Mobile to Pensacola

 

"If you can't run with the BIG DOG, stay on the dock".  Doing a little free advertising for our friends at Dog River Marina in Mobile, Alabama.  We are preparing to get underway for our journey eastbound to Pensacola..........but first, a few stops along the way! 

 

 

 

 

Lucy Buffet's place (Lulu's) on the intracoastal waterway in Orange Beach, Alabama.  Her famous brother, Jimmy, has been known to drop by and play a few songs!

 

A view of Lulu's that landlubbers don't get to see!

 

 

 

 

While cruising to our anchorage at Ingram's Bayou, a pod of dolphin play in the bow wave of Spiritus! 

 

 

 

 

 Sipping on wine and enjoying another fabulous sunset at Ingram's Bayou!

 

 

 

 

 

The next anchorage will be within rowing distance to ...............

 

ARRRGH!

 

 

 

At Pirate's Cove, our life-long friends, Jack & Van Danley, join us for bushwackers, pizza and stories!

 

 

 

 

Tiki, a permanent fixture at Pirate's Cove, makes the rounds to all the tables to "visit".  She'll accept handouts of ANY food you are willing to give her!

 

 

 

 

Hopefully this sailor learned a valuable lesson.........never leave home without your navigational charts!

 

 

 

 

Our next anchorage, Redfish Point, gives us the opportunity to walk along this totally isolated and pristine beach along the Gulf of Mexico.

 

 

 

 

Captain Eddy diligently "guards" the picnic lunch that the first mate packed for them.  And who would he be guarding the lunch from on our isolated beach?!?

 

 

 

 

After a swim, it's time to lay back and relax!

 

 

 

 

Spiritus at anchor at beautiful Redfish Point.

 

 

 

 

We know we are in home waters now, as we approach the Pensacola Lighthouse.

 

 

 

Back at our homeport, Bayou Grande Marina, we toast with our friends, Doug & Bev Morin.

 

 

 

 

Spiritus will be pulled out of the water for a bottom paint job and some preventative maintenance while at her homeport. The first week of November she will continue eastward toward Carabelle, FL to cross the Gulf of Mexico!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Demopolis to Mobile

 

 

We always enjoy walking through Demopolis in the fall and picking up pecans.

 

 

 

 

 

Mr. Joe Lashley invited us to pick pecans from his trees and told us about the different varieties of pecans.  We think they ALL taste good, but the biggest difference is in the thickness of the shells.

 

 

 

Mr. Lashley was proud to tell us that his lawn tractor was the first model built by John Deere.  And if you look closely at the hood, you'll see it has held together well with the help of LOTS of duct tape!

 

 

 

This old warehouse gives you an idea of how long Demopolis has been around..........5 cents????

 

 

 

I suggested to the owner of this detailing shop that he might be losing potential customers in Demopolis by not giving Auburn University equal billing.   War Eagle!!!

 

 

 

 

Checking out the Kingfisher Marina's new swings just before leaving Demopolis.

 

 

 

 

Our looper friends from Stuart, Florida traveled down river with us from Demopolis to Mobile in their trawler, Makalani.

 

 

 

 

Surprise!!!!  We met this tow soon after he turned the bend.  He took up most of the waterway, but let us squeeze by "on the one whistle".

 

 

 

 

 

At our Bashi Creek anchorage, we took two dinghies to shore so we could take a walk in a nearby park, built by the Army Corps of Engineers.

 

 

 

 

 

You just never know when you're gonna need an outhouse!

 

 

 

These two lads work for the Alabama Department of Fish & Wildlife.  This unusual rig gathers information pertaining to the health of certain species of fish.  One of them is an Auburn grad and stopped by to chat with us after seeing the AU burgee on our boat.

 

 

 

 

 

Linda & I came up with a solution to the high price of diesel fuel!

 

 

 

 

Our anchorage at Okatuppa Creek.  The cruise from Demopolis to Mobile required us to anchor three nights during the 226 river mile journey.

 

 

 

 

 

Arriving in Mobile, Alabama's busy port assured us that we were back to our "local" cruising waters again.  The tallest building in the state of Alabama can be seen from six miles up river.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sure signs that we are once again cruising the Gulf Coast waters are seagulls..............

 

pelicans..................

 

and dolphin playing off the bow of Spiritus!

 

 

 

 

Enjoying docktails on the bridge of Spiritus with the crew of Makalani:  Mary Jo, Vince, Faye and Bill.

 

 

 

 

View of the sunset from our dock at Dog River Marina in Mobile, Alabama.

Sweet Dreams!

 

 

 



Columbus to Demopolis

Back in Columbus, Mississippi with our friends John & Susan.

 

 

 

They are such a baaaaaddd influence on us!  Friends don't let friends do dessert alone!

 

 

 

 

 

Our overindulgence required daily walks in the park adjacent to the Marina.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Captain Eddy puts on a stellar performance at the park's amphitheater.........

 

 

 

........and leaves the entire audience spellbound!!!

 

 

 

 

A gorgeous full moon rising over Spiritus in Columbus.

 

 

 

 

The National Crappie Masters Fishing Tournament was held in Columbus while we were there.  Over two hundred contestants put up $300 each in order to compete for the $60,000 grand prize!

 

 

 

 

 

Apparently there is fashion etiquette that must be followed in order to compete successfully!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Those of us who didn't dress the part had to settle for trophies & a hand shake instead of cash!

 

 

 

 

Some serious go-fast boats!!

 

 

 

 

Our Canadian friends came by to wish us farewell as we departed Columbus.

 

 

 

 

The First Mate decided that the swim platform is also useful as a nail salon!

 

 

 

 

The sun says "Good-Night" at our anchorage in Sumter Landing on the Tenn-Tom Waterway, between Columbus, MS and Demopolis, AL........

 

 

 

.......and "Good-Morning" as we get underway the next day!

 

 

 

 

Upon our arrival in Demopolis, we shared wine and stories with Jessie and Jean aboard their boat "Double J".

 

 

 

 

 

I  NEVER want to hear any of you complain about the price of filling your fuel tank!!!