30 November, 2019 Dog river anchorage to Dog River Marina

Quiet night, smooth.  Funny how sound travels.  River is at least three miles wide here, yet we could hear dogs barking after sunset.  Easy 180 degree swing as the tide changed, never noticed until this morning.  Fishing boats moving early, speeding bass boats of days before, replaced with larger center console boats.  Almost as fast, wakes might be bigger and they have no consideration of their wake.  Relaxing sunrise with fresh brewed coffee.

Warmed up fast this morning, nearly 70 by early afternoon

Small craft warning issued for this evening thru Monday @0900.

Pulled up anchor at 0930, idled over to fuel dock less than a mile for fill up of 19 gallons.  We repositioned to a wooden pier and secured Serenity @1030.  

At a wider angle--there is a boat 2 feet in front and 2 feet aft

Washed boat, cleaned inside, dumped trash and filled fresh water tank.  Finished up two loads of laundry.  Will walk around and look at boats and the area.  Wind has picked up, southerly at 10kts, building stronger from the north tonight after frontal passage.  Grilled a smoked sausage--tasty.

Will spend two days here at Dog River Marina, courtesy car tomorrow for groceries.  Kim will give me a hair cut in the parking lot.

Dog River Marina

addendum

Thanks to all who have commented.  Have yet to figure out this blogger/google complex--anybody?  I have tried to reply--my replies vanish to who knows where.  I have added a tab for emailing me a comment--does not appear to work because I have received zip.

Text me if you have a question regarding the loop, boat or systems.  417dot848dot1316

Again, thanks to those who have commented.  Much appreciated.

29 November, 2019 Not in the River anymore

Too many big ships and tows; 4.3 engine hours; 30 SM

0500 making coffee and waiting for the sunrise.  Boat has spun like crazy for two hours each tide.  Great cellular internet but junction of cut off and Tensas River has created a huge eddy each time the tide change.  Last night, if you looked out it was a bit dizzying; stopped looking out.  This early morn, water surface like glass and boat steady in the slight current.

round n round

We finished our coffee, study and discussions.  Weighed the anchor at 0805 and slowly idled the mile back to the main river.  A north bound tow called and suggested we pass on the 2 whistle; radioed back and said we would wait for their passing  As the tow/barge cleared we entered and rode the out going tide to Mobile.  Making 9 mph.  Many more wading birds now--egrets and great blue herons.  Observed single bald eagle high in dead tree overlooking the river.

Downtown Mobile

We emerged from the narrow twisting Spanish moss lined river to the giant industrial, commercial complex of Mobile’s state docks.  Tows coming and going both sides.

AIS targets--black ship Serenity

 Large ocean vessels wharfed along side giant docks with cleats bigger than Serenity.  USN ships in maintenance and dry dock both sides.  It was kinda fun cruising our tiny home on water passing those giants.

Container ship ahead

Dry dock

Dry dock 

Shortly, barely a 15 degree heading change just past a container ship being unloaded--we saw it!  The bay and the Gulf.  I glassed ahead to orientate within the channel and the long passage south; there was an ocean cargo ship making the approach through the inlet and calling for the pilot to come aboard.    Five miles later and we were doing the hobby horse from the bow wake/waves.  AIS indicated cargo ship at 11.5 mph

Several dolphins (dolphins) near Serenity as we were southbound in the shipping channel.   What was Flipper?  dolphin or porpoise?  (flipper) (Theme) About 2/3 of the way down mobile bay toward the gulf we exited west and went about 3 miles entering the Dog River; passing numerous marinas we continued till about 7’ of water at low tide and dropped the anchor.  Seems to be a good set @1210.  (map) All secure.  Will remain here remainder of the day and night.  Tomorrow reposition to the marina for fuel, ice and fresh water and maybe a slip.  Need to do laundry and fully charge the batteries.  Weather for next few days mixed with different forecasting agencies not quite in alignment:  rain, storms and frontal passage for sure, question is how long 20-25  kt winds and increased sea state in the bay persists.   We need to head east and enter Florida.

