Just a few pics and a couple of words about our trip to New Orleans. We went in search of music, not necessarily jazz this time, and were not disappointed. We rested up, then went wandering. We found good music around every corner and if it intrigued us, we went in. Even ate al fresco to a great live band.
The first nights highlight for the captain was the karaoke at the Cat’s Meow. 
The next morning we went in search of beignet and coffee and who did we find, but our friends Dave and Michelle from Just Us (they were actually responsible for planting the seed, we got so envious, we decided to follow them) who were following my advice on what they must do.
We filled the afternoon with some shopping and a river ride on one of only two real steam powered paddle boats plying the rivers in the US. This one was a new construction with vintage steam engines and they allowed you to tour the engine room and see the mechanics even. We passed the ICW cut off from New Orleans but learned that the Mississippi continues another 120 miles down to the Gulf from the city.
Dinner was great with Mark and Vicki from Blue Willow joining Just Us and Infinite Sea for dinner, unfortunately, they are still working on Looper midnight (bed by 9pm, or maybe it’s Daisy their dog who is, the hotel called, she was whining) and didn’t join the rest of us in our cross French Quarter March in search of funky Frenchman’s Street (recommended to Michelle) and a Sazerak (recommended by Lori to me – Lori, I’m bringing you the left overs ;-)) The group then meandered back down Bourbon Street in search of more music, Dave and Michelle are a fun couple and we lasted way too long in our search, but had a great time.
Miles Day 155-157: 0- They don’t count unless Captain Paul is driving (the boat, that is)
All three of us anchored our last night on the river agreed we would not be up and on the way at the crack of dawn, we set 8am as our target, and true to our word, that’s about when we started preparing to leave.
We cast off first and as we headed out of the anchorage, who should be heading by but Navigator and Average Looper. They had stopped for the night a few miles ahead at Three Rivers. It was fitting that we formed our familiar procession on this last day on the river.
The whole Hill clan enjoys the Dolphins which particularly liked Blue Willow. Not to worry, Mark has a remote to steer the boat.
The run was long, but not unpleasant, the river widened and the vegetation changed subtly. We saw an eagle along the way. We also started to see evidence of the approaching industrial center with several large plants on the river. Not many tows though on a Sunday.
Busy Port of Mobile
Dinner was a dinghy ride to the River Shack, good band was playing.
We had been roughly figuring the day’s run to mile zero in downtown Mobile, but had a few more miles to Dog River. Luckily, we hadn’t slept in too long. The bay was a busy port with huge ships lining much of it. It was good to see Pelicans and dolphins again.
We headed up the river a short ways and turned into Turner Marine. Blue Willow and Patriot headed next door. I was off the boat doing laundry before you could say boo ( one of us was running out of socks). The next morning, the captain set things with the office for some work to be done while we take a short side trip to New Orleans. We were on the road by lunch time.
Miles Day 154: 66 Total Miles: 3571
Locks Today: 0 Total Locks: 111
Another dawn run to the lock.
Once out of the lock below Demopolis, several boats had asked the lockmaster to release them first as they were planning to run faster, with 9 boats locking through this saved a little bit of jockeying after the lock.
Infinite Sea was the smallest of the first three boats at the lock, we got the first pin again, it seemed like we had a few more feet this time.
Infinite Sea ran faster today than she has before, funny how things slide around in the cabin when her nose is in the air.
Churning water.
It was a long day, but at 11mph and with our early start, we made it to Bobbie’s at just about dinner time. With just 150 foot of face dock, the expectation at Bobbie’s is that you will raft up, the record is 17 boats rafted 4 wide. As we approached another boat was fueling and a call to the restaurant told us to hold up until he was done then raft off him as other bigger boats were coming. I had been tracking the nine we locked through with and only one had said they were coming to Bobbie’s, so I pushed and was told we could tie off behind the boat there is we’d move if needed. I hung up and we handled it on the dock. The boat fueling was a nice father and son who had missed the early lock through and didn’t get out of Demopolis until 11am. They were heading for Mobile as the son had to get back to work, good thing they had a fast boat.
Bobbie’s
Three transient and one old timer boats tied up in front of Bobbie’s
Bobbie’s is the only deal going on the stretch from Demopolis to Mobile and they claim to have the best catfish in the south. I took it upon myself to test this and was not disappointed, although, Pebble Isle where they don’t use corn meal in their breading is still my favorite. Bobbie’s hush puppies were better, though. Lori Jane made sure everyone who came through the door felt welcome too.
The next morning our early morning call to the lock was not the come on down, I’ll get you in that we have become accustomed to. Rather it was I got two down and one up, I don’t know when I can get you through. Although I believe he said maybe if I got there before the next down bound he might put me through. Being as it was still pitch dark out the window, I didn’t jump at that one.
