" next to the resturant that is a good "hurricane hole"

Cruising on down the ICW passed LuLu's and Bon Secour.  Lower helm in the pilothouse of Great Escape.

Following two other boats leaving the ICW to enter Mobile Bay.  Our goal was to get accrost and into the Tenn-Tom Bigbee waterway before the bad weather thats was predicted got to us. 

Mobile Bay.

Shrimp boat in middle of the the Bay  The next day when we continued the last 12 miles, the Bay was very rough with 4 to 5 foot waves.  Normally we don't go when the seas are over 3 foot waves.

Tied up at the dock of Grand Mariner Marina on Dog River just south of Mobile. The goal was to leave early the next morning as the bad weather with "small craft warnings" had been issued for the a.m.  The goal was to make it above Mobile (12 miles) to the Tenn-Tom Bigbee waterway to escape the heavy seas predicted.  If we didn't go we would have to stay in Dog River for 2 weeks waiting out the storms.  Our next blog will be remembering the Tenn-Tom Bigbee from Mobile Bay to Kentucky Lake on our way home to St. Louis.

Remembering Carabel to Apalchacola fall of 2009

Docked fishing boats on Apalachacola waterfrount.  After leaving the Moorings Marina in Carabelle its a short trip acrost St. George Sound to Apalachacola Bay.

Shrimp boats are a fading reminder of days gone by  when the area was a major port.  The town now has become a "yuppie" place to visit along the panhandle coast.  Lots of shops and resturants and fresh seafood from the bay.

Looking back at Apalachacola Bay as you start to pass marinas heading up Scipio Creek to "Scipio Creek Deep Water Marina"

Sunset

Papa Joes resturant at Scipio Creek Marina.  I'm reminded of the time we ate there two nights in a row while waiting for the Gulf to settle down.  Apalachacola is a major "jumping off" spot to cross the Gulf of Mexico.  Anyway, when I told the waitress that I wanted the fresh grouper dinner again, she said " you mean the chicken dinner don't you?"  When I replied that I didn"t see chicken on the menu she said, "Yeah, thats what we call the grouper when you were afraid to go across the Gulf".  JoAnn and I have a self inflicted rule that we don't criuse in seas over 3ft waves.

Apalachacola docks

"Great Loop" Boaters stop over at Port Charles

 

Last week 6 transient boats chose to stay at  our harbor.  All of the boaters were doing the "Great Loop" and several of them were friends that we met at the "Great Loop" Rendezvous last fall in Joe Wheeler Lake on the Tennessee R. "Port Charles", being a transient friendly full service Marina was a factor in JoAnn and I signing up as harbor hosts for AGLCA.  Some of the men met in our pilothouse as the wives had wine and appetizers in the saloon of Great Escape.  A main concern was where to anchor around Cape Giradeau as the Little River Diversion Channel is currently silted in at the mouth."Native Son" one of two boats getting halled out for prop repair.

After cocktails on the Great Escape the fellowship continues at Dinner at the Duck Club Marina.  The cocktail party had to be moved on to our boat due to a thunderstorm that hit as we met on the dock at Port Charles.  The food at the club was highly complimented by out guests.

As harbor hosts for AGLCA (American Great Loop Cruisers Association), we escorted the loopers to tour Grant's Farm and naturally consumed some free beer and brats for lunch.

One of the Clylesdales

Loopers, Rusty "The Judge" and Jan  on "C-Bay" from Marietta Georga get their picture taken. They're almost finished as they started on Kentucky Lake . ( Check out their blog listed on our profile.  They've had 80,000 hits!)   

JoAnn and I having a great time with new and old friends as they experience an adventure of a lifetime.. The Great Loop from St. Louis is to cruise down the Mississippi to the Ohio R, to  Kentucky Lake , to the Tenn-Tom Waterway , to Mobile Bay, to the Gulf of Mexico, accrost to the west coast of Florida to eastern seaboard of the US,to the Hudson River, Erie Cannal, thru Canada on the Trent-Severn Waterway, to Georgian Bay, Lake Huron, Lale Michigan toChicago, down the Illinois River to Grafton and St Charles and St Louis Mo.