Demopolis to Mobile Bay

My most favorite National Geographic photo of the trip--eagles were plentiful along the Tombigbee

Anchorages with our friends on Fugitive at Baschi Creek, Lock #1, Tensas River were really beautiful and calm.  That said we had very spotty cell service and bad weather in between anchorages.  Tuesday the winds were gusting up to 40 mph, then on Wed. the rain (with an occasional lightning) persisted all day—we did manage to anchor in between rain storms.  Thursday we woke up to thick fog which burned off by the 8am start engine time.  A terrific warm sunny day will take us into civilization once again.  We passed very few boats and more than our share of barges.  The tow drivers were all very adept at the complicated switchbacks of the winding Tombigbee and helped us in their very unintelligible language to pass them on their 1 or their 2.   The language that the tow drivers use is one without vowels and only the close ear can get what they are conveying—I listen carefully for the words “1” (right) or “2” (left) and then repeat back what I think they have said.  It is a 50/50 proposition.   Thursday afternoon we settled into Dog River Marina and promptly found Looper friends from Nearly Perfect.  They crossed their wake here about 3 weeks ago!  We all went out to dinner at Felix's--a Mobile favorite--and talked about our trip.

Storm clouds gather as we pull anchor at Lock No. 1

At Baschi Creek,  Terry got to use his hedge clippers

Charts are a must even on the ditch of the Tombigbee--we were startled to learn that we came through the Promised Land

Janis and Brian aboard Fugitive rafted with us in the anchorages on the Tombigbee

New friends made in Baschi Creek--Hattitude (Vebbie and Roger) is out of Kenlake in KY and we share some friends

Out to dinner in Mobile--Fugitive and new friends Jack and Patty on Nearly Perfect

Impressive Port of Mobile

The pirates are out here too (this one is for Leeton and Holden)