Well we are now in Mobile (pronounced Mo Beal), AL awaiting the landfall of tropical storm “Ida”. We were enjoying the warm breezes of the Gulf of Mexico until yesterday when the weather was predicted to turn bad. We have been here since Wednesday and had decided to stay for about a week so that we could explore the Gulf coast and it now appears we could be here longer. The boat is battened down at the Turner Marina on the Dog River and we are sitting in a Holiday Inn for hopefully, just one night.

Since the last post we had a very pleasant and leisurely trip down the Tennessee River and then a very fast trip down the Tombigbee Waterway as there was a lot of rain and the current was running ~ 4 + knots. We were doing 90 NM days. The lower Tombigbee is a very desolate area. You travel over 70 miles between bridges that span the river.

We stopped at some very “unusual” marinas such as “Bobby’s Fish Camp”. One morning, we left Demopolis, AL early, so that we could get an early locking through the dam with 9 other boats. We were the last boat in and Judi had to throw the line over the floating bollard. I heard this big scream and Judi was standing on the foredeck waving her hands and screaming that there was a snake on the top of the bollard. Sure enough there was a fairly large rattlesnake coiled up on the top. Luckily snakes are Al Gore friendly since they are solar powered and it was cold. He was therefore, in no mood to move as you can see in the picture.

Saturday, we went to the Navy Air Museum in Pensacola, FL. This is also the home base of the Blue Angels. This is a very impressive museum with many historic aircraft. On our way back we went to the Battleship “Alabama” park in Mobile, which has a WWII submarine and more historic aircraft. Judi has had her fill of “historic” aircraft, battleships, and submarines.

Last night we had dinner at “Felix’s Fish Camp” overlooking Mobile Bay. I had crab soup, ½ dozen oysters (actually 9 oysters), camp salad, hush puppies, sautéed mushrooms, and three crab cakes on green fried tomatoes. Judi had camp salad, grilled chicken with mushrooms etc. over brown rice. Add in two draft beers and a glass of red wine and the bill, with tax was $61. The food was excellent with great service.

The trip continues to be fantastic with new adventures and new people to meet and other people to meet again on boats you crossed paths with in Canada or other spots.

It is great to be back in salt water as they smell of the air seems normal again. WARM WEATHER IS COMING.