The fuel dock for Kingfisher Bay is still at the original location where they fuel the commercial tow boats so we popped in for fuel before heading to the slip. Long term plans are to move the fuel dock over to the new marina since the old dock is silting in.
We enjoyed our stay for 2 nights in a 60' covered slip not too far from the laundry. (A happy Pam!) The place was jumping with transients. Some Looper's. Some just going south.
We borrowed the courtesy car and checked out Demopolis. We both agreed that there wasn't much happening and headed back to the boat after our grocery stop and lunch at KFC.
One of the things we remembered about the place was the fried pickles at the marina restaurant. Certainly not a fancy spot but it turned out to be a fun stop. The pickles were the best part of the meal (next time stick to a burger) but the hospitality of the local bar patrons made up for the mediocre food. Yes we ate in the bar.
Several questions of where we were from and where we were headed. Offers of beer and marijuana and to join in on the dance floor. Even to stay and spend the week-end at a camp out with some of the locals!. We did dance and had several conversations including our last of the evening with two guys that work at the paper mill a few miles downstream from Demopolis. They said they would look for us in the morning and claimed they would be out on the tower next to the river in just suspenders and a tool belt! (got Pam's attention!) Unfortunately we were so excited to see them the next morning we forgot to take a picture.
The next morning came early and we along with 10 other boats paddled our way down to the lock. Tom from True North had called the lock earlier to get an approximate time for our arrival and notified most of the other boats. As always happens there were a few more that saw us leave and scrambled their crews to get underway also. Good thing for them since the lock was going to make some repairs after our lockage and wouldn't re-open until 10 a.m..
With 11 boats exiting the lock it took a few miles for everyone to find their pace but soon enough we all fell into place. The faster boats made it to Bobby's Fish Camp for the night. We along with one other boat anchored a few miles upstream in Okatuppa Creek. And several anchored further back in Bashi Creek.
We woke early again and called the Coffeeville lock to check the status and were told to come on down. I knew we wouldn't be alone and when we got there 2 boats who had stayed at Bobby's were already in the lock waiting for us. Gates closed behind us and down we went. We came out in the fog but that didn't keep the two race horses from taking off into the mist.
The Tenn-Tom is an interesting river that can fluctuate almost overnight. When we came up in May we rose 10' in the Coffeeville Lock. This time we were lowered 35'. It was a pleasant run not having to fight the heavy current. Even so there are still buoys out of place or missing. Floating debris and some that was just stuck in place waiting to impale your hull.
Sights along the river bank range from abandoned cement terminals to campers on the beach. We even passed by a beach named after Pam's family.
Our day ended at an anchorage just off the channel on the Tensas River about 40 miles north of Mobile.
We slept in and finally got going around 6:45. A few miles down river I heard a northbound tow talking and knew he was getting close. Of course the river at this point doubles back on itself as it often does limiting your forward vision. I gave a call to him and discussed how we should pass or if he wanted me to wait for him to get around the corner. He chose for me to wait, which we did. He slid the tow around the corner and called us to say thanks and give us clearance to pass him on the 1 whistle. (Port to port).
North of Mobile we came to the 14 mile RR. bridge. It has a new opening span but it still needs to open for us to pass. A call got the response that he had to check with a scheduled train before he could let us through. 15 minutes later he radioed us to apologize for the wait and said it would be another 5 minutes. We finally got through never having seen a train.
Not long after we were entering the busy Mobile harbor area with barges and ships moving everywhere.
Once out of Mobile it was just a few more miles to Dog River where we fueled and spent the night at Dog River Marina.
Once fueled we backed into our slip and were greeted by Jack & Patty from M/V Nearly Perfect. Jack introduced himself and much to my surprise said he had been reading our blog for the past couple of years. Later we had a pleasant time at docktails on the aft deck of Nearly Perfect. Thanks Jack & Patty for the hospitality!
Our weather was still holding so we kept pushing on leaving Dog River the next morning. The ship channel was somewhat busy with an outgoing ship and an incoming barge as well as a log that first looked like a whale.
There were several Navy planes flying over us during our stay since N.A.S. Pensacola is adjacent and also the home of the Blue Angel's.
Sunset at Ft. McRee.
Did you indulge in the Marijuana?
ReplyDeleteTempting, but no.
ReplyDelete