Finally on the Loop. Pictures.

[wahoo33417]

Got the boat in the water this morning. Tom Bigbee River has crested but debris is plentiful.

Headed north for a bit to try to connect with last trip. So much debris didn’t make it all the way. Nice fall trees, dirty water.


A log that I saw. Hopefully I see them all!


Tied up for the night in Demopolis, AL, Kingfisher Bay Marina. Captains meeting tonight to try to pair up buddy boats for tomorrow due to debris.

I likely won’t have WiFi for next couple of days.

 

[magicalbill]

Congrats! Glad you hooked up with the Hauler.

Surprised you don't have the canvas up as chilly as you said it was. Boat looks good!

What's the name of the marina off your stern in the "log pic?"

You'll probably have that drift & debris all the way to Mobile Bay. Keep watch!

 

[Fishtales]

I like the newer larger windshield on the boat. My 2002 was shorter, looks great without the enclosure. Man that water is dirty. You must be somewhat nervous with all that debris in the water. Who knows what you could run into...

 

[Parthery]

Love love love that boat.

Weather looks to hold until late in the week. Should be a good ride.

 

[Ky Grady]

Beautiful boat!! Sounds like a fun trip, I'm sure you're glad to be back in the loop. Keep the updates and pics coming.

 

[wahoo33417]

Magical. It is Demopolis Marina who also owns Kingfisher Bay Marina. And you’re exactly right on the debris.

Many loopers were stuck there waiting for debris to subside. So marina brought in a river expert one evening to explain that Demopolis pool had crested. Hence debris would tend to collect to the sides more. However, the next, (last) pool to the south still had not created. Normal pool is 34’ MSL. Was then at 64’ MSL. In other words, bots leaving Demopolis might get stuck at Bobby's Fish Camp, which isn’t much. But it is the only fuel stop between Demopolis and Mobile.

Also at the meeting, we decided that we would enter and leave the lock two miles downstream in order of cruising speed.

I’m so glad I spent so much effort rigging up the portable AC. I froze the first two nights.



Journey entities to the lock. Really hard to see all the debris. And I didn’t see it all.



In the lock.



The fall trees were nice but even on a beautiful - but cold - day, you could not take your eyes off the water for more than a few seconds.



After 100 miles, made it to Bobby's. But their gas was contaminated with water. They talked about a farmer they know bringing in some 55 gal drums, or calling in a truck to fuel directly, but did nothing. Made the next day more interesting.

 

[magicalbill]

Wow...I remember your frosty pics near KY Lake. Eventually you'll thaw.

I've read about Bobby's Fish Camp in my cruising guides; I seem to remember they trucked fuel in years ago; looks like they sell it on site now looking at the pump in the foreground. Good thing you didn't take any of the bad fuel on...Did you??

Your next & final lock is Coffeeville Lock. After that you'll have full tidal effect as your in the Mobile Bay Pool.

Keep coming..It's 79 degrees right now where I am in Fla. Cold Front is forecast to move thru next weekend or thereabouts, but it'll still be in the hi 70's low 80's near us post-passage.

Once you lose the debris & sub-freezing temps, it'll become fun again...

 

[wahoo33417]

Sorry. Didn’t put the curtains up because I didn’t want to impair any view of debris. Especially for the first hour or two, the windshield kept fogging up on the inside. I was on my toes to see over the top of that tall windshield!

 

[wahoo33417]

Gettin' warmer, but still not quite warm enough for me.



The words of the speaker in Demopolis were exactly right. The debris in this last pool in the Tom Bigbee was tremendous. I took more hits than I can count. We all did. Sorry, not many pictures of this stretch due to that.

We delayed our start by an hour and had much less fog.



Getting near Mobile Bay when the tall forests give way to lower canopy



Kinda neat to see where the new coastal ships are made.



Stopped in Dog River Marina.

 

[magicalbill]

This is very enjoyable for me. I have always daydreamed about making that run North up the Tombigbee. This is like an up-to-the-minute Crusing Guide. Glad you made it to Dog River.

As Parthery mentioned a ways back, your wx is OK 'till Thurs/Fri which marks the next frontal passage.

Good News: The Southerly flow ahead of the front should mark a welcome change in temps.
Bad News: Winds will likely increase to SCA's post-passage and drop the temps back as they veer North.

 

[wahoo33417]

Front got here a day early. Tomorrow is NE 15 - 20, gusts 25. Too much for my discs. Tomorrow will be sleep in and clean up the boat some.

Short ride today getting out of Dog River to Orange Beach. About N 10-15, but mostly following sea.



picked up the Gulf ICw heading east.




Tied up at Homeport Marina. In my opinion, much nicer than Dog River.

 

[wahoo33417]

Exceeded bandwith with Homeport photo. Will try again later.

 

[magicalbill]

You indeed felt the first front.

The one I was referring to in my last message is still due to pass thru Thurs Eve. with southerlies (onshore) ahead of it. Some storms and accompanying gusty localized winds may happen as well.

Winds will veer North in it's wake and it'll get rough, chilly, & generally nasty for a few days. Hopefully your settled in by Thurs till things subside and warm up some.

At least the debris should be behind you and your not putting wear & tear on your A/C unit....

 

[HTHM]

Thank you for this thread, I am really enjoying following you on google maps.

 

[Lsquared]

there are a lot of nice marinas in Orange Beach. Was looking in that area to keep the boat there, instead wound up in Jax.

 

[Parthery]

How far and how long is this leg of the loop for you?

Going to get January cold here next week with the passage of a healthy cold front. Assuming you are going to try and cross to the West Coast of Florida sometime over the weekend.

 

[magicalbill]

Doubt it Parth: N to NE winds 4cast to blow thru late Sat, decreasing Sun, but there will still be residual swell and generally lumpy conditions, especially offshore which is where he'll have to be until he gets near Tarpon Springs. That run is roughly 165 miles or so..That's a long day when it's rolling, but the Captain has the final word.

Plus, it won't be the warmest boat ride, those Northerlies will have a bite. That said, he's pretty hardy.. look at the above pics on the river near Demopolis where the steam is rising off the water..Yikes.

 

[Legend]

Great thread - thx for posting as my boat sits under shrink wrap for the winter!

 

[magicalbill]

Monday Wahoo.. Check out the 4cast 20-60 NM out from Apalachicola to Suwanee.

Winds backing E at 10kts ahead of the next frontal passage. There will be some groundswell, but with no more than 10 kt winds, it shouldn't be anything your new rig can't handle. If the E winds hold, the surface chop will diminish as you near Tarpon Springs & Clearwater. There might be isolated showers as the airmass gets more humid with the East wind, but as of now nothing spectacular. Will watch that aspect as the 4cast unfolds.

Just throwing it out there for consideration, depending on how soon you want to get to Tarpon Spgs & points South...

 

[wahoo33417]

Really nice to have people more educated about long range forecasts looking ahead for me. Thanks!

Plan is just to get to Carabelle and see. Enjoy the trip without stressing about what weather will be when I get there. That said, I will still hope for and appreciate Magical’s thoughts when I am there.

The boat can take much more than I can. I am very much a comfortable ride kinda guy these days.

Tomorrow’s forecast is North 15-20 w gusts 25. My route has a lot of open bays and and I’ll stay put tomorrow. Believe it or not, I’ve lost a pak-a-way rain jacket somewhere on the boat... maybe I can find it tomorrow!