Monday, Nov 10:
Wes was awake around 0500, but stayed in bed then got up and moving around 0600. It was a peaceful night at anchor, but was only 35 degrees outside and a bit chilly in the boat. I expected it to be worse. Wes fired the generator and turned the heat on to warm things up. We untied Ella J then pulled our anchor and we were both underway around 0715. It was a cold and windy day!! We arrived at Bobby's Fish Camp around 1215. We got tied up then helped Ella J get tied up. Up Next was getting fuel, so Ella J waited until they were done, then we moved them back to get fuel then back forward to give access to the fuel dock. Pamela D came in and got fuel and also wanted to stay for the night, so Ella J rafted to us and ran their power across our aft deck to get plugged in. As the day went on, more boats came in. We ended up having to raft 3 deep in order to fit all 8 boats on the dock. It was crazy and a bit tense as some of the boats that came in at dusk were over 50 feet and wanting everyone else that was here earlier to adjust and move. All the power is at one end of the dock, so you couldn't use the entire dock and still reach power. Anyway, it all worked itself out and we had a quite evening watching football.
P.S. (Wes add) We refused to unplug us and the Ella J, which we each paid $3/ft, and Ella J is gas, so if they ran their generator, they would be putting out CO fumes in the middle of that cluster of boats. So because of that the 58' boat "Dreamer", known as Sulley Does the Loop on Facebook by the way, only got 40' of dock space and had to hang out 18'. Still secure to the dock, and secure enough to have 2 boats rafted to them, but because I refused to unplug us and the Ella J, they posted I was the biggest asshole in 9000 miles of cruising. They have since deleted the offending post, however I am amazed how self absorbed some folks can be. And I was thinking we would have to reach the Gulf to get salty!
Tuesday, Nov 11:
We both got up and did our respective Bible studies. Then it was time to untie and getting moving downriver. We shoved off around 0900. We had a short wait for the lock to get turned around then 4 of us went through the lock. Pamala D and A Summer Place passed us as they move faster than us. It was a chilly day on the river, but it was still beautiful. We got to 3 Rivers anchorage around 1700. We dropped the hook, then Ella J dropped theirs and rafted to us. We had another enjoyable visit and dinner. Then we relaxed a bit and ran the generator to warm up the boat, then we turned the generator off and went to bed.
We got up at our normal 0600. Wes got up and turned the generator on to warm up the boat as it was only 37 degrees. It was also foggy, so he decided to make a big breakfast of eggs, bacon, hash browns and toast. Brain and Vicki joined us for breakfast then we pulled our anchors and headed out around 0830. As we were heading to the river from our anchorage we heard a bunch of sirens. When we got out on the river Bobbin Along was hanging off the side of the channel as there was a barge with divers that was just ahead and they couldn't get them on the radio. Wes hailed them and they told us we could all do a slow 2 whistle pass and to hug the reds. So we all did and then continued on. The sun was shining and the day warmed up nicely! Not much for fall colors as we continue south, but still beautiful. We got to our anchorage at Big Bayou Canot around 1400. We eased on back, set the hook, then Ella J, did the same and we rafted together. We enjoyed a landing drink on the aft deck until the sun was behind the trees, then we went inside. We continued to talk smart and laugh a lot. I made dinner and we visited until about 1900, then Brian and Vicki went back to their boat. Wes did a little computer work, then we relaxed a short while then to bed early.
Wes was awake early. He got up and moving around 0515, I didn't get out of bed until around 0600. Wes did some computer work while I did the dishes. We pulled the anchor around 0700 and started downriver. We have a window between 1100 and 1200 to get to Dog River in between by work calls. We arrived at Dog River Marina around 1115. We had to go to a slip as lighting took out most of the power on their transient dock. It was interesting getting into the slip. No fingers really. Just a little one on our starboard side so we had to stern in so we could get off the boat. As it is, we have to climb over the back rail. We got checked in, I did more work calls, then we went with Brian and Vicki to The Grand Mariner for dinner. Then back to Toscana where Wes worked on the Garman updates and I relaxed, then off to bed.
Wes got up really early again. I got up around 0630. I started working. Wes did some computer work and boat projects. After I was done working, we went shopping to provision with Vickie from Ella J. That took awhile, then we got back, unloaded everything and enjoyed docktales with Brian and Vickie again as we knew it would be awhile before we saw them again. We had leftovers for dinner, relaxed a bit then off to bed.
Saturday, Nov 15:
We woke up at our normal 0600 to a very dense fog. The coast guard was saying the entire bay was under a dense fog advisory until 1000. So, there we sat and waited until the fog lifted so we could take off. It started to clear some by the marina, but when you looked out on the bay, it was still basically zero visibility. It finally lifted around 1015, so we dropped the lines and took off out into Mobile Bay on our way to The Wharf. The bay was beautifully calm. There were a lot of boats getting out at the same time, so the channel was a little crowded at first, but then it cleared out. I sat on the bow the majority of the day. We had 3 dolphins swim next to us for awhile. That was a highlight for me! I love dolphins! As we neared The Wharf on the ICW the boat traffic increased, but it was manageable. Mick and another couple from Wes's bible study group were on the side of the road and waved/honked at us as we went by. We got to The Wharf around 1530, got all tied up, then walked up and checked in. We visited with other loopers on our way there and back. Wes wanted to wash the port side of the boat yet before dark. He got that done just as the sun was going down. We ate leftovers again, then walked to the AMC movie theater and saw Now You See Me: Now You Don't with Tsali and Jacque. It was a good movie. We walked back and visited the entire way and then visited more when we got to back to the marina. We parted ways and then walked back to the boat. On our way, we saw Echo's II, and stopped for a quick visit. It was after 2200 at that point, so we said our goodnights, went back to the boat and straight to bed.
Sunday, Nov 16:
Wes was up early again and I was shortly(ish) behind him. He started cleaned the outside of the boat while I started cleaning the inside. We signed up for the Looper Crawls for Monday and Wednesday, so we wanted Toscana to look as pretty as possible. 😊 We both got done with our chores around 1300. Then we smoked some more cream cheese and made our oyster dip. Then we setup the aft deck for docktales. Tsali came by, then Pat and Ann from Copacetic, then Mike and Karen from Stella Maris. Jacque joined us as well after she was done practicing her presentation. We had a nice visit that lasted well after dark. We got everything cleaned up then walked up to Mile Marker 158 for a beverage and appetizer as neither of us was very hungry but figured we should eat. We visited with folks that were there. Then back to the boat to relax a little before bed.