1224.4 Hobbs; 899 elapsed Sm

28 November, 2019. Happy Thanksgiving from afloat/anchorage in Briar Creek

Woke at 3 am--wind and tide changed and anchor alarm went off.  Wind 10 from north. And with stern anchor the wavelets were lapping at stern--sounded like running water--not a comforting sound on a boat.  I got up and put on my life jacket and went topside and pulled up the stern anchor, boat swing into the wind and current and things are quieter.

The main difference between Swamp and Bayou is that the Swamp is a wetland with trees and Bayou is a Franco-English term for a body of water typically found in flat, low-lying area.
BayouIn usage in the United States, a bayou ( or , from Cajun French) is a body of water typically found in a flat, low-lying area, and can be either an extremely slow-moving stream or river (often with a poorly defined shoreline), or a marshy lake or wetland. The term bayou can also refer to a creek whose current reverses daily due to tides and which contains brackish water highly conducive to fish life and plankton. Bayous are commonly found in the Gulf Coast region of the southern United States, notably the Mississippi River Delta, with the states of Louisiana and Texas being famous for them. A bayou is frequently an anabranch or minor braid of a braided channel that is moving much more slowly than the mainsteam, often becoming boggy and stagnant. Though fauna varies by region, many bayous are home to crawfish, certain species of shrimp, other shellfish, catfish, frogs, toads, American alligators, American crocodiles, herons, turtles, spoonbills, snakes, leeches, and many other species.

sunrise coffee

We have repositioned to a better area about 1 mile away from last night/this morning and have great cellular coverage.  (map)

We are spending a quiet and relaxing Thanksgiving here at anchorage.  Our tradition--at least several years has been camping someplace on Thanksgiving and pigging out on grilled hotdog, chips and Oreos.  Everyone enjoy, and have a safe day.

26 November, 2019 Bobby’s fish camp mm 118 to Alabama cut-off mm 52.8

9.4 engine hours.  70 Sm today.

U/w @ 0625 with a sailboat and a twin engine cruiser operating on one engine.  Said he hit something?  He is trying to get to mobile. Arrived at Coffeeville lock and dam almost immediately after getting on the river.  Lock right through: lock in 0645, lock out 0715. Three boats--logs, missing buoys. Numerous tows today, very busy waterway. Has to wait at hair pin corner--Hatchetigbee Bend for long, laden tow/barge complex.  Wind has increased from wispy fog calm to 15G20.  Good tailwind--strong push with the down stream water headed for the gulf.  9-8 mph @ 1500 rpm all day.

beautiful sky heading southward toward the Gulf

Were are going to anchor in Three lakes canal off the main river , but we were scooting along with the current so we decided to continue another 2 hours and exited the main river at the Alabama cut-off at mm 52.8.  What a beautiful anchorage.  We continued about 3/4 mile and dropped the hook in 12 ‘.

Our anchorage

Also deployed a stern anchor even though there is a slight current to keep us aligned, there are thunderstorms forecast tonight.  The plan is to keep from swingy the stern in a blow.  This place is about 100’ wide.  All secure @ 1545.  (map) Opened the side curtains and popped the forward bow hatch.  74 degrees at sunset.  Even have mosquitos buzzing around.  Yea--warmer.  Fired up the little grill and had grilled ground chuck with cottage cheese, coleslaw, avocado and blue cheese.  Yummy.   Really sorry performance with att cell coverage these past three days.  Our t-mobile serviced cellular internet--zero bars.

1214.5 Hobbs, 826 Sm elapsed surface water temp 62 degrees.

27 November briar creek

Hello-we are well—no cell signal for days; zero internet.  Anchored in swampy creek off of the Mobile river, 12sm north of Mobile.  Will stay here through tomorrow.  Hope to find a bit better signal to update our daily trips.  Happy thanksgiving to all.

