Category: Photos

BRACKISH WATER..LOVIN’ THE GULF!!

Mike & Pam

We finally made it to the GULF of Mexico!! Loving the sights, sounds and smells of the deep south. Big ships, salty waters, beautiful plantations with their grand double staircases, diving pelicans and graceful dolphins to name a few! The last few miles leading into Mobile Bay become brackish (in-between salt and fresh water) introducing us to alligator country! Pam has been studying tide tables and open water navigational aids to increase her comfort level as we navigate past ocean going vessels and huge fishing boats in shipping channels.

We spent a great 24 hours on the Mobile Bay Conference Center wall. Never knew that Mobile had so much to offer. We were able to walk to some great restaurants, catch a mass at the beautiful Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, and visit the USS Alabama battleship. We learned that the first Mardis Gras was here in Mobile but with the number of French that moved to New Orleans that event seems to gain popular attention over this one.

  • Shrimpin’
  • Boat Upgrade?
  • The USS Alabama -WWII
  • Mobile Convention Center/Dock

We popped into Dog River Marina, a somewhat painful entrance-way outside the main shipping channel for a few days to do some routine maintenance. A quick twin oil/filter change and a nice discovery/repair of a fuel leak in the generator and we are off and running safely, once again!

Our next stop was a secluded anchorage on Dauphin Island. This little bay lies just to the south of the island and we have to navigate away from the main channel and strike out into the open waters of the gulf for a ways…hoping to avoid spoils and obstacles….and understanding these navigational aids and low vs. high tide helps to calm her nerves. Once anchored, we loaded the bikes onto the dingy (newly named “C minor”) and rode the length of the 3 mile island to the Estuary and Fort Gaines, returned in time to catch another lovely sunset and watch the fishermen finish their day and the ocean going vessels cruise by in the distance.

  • Dinghy the bikes to shore
  • First time we left the boat alone at anchor.

Sweet Home Alabama…..where the skies are blue!! We crossed Mobile Bay to Gulf Shores and were amazed to see dozens of Dolphins showing off their smooth, gliding, swimming skills. Seems that Sea C has turned from a river cruiser into an ocean condo with ferry service to the beach.

Brave Beautiful Dauphins
  • Our new mascot Sea D
  • Lunch at LULUs

ROUTE, DEPTH, DEBRIS REPEAT

Mike & Pam

As we look at how we approach each day, safety is one of the top priorities: for ourselves and our boat. Due to the flooding there are fewer anchorages, as many are filled with debris or shoaled over. The TennTom channel is well marked and easy to follow, but get out of the channel and there are hidden stumps and surprises everywhere! The further down river you travel the fewer marinas exist to tie up for the night. This combined with the lessened anchorages makes for longer days as we need to log more miles to reach a safe harbor for the evening.

As our journey continue south we hear of friends with boat issues, the worst being sheered off props as they ‘cut the channel too early. Several have had the boat hauled out and are waiting for parts and/or service. A local mechanic, Diesel Don, literally follows the Looper crowd south and takes up residence in the keys for the winter because “everyone needs service”! If he is not around, it is good to know that the Looper community is a fantastic group of people who are willing to do whatever it takes to help each other. Looking forward to getting to the Gulf & to what tomorrow brings! We are embracing and thankful for each day.

  • Stuff
  • &
  • More stuff
  • locals
  • Upper Helm Captain Pam
  • Lower Helm Captain Pam
  • Whitten Lock
  • Bobby’s Fish Camp

SOUTHERN CHARM

Mike & Pam

As we begin our journey south down the Tenn-Tom Waterway we continue to learn about the history and charms that the South has to offer. The Tenn-Tom Waterway connects the Tennessee River and the Tombigbee River. Work began on this 253 mile stretch of water in 1972 with the help of President Johnson and President Nixon, but the idea had first been investigated as far back as 1810 as an attempt to link two navigable rivers for commercial transport. It cost nearly 2 billion dollars and was completed 6 months ahead of schedule. More earth was moved in this project than was moved in the construction of the Panama Canal – and we are happy to be traveling this narrow and windy part of American history.

  • Southern potty humor

Along the way we’ve seen some pretty neat little towns and rural areas. Sometimes we cruise alone and anchor out by ourselves, other times we need to move as a group in order to clear as many locks as possible (since there are 12 locks). There are fewer and fewer marinas as we head further south down this channel and often there is nothing to look at except the stone walls created to prevent erosion…oh, and dead heads, stump fields, floating trees etc.

Currently we are happily holed up in Columbus Marina, bypassing a cute anchorage in order to outrun Tropical Storm Olga. Knowing there were flood warnings and days of a rainy deluge ahead, we traveled with 13 other vessels from sun-up to sun-down on Thursday and tucked in just in time for a beautiful sunset. The rain hasn’t let up and the waters are rising. A great time to clean, organize, catch up and provision!

  • Our fleet
  • Lots a locks on the Tenn Tom (12)
  • In the middle of a tropical storm!
Pam’s Fav show, a weekly must see.

A new name for her!

Mike & Pam

A huge thank you to our family for taking the trip to Kenosha to help us honor the Gods and mighty rulers of the wind and rain, the North, South, East, and West and, most importantly, Poseidon as we raised our glasses and poured some bubbly into the waters. Scott officiated over the ‘naming ceremony’, tossing the ignet with the old name along with the old keys into the lake to purge the old name from the Ledger of the Deep. We unveiled the new name: Sea C Rider and prayed for safe travels with fair winds and smooth seas as we traverse the wild and faceless deep….’for this you need more champagne’…..7 bottles should do the trick! 😉