It ended up being 10am before we got the call to head down to the lock, the boats from upstream got to Bobbie’s and were told to hold up. We tied off Navigator for the wait and Average Looper tied off to another boat headed for Mobile we’ve been running with for a few days.
We waited in the lock for two more boats who had anchored 30 miles upstream, Blue Willow and Patriot. By the time we headed out it was nearly lunch time. Then the hunt for a stopping place began. Blue Willow debated a stop just 16 miles down stream as it was rated dog friendly, but came on when they hit bottom going in. We bypassed Three Lakes and headed for the Alabama River Cut Off hoping it would be dog friendly and deep.
The Lower Black Warrior has not been canalized, so it was a twisty turny run.
Interesting bumpers for the barges at this stop.
We are starting to see more sand, making us long for the sandy beaches of the Gulf.
It was a lovely anchorage although dusk set as we got the three boats in and tied off. Dinner was crock pot lasagna on board Infinite Sea with a salad composed of ingredients from all three boats, garlic bread, and homemade brownies and applesauce (Vicki was busy while Mark drove). It was an enjoyable end to a long day on the water.
Setting the anchor at sunset, long day.
We tried nose to toes anchoring here with Patriot. Blue Willow came in last and just tied off on the other side.
Miles Day 152:97 Miles Day 153: 54 Total Miles: 4505
Locks Day 152: 1 Locks Day 153: 1 Total Locks: 111
Interesting rock formation.
The boys playing on the docks before dinner at Demopolis.
The stop before the lock and the early morning call to the lock master has become our running routine. The looper boats tend to run together and confer on intentions to make the run easier for all. Our stop down stream of Columbus was an example. We left in a group after the word went out over VHF that the lock would be ready. With no marinas in our cruising distance of 50 miles, we were all looking at anchoring out.
A discussion enroute to the lock sussed out two possibilities. A check on Active Captain showed both to be fine, but the upstream anchorage, Cook’s Bend Cut Off, looked like it had more room. There was another marina that could have released an unknown number of looper boats, so Just Us joined Infinite Sea, Average Looper and Navigator in the first anchorage increasing the chances that Blue Willow (who needed shore access for Daisy, their lab) and Patriot would be able to fit in the Sumter Landing anchorage. Two other looper boats, Priorities and Perfect Balance, who were contacted mid day, knowing we were coming, continued on below the dam for the same reason.
We all had a great night at anchor and made contact early the next morning. The group down river held up and all entered the Hefllin Lock together for the run to Demopolis.
In Demopolis the discussion at docktails was whether to run the full 90+ miles to Bobbie’s Fish Camp the next day or drop anchor 30 miles upstream and make the run in two days. Most were leaning toward dropping anchor in Bashi Creek, but we wanted to make the full run. Locking through at 7am was agreed on as per the established routine. Stay tuned for the report on how it all shook out and whether the catfish at Bobbie’s out does the catfish at Pebble Isle.
Miles Day 150: 56 Miles Day 151: 54 Total Miles: 4343
Locks Day 150: 2 Locks Day 151: 2 Total Locks: 109
States: 15
Chalk formations laid down around the same era as the White Cliffs of Dover can be found starting at Eps
Tows are becoming more common and we are passing the same tows each day as they run at night while we stop.
The “knees” of the Cyprus help with exchange of O2 and allow them to live in the water.
Another early day, we had agreed that Bart on Seanna would call the lock to check on a 7am departure and sure enough soon after the radio was on, he confirmed we were a go and he was heading out so that the convoy could begin, 5 boats left together for Fulton our first lock of the day just 3 miles down stream. There was a little fog, but nothing like yesterday.
Not quite like the fog yesterday.
The scenery is gradually changing to more cypress and swamp. They confirmed at Midway that there are alligators in the area, although we haven’t seen any, but then it hasn’t been all that warm except in the sun in the afternoon, so maybe they are hunkered down.
Our goal was Columbus, 57 miles and 4 locks.
We had fairly good lock luck today, we joined three other down bound boats at the third lock and passed the tow Mary Artie again today. Once out of the last lock Just Us and Shipperly decided to step it up, so only 6 of us did the duck walk into the marina (boat 1 come in, boat 2, hold…..)
Getting comfortable at passing barges the captains are quite helpful.
The Captain thought this was a pretty sight when this Viking picked it up.
There were already several Looper boats in the marina we were put in a slip right next to Blue Willow. At docktails we had a chance to catch up with a few old friends and meet some new. Three of us made plans to leave early the next day for a long run down river.