27 November, 2019Alabama cut off to Alabama-Tensas river cut off

many tows, 5.3 engine hours and 43 SM

Good anchorage overnight.  No severe weather. One fishing boat passed very close and fast last night.  T-shirt And shorts warm.  Warmest morning of the trip.

Holding at our anchorage, cold front 100+ miles to west with a line of thunderstorms approaching.  Currently have light to moderate rain, wind light.  Sw winds and higher humidity switching to n-nw gusty wind and dropping  temperatures and humidity.  

Waiting out the thunderstorms--no lightening tho

Heavy rain and thunderstorms moved East and we made ready to weigh anchor.  U/w@ 1030.   Many tows today.  Some large logs and debris early, then diminished further down river.  We are now tidal, with low this afternoon so a bit of a pull and we maintain 8.6 mph most of the trip.  Tide started back into the rivers and creeks as we were anchoring.  1.6’ change tonight.  A few showers early along the way, giving way to clearing skies and less than forecast gusty north winds after frontal passage.

Crossed under the CSX railroad bridge which normally has a height of 4’, however a passing north bound tow had called earlier for an opening so as the tow cleared we scooted on through.  Bridge was back at 4’ in no time.  

Raising/lowering RR bridge

Two miles down river we exited into the Alabama-Tensas Cutoff and after about a mile proceeded north into Briar creek.  (map)Safely anchored in 10’, place stern as well to prevent swing into center of creek with the tide change.  1545 secured the diesel and switched off the electronics.  Darn fishing boats go fast and close at night.

Sunset in the anchorage

Surface water temp a warm 64 degrees.  Nearly 10 deg warmer than a few weeks a go up river.
1219.8 Hobbs; 869 elapsed Sm


Historical note: Big Bayou Cabot at mm 9.8 just a few miles from us now.  September 22, 1993 a tow with barges got lost in heavy fog and entered this area and plowed into the CSX railroad bridge shifting the track.  Shortly, an Amtrak passenger train derailed into the water; 47 people lost their lives.

25 November, 2019 Bashi creek to Bobby’s fish camp

Short day, 4.0 engine time; 27 SM

39 deg at 0500, appears clear outside.  A bit of fog and mist on inside of boat.  Anchorage pretty quiet last night.  Will see what happens retrieving anchors.  No problem

Fog developed @0630--we are on weather hold.  U/ w at 0715, foggy--3/4-1 mile but the sun burning through.  We idled at 4 mph riding the 1.5 mph current for about 3 miles; dodging logs and sticks for about three miles.  Between the warming sun and freshening wind, the fog finally burned off.  I did have the radar powered up this morning , as well as the AIS.  AIS much better than radar for seeing the tows, because it can see around the bends!

First time I have seen Great Blue Herons riding on logs in the river fishing.  I saw three today.

We planned a short day.  We have read about Bobby’s fish camp for a year.  A looper tradition.  Restrauant only scheduled open Thursday-Sunday.  The next and last lock before the gulf is only three miles away.  So we pulled in--we are the 5th boat tied along a 150 foot pier paralleling the river.  No cell or WiFi today.  BOBBY'S

This place is cool--1960s throwback.  We like it.  The owners, because there are enough boats tied up will open the restaurant tonight and offer their specially--fried fish.  I am all in.

Passing tow while we are tied at Bobby's

Too much money (dock electric and dinner + help fee) for the bang.  Wanted to see it--not sure juice worth the squeeze.  But all-in-all,  the fried catfish, and hush puppies were darn tasty.

Three tows today in very narrow channels.

Boat and crew great.

24 November, 2019 Demopolis/Kingfisher Bay marina to Bashi Creek

one lock, 9 hours engine time, 71 SM

Heard diesel rumble at 0530--some of our slip mates getting underway too early.  Sunrise over an hour away.  Think they are trying to make 90 miles to an off river anchorage.  We will call lock at 0630 and see how it looks time wise this morning.

