Back to Salt Water

We are docked at a marina just south of Mobile, back in salt water again. It has been several days since we have had a good internet connection, so this is the first chance I’ve had to post. I’m afraid this one will be a little lengthy…  I won’t try to give you a blow by blow account. I’ll just hit the highlights.

The weather has at times been rainy and foggy, with the type of visibility you would imagine. Some of the days were pretty cold as well. We have cruised inside the boat for the last few weeks. For me, that is actually better. I have a comfy sofa and the galley is close at hand. The cruising days have been fairly long – 7 to 10 hours. There are not many marinas or anchorages that can accommodate a 4.5ft draft along the Tenn-Tom. For most of the time we have cruised along with The Cooper.

The scenery has been mostly the same, with occasional interesting bits. Along the shore we have seen red clay, gray clay, rock, sand, pastures, woodlands, houses and industry. We have been through the last lock before Savannah (yay!!!!). We have seen high bluffs and swampy areas. There is lots of evidence of flooding and erosion – places where the water has eaten into the banks and so many trees either in the water or hanging on for dear life. There are always fishermen, in boats and along the banks. Some of the sunrises and sunsets have been gorgeous. The trees along this part of the journey have been turning beautiful yellows and reds, providing color and interest. We were both excited to see Spanish moss on dead trees, and then see it on live trees. We then began to see palmettos and live oaks.

We were encouraged by our guide books to look for wildlife along these remote banks. Birds have made up the majority of our wildlife sightings. We have seen eagles, ducks, coots, great herons, geese, and eventually white herons, pelicans and seagulls. Steve saw two wild turkeys, but I didn’t see them. Some of our fellow boaters have seen raccoons and deer, some of the deer swimming across the water in the mornings. We regret not seeing them. The most exciting sighting for me personally was the porpoises that swam along beside us in Mobile Bay. I have really missed them! Three or four of them jumped up beside us as we cruised. They didn’t hang around long enough for me to get a good photo, but I was very happy to see my friends again!

Speaking of friends, The Cooper is having some work done at Dog River. It's just regular maintenance, but they will be staying here after we head west in a day or two to visit New Orleans for Thanksgiving. Rebecca and Chris will join us there for a couple of days. It will be good to have Becca back on the boat again! (Chris too, but he just visited in Chattanooga.) Sara and Ryan will be going to see Ryan’s family in NC and VA.

I should be able to post more often as we continue our journeys along more populated areas. I’m looking forward to seeing all the little Gulf Coast towns along the way!

Leaving the marina in Columbus - lovely day

Got to the lock at 0615

About six boats locked through together and made a little flotilla down the river

We saw a few swampy areas along the way

There was a fair amount of color along the shore

Don't know the significance of the totem pole...

We saw several eagles

There were some areas of marshy grass

And a few neighborhoods on the water

We always saw fishermen - even in bad weather

Some sort of bird convention

Approaching Demopolis, we saw this "snagboat". It is no longer used, but it was intended for "snagging" the logs and deadheads in the water. I guess there are just too many of them.

A sandy bank, somewhat eroded

There were high sandy banks as well

And some that were almost cliffs

Most of it looked like this

We saw lots of floating water plants - some might be water lilies, but since they weren't blooming I don't know.

This was our anchorage for one night. Terr-Mar and The Cooper were there with us.

We left at sunrise - a beautiful day

The sun is just coming up and shining on the tree tops

Heading south again

And another lock....

Kind of a light gray clay, with water seeping down the dark parts

We couldn't really tell if this was clay or rock

Some high white banks- these are called the Cliffs of Epes

They extend around this curve and become more dramatic

You can see the erosion of thousands of years. There are supposed to be fossilized sand dollars here, but we didn't stop to find any.

Into the marina at Demopolis

It's good to be tied to a dock...

A little foggy the next morning

The moon was setting as we left

Still a little haze on the water

Water from the dam was being slipped here over a stone riverbed

I've really got to get a camera for better close-ups

Guess what this is.

Lots of twists and turns

It's a raft carrying two people down the river.

With most of their household possessions

Then we saw this...

It's a sailboat made of bamboo, plastic bottles and tarps.

This was a welcome sight on Veteran's Day!

Bashi Creek. We were going to anchor there, but couldn't find a deep enough channel.

So we anchored across the river in a little cove

It looks shallow, but it was actually fairly deep until just before the bank.

Hard to see, but there is a big harvest moon rising through the trees.

We're starting to see Spanish moss!

The last lock! Yay!!!!

Lots of deadheads in the water after the last dam

Going in to the anchorage

We stayed here the last night before Mobile

Palmettos! Who would have thought that would be exciting?

A pelican! Yes. It was a big deal.

Getting close to Mobile and our screen "lights up" with other boats

Lovely weather.

This is the bridge going into Mobile Bay

LOTS of commercial traffic

We could finally see the skyline

Heading out into Mobile Bay. Salt water. BIG salt water.

A flock of pelicans

This barge had lots of freeloaders

So happy to see my little friends!

I have truly missed them!

Pulling into Dog River Marina

It's good to breathe the salt air!