Almost done with the river, the next travel day did not have a lock to get through, so we weren’t really in a hurry in the morning. Of the nine boats in the anchorage, we ended up being the last ones up and out. This leg of the journey took us passed the White Cliffs of Epps.

They were really cool and stretched a good few miles. We ended up catching up to Sandy Crab, who travels much slower than we do. But we all ended up at Kingfisher Bay in Demopolis. Whoopsea, who we had met in Nashville was also there and we made plans to go to dinner that night. The marina actually had a shuttle bus that takes people to town and there ended up being 24 of us that went to dinner at the locally famed Red Barn.

It was very good! We all discussed a plan for leaving in the morning, which included one lock just beyond the marina.

So Friday morning we were up at 5:30am and set off. Through the lock we went to an anchorage called Bashi Creek. Reports say you can actually go up into the creek, but it looked super narrow and there were overhanging trees and debris. So we chose to anchor just across from it outside of the channel.

Saturday we were up early again aiming to get as far as possible, including through the last lock on the river. We passed a famous Looping stop, Bobby’s Fish Camp. It was nothing to write home about and really the only reason people stop is for fuel. We are pretty fuel efficient so we didn’t have a need to stop. We made it to the last lock and got right through. Making 91 locks we’ve gone through thus far on the Loop. We came to Three Rivers where two other boats were set up for the night. It was a little snug in there, with some low tree branches, but it was starting to get dark so we found a spot and made it work.

Sunday morning, after dislodging a log from the anchor, we headed out and made it to Mobile Bay, the entrance to Gulf Coast. From here we will have to be mindful of the tides. The port of Mobile was super busy! We started to see the huge ocean liners and shipping container boats, one of which we ended up passing as we came out into the open bay.

We came to Turner Marina on the West side of the Bay, but was unable to get in our assigned slip. Their “docks” were designed for sail boats, with just a triangle sliver of dock high up at the end of the slip, with just posts at the front. There was no way we’d be able get tied up or even get off the boat 🫤. Being Sunday they didn’t have anyone working that day, so we made the decision to just park along the wall where the larger boats were. There was an open spot, so we just slid right in. The dock was still really high up, especially at low tide and the poor fluff needed a boost getting off the boat. Phil-n-Wild were also tied up there, so that evening we went over and played games with them.

Monday we had reservations in Fairhope, which required crossing the Bay. So we got up early again for the hope of calm water. When we got out there it was pretty choppy, 1-2ft waves. Not the worst we’ve been in and wasn’t that wide across, so we just dealt with it. What else can you do. When I made the reservation for Fairhope they had informed me they were under renovation and we wouldn’t have power or water at our slip. Don wanted to rinse the salt water off the boat so when we got there we went to the fuel dock. We had passed our slip spot on the way and realized they were just like the ones at Turner that we wouldn’t be able to get into. So they had us go along the wall at the entrance of the marina. With the wind starting to kick up and our stern thruster not working, it was a challenge to dock. After we finally got secure, we took a Lyft to town. We got lunch at a very unassuming counter service restaurant, Porterhouse BBQ. It was excellent though! Some of the tenderest pulled pork I’ve ever had. We walked around, checking out some of the shops. Including Fairhope Chocolates, which had some amazing truffles, and delicious beignets from Panini Pete’s in the French Quarter.

A very cute lill Post Office.

That night was pretty rough. The wind only got stronger, and being right at the entrance all the waves got funneled right in at us. Tuesday was a miserable day. The wind never let up and the waves just rocked us around ALL day. I took a chair into the laundry room and hung out there most of the day because I just couldn’t stand it.

Don talked with the marina people who said we could move to the fuel dock at 5:00 when they close for the night. Being further in we hoped it would be calmer and let us get some sleep. We’d have to move again in the morning when they opened though. Even though there was a small craft advisory for Wednesday due to the wind, we didn’t want to spend another day there just getting tossed around. It was only a short distance down to the intercoastal waterway (ICW), so we decided we’d leave at first light and just get down there.

Even being further in the marina on the fuel dock it was still a rocky night. The boat still rolled around, the lines were creaking from the strain all night and my anxiety level was up to my eyebrows about the next days journey. There was little sleep to be had. We got up and got moving as soon as we could see. With the wind going North to South, the channel out of the marina put us beam to of the waves. We just hammered down and got through as fast as possible. As we turned South the 3-4ft waves were then at our stern and it was more tolerable. As you go South the bay widens and there are a series of points jutting out. Once around the first one, blocked by the land the waves lessened, and again passed the second and third. Then when we made into the ICW where the water was perfectly flat. It was quite the relief. There were also dolphins we saw that were swimming around here! 😄🐬

We came to The Warf Marina and got set up in our nice calm slip with actual docks. Shandie was here as well. Shane was going to be here for a month, so Brandie had brought her car down from their home in North Carolina. They let us borrow it to run some errands. This also brought us to Don’s cheat restaurant, Whataburger. Although, we don’t actually have one in Buffalo so technically it’s not cheating. 😋

Phil-n-Wild, Eric’s Inheritance, Tug Bussle, The Grand Wazoo and Arion we’re at another marina a little further down. They invited us to the famous Florabama that night. It sits right on the Florida Alabama border. It was a super fun place with a bunch of different sections, each with live music.

They are famous for their Bushwhacker’s. A drink that’s more like an ice cream sundae. Not being big on cream liqueur I decided to pass.

Thursday was a chilly day. There is a good size plaza above the marina, so Don and I walked around checking things out. We found a Kilwins Ice cream, the place from Michigan. It was too chilly for ice cream though…..today. 😉

Palm trees and Christmas ornaments 🤔

Later we met up with Shane and Brandie for drinks and dinner. We went to Tacky Jack’s, where you can sign a piece of colorful duck tape and stick it anywhere, the wall, ceiling, stairs. The whole place is covered.

For dinner we went to Live Bait. Specializing in sea food, I had some delicious ahi tuna nachos.

From here it is only about 65 miles to Destin Florida, where we are scheduled to have the boat pulled out of the water on December 1st. We are capable of traveling that distance in one day. With two weeks to kill, we decided to stay here a little longer. Shandie (Shane & Brandie) will still be here, we heard from Sea Clef and Off Leash that they were coming here as well. The Warf also offers a discounted weekly rate. So we figured we’d stay and hang out with everyone. Because we were now staying passed our original reservation, we had to move spots though.

Friday we scooted over to the other side of the marina, to the longer term slips. It was a corner spot and a little tricky getting into, but still with actual docks we managed. Then we met back up with Shane and Brandie at The Axe Hole for some axe throwing. It was a lot of fun! Don was really good and stuck his every time. But on a scoring technicality I ended up winning and got to sit on the throne. 😄👑

We then met up at The Pour with a bunch of other Loopers in the marina. It was a self serve bar that has a tap wall with a wide variety of beers and ciders. You can pour as much as you want and paid by the total ounce. So you could try a little of each, or a lot of a favorite.

While there we made plans with Off Leash and Sea Clef to have a pot luck Thanksgiving dinner together.

After a quick photo op, we went with Shane and Brandie to a highly recommend Mexican restaurant, The Cactus Cantina. It was very good, definitely lived up to the hype! From there we went back to the Florabama. There was a very entertaining band playing. While they were very good musicians, they also had sort of a musical comedy shtick thing about them. If you take life too seriously and are offended by the wind blowing however, they would not be for you. Before we left we had to sit in the infamous big blue chair on the beach.

Today we have every intention of just hanging out and relaxing, so we will see what shenanigans follow 😆.