Miles Today: 57 Total Mikes: 4233
Locks Today: 4 Total Locks: 105
Not what we intended to leave in.
A good day, albeit with a rocky start. We were up at the crack of dawn for a long run and 3 locks, but visibility was nearly nothing, so we had breakfast and read email. About 8 or so, the Captain thought he had 150 feet of visibility, so we started casting off. There wasn’t much ahead of us, but all eyes were on the water, and radar, and three sets of charts. Apparently we weren’t the only ones that thought it was doable. We started hearing from other boats who had left Grand Harbor about the same time and were running behind us.
Once the river opened up the fog cleared, I wasn’t so sure about continuing looking ahead, but…..
It was a tough mile, but eventually the fog cleared to a beautiful day with good lock luck for the five loopers who stuck with it.
Be ware the wading birds when they are wading in midstream.
Foggy weather seems to bring out the feeding gulls.
This fellow did mind the wading birds, but at least he’s covered the boat.
We made it to Midway Marina (Fulton, MS) about happy hour and had a quick captains meeting to set plans for the next day. Just Us invited us for a lovely dinner of jambalaya on their back deck to round off the evening.
The ditch before our first lock 22 miles of this.
At our second lock we had to take the first bollard, there was a couple feet clearance when the doors came back.
Michelle and Dave on Just Us
Don’t get wet Captain, Whitten Lock was another big one, 84 feet.
Miles Today: 53 Total Miles: 4176
Locks Today: 3 Total Locks: 101
So we sat around for a few days, got laundry done again, cleaned the boat, lazed about, then Sunday we rushed down the river. It took some luck
and hutzpah to make the locks without delay. We traveled with Dan and Angie on Seahorse and agreed he would call the lock at 6am, if it was a go (no tow delays) we would cast lines at first light and go.
Leaving Joe Wheeler, the red light is Seahorse.
At 5:58 Dan called on the VHF to say it was clear, so we started preparing to cast off. At @ 6:15 I heard a tow on the radio talking, the lock master told him we were coming….
So the Captain speeded her up and we cut in front of the tow in the dark and ran right into a waiting lock. We headed down from the highest point on our loop. From here on out all the locks will be down, good, down is much easier.
Ready to fend off lock walls, Captain.
Soon out of the lock I called Wilson Lock to see the outlook and got the all clear, that was lucky as a half hour out, he called us for an ETA since he had an up bound pleasure craft. We speeded it up and ran into another waiting lock. The lock masters on the TVA rivers have been most accommodating. We ran into one at Walmart near Pickwick who seemed to have gone out of his way to say hi and had a quick chat.
So, we passed Florence too early to stop and headed back to Aqua. Not too many pictures as it was the same scenery we passed just 10 days ago. There were a few more loopers at Aqua this stop and we all ventured out for dinner at a local BBQ place.
Fall color at Aqua, we chased Spring up the East Coast, I am afraid we are running ahead of the peak fall color.
Miles Today: 62 Total Miles: 4123
Locks Today: 2 Total Locks: 98
Mark on Blue a Willow taking a picture of us on Blue Heron taking pictures of the group leaving.
Some of the boats leaving Joe Wheeler before us.
Today there will be no classes. Most of the Looper boats will leave. The Joe Wheeler lockmaster agreed to make a scheduled locking for the group this morning, at last count there will be 19 boats locking through. Wish I could be a fly on the wall for that.
We have learned a lot, talked a lot, are jazzed to get to the Bahamas, and looking forward to having this beautiful place to ourselves (read getting to the single washing machine and shower).
Haven’t been taking many pictures this week, but here are a couple. Below is the group picture from AGLCA. A lsothe sunrise this morning, I think that’s Dave from Just Us out bright and early in his dinghy.
photo from AGLCA
With our wait for the replacement circuit board we were afraid we would be forced to run to Joe Wheeler in some bad weather, so we kept an eye on the forecast. The weather gods smiled on us and gave us a single day storm free after the part arrived, so we took it and ran.
Our departure from Aqua Marina
We knew it would be a long day with over 60 miles and 2 locks to do so we started out at just barely first light. The lock gods, however, were not smiling on us today.
The first lock was a long run and as we approached Wilson Lock around noon we heard the lock master tell Blue Willow that he would have a 2 hour wait. We arrived and tied up to the wall ahead of Blue Willow and waited for Dede to join us before locking through. Not a problem, I figured we had several hours of lock delays and could still make it.
After we reached the top, I asked the Captain how we were going to get out.
Sure enough, the walk way went down. We were careful to wait for the horn before we left.
Dede puts the height of the dam in perspective.