U/W@0706. Winds 5 or less, nice sunrise in clear skies.  Open doors and a green light approaching demopolis lock and dam, a short 3 miles from marina. demopolis dam Lock in 0735/ lock out 0803.  Crazy, outrageous amount of water flowing over the dam, white water with foam exiting the lock.  Lots of debris.  1850 RPM for 7 mph, we are surfing @ 9.1 mph down river.  Making diesel fuel!

Tow at hwy 80 bridge--big wake
2nd tow @192
3rd tow @ 184

Have not seen shore birds; occasional crow.  However two egrets working the lock for stunned fish.  Belted kingfisher hovered mid-air near the boat, then dove head first, coming out of the water with a minnow.  I have seen many kingfishers kayaking in the southern waters of Florida and have never seen one actually catch a fish.  Nice.

there was a kingfisher someplace

@MM 168.6 arrive at Barron’s landing @1304.  Because of the strong down stream currents we arrived earlier than planned.  We are continuing down river another 25 miles or so.

Anchored Bashi creek mm 145.  (bashi) Put a trip line on bow anchor.  Tossed out stern anchor--couple of tries to get stern stuck.  Suspect there are roots in this creek--retrieval may be an issue. 1600 all secure.

1201.1 Hobbs 729 elapsed Sm

Nomad and a sailboat share a very tight anchorage--narrow with trees both sides.

Tight anchorage in Bashi Creek

23 November, 2019 Still here

Windy gusty--decided to stay another day.  Used loaner car to run to Walmart.  Demopolis is another charming old southern town; evidence of boom days during the steam era on the river and "King Cotton". (Demopolis) Bought a small fry pan and tea kettle.  Gave away the big wok pan with long handle.

Took a  2.5 mile walk to yacht basin and around the boat yard.  Lots of derelicts.

Ready to get underway early tomorrow.

wooden cruiser--not even good firewood

Way cool old wooden sailboat

22 November, 2019 Kingfisher Bay Marina

WALMART, Oreillys and RAIN
Quiet day, up too early; was wide awake at 0300.  Got up at 0500 and made coffee.  We had the courtesy car reserved at 0800 and off we went to Walmart.  Forgot to get the boat engine oil, turned around and went to Oreillys.

8 liters into the Yanmar.  Started up and check for water leaks around raw water strainer, fuel leaks around the Racor fuel filter and general engine health.  All good for planned departure tomorrow morning.

Emptied composting toilet and refiled solids bin with new compost.  Reconstituted a new coco coir brick in the 5 gallon plastic bucket.  Inspected steering from helm to rudder post.  Good to go.  Cleaned up helm area, repacked tools and equipment and made ready.

Filled water tank with fresh water.  Added bio guard to each diesel tank to prevent crud growth.

POC stowed groceries and did our laundry.  Showers have been appreciated.

Spent a couple of hours at chart study and planning future anchorages.  Have the plan, completed float plan and emailed to my son, all depends on weather, locks and how many tows we encounter.

Nice marina, not too fancy, but friendly and well kept and maintained.  Marina manager runs a tight ship.

21 November, 2019. Rattlesnake cut-off to Kingfisher Bay Marina Demopolis, AL

0500. Great anchorage.  Clean anchor coming up, just enough current to keep boat steady, but not too much to strain anchor.  Headed to marina today.

U/w @ 0755; passed the mouth of Black Warrior river and left the Tenn-Tom waterway and are now cruising the Black Warrior-Tombigbee (waterway) to Mobile.  (lakes)  The river early this morning was mirror smooth for the first hour.

Green day marker decending right bank

Red nun, left descending bank

Of course the wind was blowing up the stern as I attempted to tie up port side.  Tied up at fuel dock @ 0919.   Secure in our slip@ 1015.  Covered slip too.  Took on 14.77 gallons of diesel.
658 elapsed statute miles (SM), 1192.0 hours on the Hobbs.

Commercial dock, Demopolis, Al

Oil change @ 1192.0. No new filter--new filters were the wrong ones--I never loosened the old filter. Funny, something was telling me to get the new filter out first.  Glad I did, my Yanmar parts dealer invoiced me the correct part, but shipped the wrong part.  I did not open the box this summer, just inventoried and stored on the boat.  Will need to get new correct filters sent to me.  Operator manual for the Yanmar requires oil change at 150 hours and filter at 300, so it is ok this time, but I change filters each oil change on my vehicles, tractor and was intending to on the boat.  Just seems like good insurance to me.   Removed raw water strainer--cleaned washed and greased gasket and reinstalled,    Checked Racor fuel filter--drained 8 ounces of diesel into soda bottle.  No sediment or water observed.  Used fuel to clean the oil change gizmo.

Took the marina's ratty golf cart, loaded my waste oil rode to the  waste oil disposal--nice not having to lug 8 quarts 3/4 of a mile.  Walked around marina and met/visited with other loopers.  Everyone friendly, all started from different locations, different boats big and bigger and a couple of sail boats with masts down.

Pizza....Since we departed on 1 Nov we have prepared and eaten every meal on the boat.  I checked, and Dominos delivered to the marina.  We splurged tonight and had a pizza for supper.  Tasted great.

Friday, 22 November, will take the courtesy car to go grocery shopping; do laundry here at marina and finish boat inspections, cleaning and prepping for getting underway.

Storms coming with high wind.  Plan on leaving Saturday, may delay if too windy.  216 miles to Mobile, AL and the Gulf of Mexico. (marina)

20 November, 2019 Zero day on anchor

Hiking the Appalician Trail a zero day was no hiking.  We took a zero day today.
Anchor alarm off at 0415--low battery.

Coffee, study and reflection.  Last night was 1st night it was relatively warm and we went out on the foredeck/bow and watched the stars.  Truly a dark sky and the milky way so bright and distinct.  As Carl Sagan (Sagan) said--billions and billions.  Today was forecast to be fabulous; light winds, clear skies and 70s for the high.  The day has not disappointed.  We have a slip booked for Thursday and Friday at Kingfisher Bay marina in Demopolis, AL.  Since we did the long day yesterday, it is only about an hour cruise tomorrow.  We were lazy this morning; just watching nature, fixing a full breakfast of grits and eggs.  I cleaned the outside of the boat and rearranged the bumpers and dried lines.  POC (aka Kim) cleaned the galley area.

Our neighbors, Gary and Jackie anchored behind us last night.  Their vessel “Nomad’ a Albin 36’ trawler is a sharp looking boat.  We met them two nights ago, at anchorage when the came by in their motorized dinghy with their two dogs.  They were headed to shore for the dog thing.  They came by today via dinghy after a dog romp on the near by sand bar.  They are from Colorado and are doing the loop.

Composting head--I have routed the vent hose, powered vent via computer fan, to engine bay, which has worked well especially under way.  Only a slight earthly aroma when I open hatches to do engine checks.  Yesterday at anchorage, noticed a more predominant earth tone aroma.  Why?
1). Engine bay has good ventilation port and starboard.  I did have the hatches open longer doing a more extensive engine/engine bay inspection after yesterday’s 9 hour run.
2). Based on airhead instructions and other documented users, a couple should get a month of use before emptying the solids tank.  We are only at day 20.
3). Did I not initially place enough media (coconut coir) at start?  I did add 4 cups this morning --with use, solids dehydrate and so maybe it was  needing a little topping off?
4). Was the initial batch of coco coir too moist?  The coir come as a dehydrated, compressed brick, which is hydrated with 5 cups of warm water.  Did I make it too damp?
5).  Men are recommended to sit to pee.  Important to keep the liquids separate from the solids.  I have cheated a few times and perhaps my aim was off and liquid did get into the solids tank.   Decomposing solids will not have odor; aging urine will.  Need to change my technique, maybe?
Numerous articles and YouTube how to on composting toilets.  There is a learning curve--short but does take a bit of tuning.  Will empty the solid tank in a day or so when we get to the marina.  Assess, evaluate and reset for another month.--near end of day--aroma not noticeable--perhaps the addition of 4 cups was the ticket?