The Wilson Lock has a lift of 93 feet, it is certainly impressive. The lock master told Dede to tie up wherever they liked just not in the middle. We all laughed thinking he meant the middle of the channel. As we zipped up faster than we have ever risen in a lock, the swirling eddies in the middle of the lock made us realize, he wasn’t kidding. It took a lot of pushing to try to keep the boat straight in the lock, not enough planks to do that, but luckily the fenders did their job, and they were the ones we didn’t clean the other day.
Blue Willow and Dede heading out of Wilson Lock.
The tow we were unlucky enough to be following.
The last lock of the day, Wheeler Lock was a short run. The lockmaster said if we beat the tow coming, he would put us through, but it would have taken more speed than we could all muster, so we puttered along behind him. There was no chance of us fitting in the lock with him as he was 5 barges long by 3 wide and had to break his load. The lockmaster gave us the go ahead to tie up to the auxiliary lock wall for the 2 plus hour wait. We tied on and Blue Willow rafted to us, the time past quickly as we enjoyed refreshments and talked.
Second load waiting to lock down.
The surprise of the day was seeing the bubbling cauldron erupt beside us as the lock chamber was emptied.
Water being released from the lock.
The sun was starting to set as we headed into the lock chamber and we had a pretty sunset as we headed out. It was only two miles to the marina but darkness was setting as we arrived. I had directions and our slip assignments. Little did I know, I wouldn’t be able to see the numbers when we came in! Luckily there was a contingent on the dock to catch our lines and direct us to our slip, got to love loopers.
Lori, don’t worry if you don’t hear anything here for a while, we will be staying 10 days for the Rendezvous and I may not post until we leave.
View of the lodge where we will be attending Rendezvous events
Miles Day 136: 62 Total Miles: 4061
Locks Today: 2 Total Locks: 96
States: 15 Alabama will be our last state (although we will head back to Mississippi again)
The weather has been unseasonable this fall, it dictated two days at Pebble Isle (we won’t mention the week in Peoria), with a window we moved down the Tennessee River to Clifton Marina for a night, then onto Aqua Marina in Iuka, Mississippi where we hoped to have a couple parts waiting to be installed by their techs.
We pulled into Clifton in a bit of a breeze, the Captain didn’t appreciate the warning to watch the roof line as he turned her between the store and the gas dock, but we had help on the dock and he did just fine keeping it off the building. The owner looked a little like Dolly Parton, minus the hair and ahhhmmm other attributes. We managed to get in to do laundry and take showers and spent some time talking with other loopers.
Clifton Marina
We delayed a little the next morning as there seemed to be some fog in the marina, we heard two of the early boats mentioning fog beyond the bridge. As a result we were an hour behind when the group reached the Pickwick Lock. The lockmaster did not hold us, just asked that we try to contact the boats we thought were behind us. As we could raise neither Blue Willow nor Lucky Lucky on the radio we locked through without a delay. There was a bit of a breeze blowing as we came up the lock (57 feet rise) which made for a little trouble holding the boat off the wall.
Mega Dam Pickwick
Our first glimpse of Pickwick Lake was quite charming. Many houses and coves with docks for larger boats and sailboats, something we haven’t seen much of on the river. We have seen several pontoon boats beached, not sure if this is a winter storage method or what.
Our first view of Pickwick Lake included this tow partially blocking the channel as he hung out on the federal mooring cells waiting for the wind to die down before he locked down.
Nice houses on Pickwick Lake .
It was good to know we were a short run from a dock in that wind. We turned off into the Tenn Tom water way and passed Grand Harbor Marina for Aqua. The thunderstorms the next morning made me glad we came in early for our repair work.
Blue Heron at Aqua, there was another below this one on the dock. Made me wonder if it is mating season.
Grand Harbor Marina, like Aqua a mega marina
Apparently a large cold air mass is coming down from Canada making for some severe storms. If we didn’t have the Rendevous at Joe Wheeler next week, it would be no big deal, but we have a long days run with 2 locks between here and there. When the AC tech said we had a bad board in our new controller, I was afraid it would mean traveling in stormy weather. We have been keeping an eye on the weather reports and plan to run between the storms on Thursday. The Captain arranged for Fed Ex on the replacement board and it is already in. The solenoid which had me laying on the floor to stop the engines is also in, so the wooden spoon has been washed and put away.
Now one last run to Fast Eddies for catfish tacos which were supposed to be good and we will be out of here at the crack of dawn tomorrow.
Miles Day 131: 62 Day 132: 59 Total Miles: 3999
Locks Day 132: 1 Total Locks: 94
Container house on the river, flash back time.
Travels of the Infinite Sea 