Still no internet.  We pulled up the anchor at 1345 and cruised east, up the original Tombigbee River.  Chart plotter and depth sounder showed good depths as we eased along at 4mph.  Went for 45 minutes without discovering suitable cell coverage so we turned around.  This abandoned section of the original river, bypassed by the waterway, is rustic.  Saw a few folk fishing and great blue herons.  Returned to original anchorage, set the hook and secured for the night.  Fantastic day.  Making rice and stir fry vegetables in thermal pot.  Everything to a boil for 5-7 minutes, dump in canned chicken, then place the pot in the insulated outer pot---hot supper in a few hours.  Kind of like a Crock pot w/o electricity.  It saves stove fuel, only need to get most things to a strong boil for about 5 minutes, cover and place in outer pot and let the insulation do the cooking.

 Pre-soup

Boiling

Today was a reason to be on this trip.  Peaceful, rustic, natural sights and sounds.

(map)

19 November, 2019 Cochrane anchorage to Rattlesnake cut off mm 224

One lock, 9.2 engine hours, 63 SM

43 in galley at 0430.  Woke at 3am--Kim’s anchor alarm had gone off.  Checked mine--we had rotated 180 deg--light rain and wind must have been stronger than the current.  At 0430 boat realigned with current.

U/w @ 0650, SE winds less than 10.  Clearing 42 degrees, surface water 53 degress.  Original plan for the day was 43.2 SM with one lock for an elapsed 6:10 hours.

Saw Timbuctoo anchored off channel in cooks bend cutoff--hailed on 16, no response.  Timbuctoo is the 70’ motorsailor from Michigan we have shared a lock through several times.  Last seen ahead of us and pulling away several days ago.  They were in a deep anchorage and probably resting.

Approaching the Howell Helfin lock, we contacted the lock master on channel 16; he switched us to 14 the working frequency.  He had the lock rapidly ready, doors swinging open and a green light upon our arrival.  Solo vessel in chamber: lock in 1001/lock out 1012.  One of the most pleasant lock masters so far.  Exiting the lock, I called down to the engine room for more steam.  Rapidly we reached our cruising speed of 7mph in minutes.  We have entered Lake Demopolis of the Tombigbee water way.

70 outside--83 inside at helm around 1400---shorts and t shirts.  Solar heating of the helm working great today.  Even opened the side windows.  Started seeing Spanish moss in the trees--in the south now @ mm 247.  Keeping my eyes peeled for gators--several logs on the river banks looked suspicious--not yet.

spanish moss

Our original planned anchorage was just past the lock with an alternate about 20 miles down river. Experiencing no delays at the lock we decided to continue to our alternate.  Chart study and reading the guide books further, we began to question the validity of the alternate anchorage.  It would have been just off the channel, parallel but exposed to the coming and going of the tows.  Maybe in an emergency, but we decided to continue another 25 miles.  Along the way were these white cliffs.(Epes)

mm 248.8

And further the white cliffs of Demopolis.  (white cliffs)

1550 we slowed and exited east on the original Tombigbee at the Rattlesnake cut off.  The cut off is man-made, straightening the commercial water way.   Beautiful oxbow.  Maneuvered Serenity in a slow 180 degree turn back to the west and set the anchor @1600 in 9’  of water with a surface temp of 55 degrees.   Gentle current west to east, we gave thanks for a safe day as the sun set.(map)

Our longest day to date.