Day 126: Ground Hog Day

Yet Another Thunderstorm

Like yesterday we woke to a thunderstorm.

Still Going Up But Slower

Also like yesterday, the river is still rising.

One Man's Garbage

Walking around the boat yard today I came across this piece of jetsam.  It's the belt guard and coolant overflow bottle for a Cummins diesel engine.  We just paid $60 for that bottle.  The guard must cost hundreds.  I guess it's true, one man's garbage is another man's treasure.

Yup, still in Fairhope, Alabama and holding at 1095nm.  DBH

Day 125: Oh, Come on...

This Morning's Satellite Picture

With thoughts of cruising to Gulf Shores today we awoke to see this satellite picture.  Lets see, shall we leave our safe, covered slip and courtesy car knowing this is coming?  No way!   It was so decadent being undercover when the rain was pouring down :-)

The 6PM Water Level Report

Friends, on a 22kt cruiser, went up to Demopolis on Monday.   They were making a dash for it as the heavy rains were raising the water levels quickly.  It took them two days to cover the 230 miles.  They saw River currents climb from 1.5 to 3 mph as the Demopolis Lock and Dam water depths went from 44' to 53'.   This helps confirm the advice to not start up the river unless Demopolis is at 42' or below.

The Rain Let Up

The Winds Let Up

Still in Fairhope, Alabama and holding at 1095nm. DBH

Day 124: Reprovisioning

Worse!

It's been a valuable exercise watching the Tombigbee's water height change.  Our go/no-go decision must in part depend on the weather forecast for the entire Tombigbee, Alabama River, and Tennessee River watersheds.  The good news is that it takes some time for the water levels to rise.  The bad news is that the Spring rains have saturated the ground and so it doesn't take much rain to really raise the water levels. 

Reprovisioning

This downtime is giving us the opportunity to fully reprovision Nellie's larders.  When we do get the green light we'll be ready.

In Fairhope, Alabama, and holding at 1095nm.

Day 123: Plan B

Hmm, Wrong Direction

The water level forecast isn't looking bad, it's looking really bad!  There was lots of rain north of us today.  At best it's going to be a week before we can even think of going. 

More Rain

Ed, who owns the marina here and the one in Demopolis, recommended that Nellie not go until the water level at the Coffeeville Lock and Dam is 12'.  Saturday the forecast is for 31'.   Time to figure out a Plan B.  Holed up in Fairhope, Alabama and holding at 1095nm for the trip.

Day 122: Hitting the Books

The Navigable SE Rivers

When cruising a new area it's best to know what can kill you.   The speed of the river is one of those things.  Yesterday I heard about a Grand Banks 42 that headed down to Mobile with the river in flood stage.  The rapid current made the boat hard to handle and it ended up sideways to the current and pinned to a fallen tree.  They couldn't free themselves and no one else that tried could help them.  The next day a rescue team chainsawed the tree and finally freed the boat. 

This elephant of a trip is best eaten in small bites.  The first nibble gets us to Demopolis, Alabama; that's 230 miles and two locks up the Tombigbee River from Mobile. 

Flood Waters Above Mobile

This morning everything looked good for a Tuesday departure.  This afternoon this changed when the above chart was published.  Rains in the Tennessee Valley are predicted to flood the river down in Mobile.  Besides the problem of greater current, debris in a flooding river tends to float down the river's middle.  Conversely, the debris will collect along the shores if the river is failing in height.

Another piece of advice we've gotten is to proceed up river only if the next lock's water height is within 10' of its pool height.  Yea, that's Greek to me.  Fortunately the marina's fast internet facilitates our studies. 

Marriott Grand Fairhope, Alabama

It wasn't all work today.  We visited the Marriott Grand and toured its grounds.  What a pretty place.

No miles today.  DBH

Day 121: An SSP3+ Day

Dawn on the Mississippi Sound

Coming out of Gulfport this morning the recreational fishing boats were thick as flies.  We saw lots of little kids aboard then too.  So, as a sea state predictor that's got to be a 3+ (the higher the number the calmer the seas).  Sure enough, it was dead calm.

Mobile Bay with 10kt Winds

Once we turned southeast into Mobile Bay the winds picked up.  A little wind sure stirs things up.

Fairhope, Alabama was today's destination.  As members of the Americas' Great Loop Cruising Association (AGLCA) we're entitled to a free night at the Eastern Shore Marina.  But wait, it gets even better.  Upon arrival they gave us a key to their courtesy car. 

Starting in Mobil is the Tombigbee River; gateway to our trip north.  Thanks to all the rain, the Tombigbee River is flooding and is too high for us to safely traverse it.  The good news is that it's going down quickly.  Right now we're only looking at a three to four day delay.  There are some other cruisers staging here that have done this trip many times.  It's time to put on my newbie hat, start asking questions and learn the ways of the rivers.

Today's run to Fairhope, Alabama was 70nm.  To date we've traveled 1095nm.  DBH

Day 120: Meet Dudley...

We woke this morning to the sound of wind whistling through the rigging.  That was all the excuse we needed to stand down for the day.  Truth be told, there's a boat show going on here which has also captured our attention.

In March we left St. Pete with a new crew member, Dudley D. Brown.   It wasn't exactly a shanghai, but Deb and Roger Brown, who own the tug Saltwater Joys, asked that we season the lad with some sea time.  Roger is a Mountie.  Dudley aspires to be one.  As such, Dudley is more accustomed to horses than boats but is game to learn the ropes. 

Dudley Helps Figure Out Nellie's Electrical Systems

Dudley Goes for a Swim Off  Apalachicola's Town Diving Board--He Doesn't Read so Well

We have been tempted to join the America's Great Loop Cruisers' Association (AGLCA) but balked at the $79 annual membership fee.  Tonight we attended a free presentation on the Great Loop.  To our delight, Included with the handouts was a free annual membership to the AGLCA! 

Found AGLCA Burgee

How serendipitous because in 2006, while cruising in the Abacos, I found an AGLCA burgee.  Now that we're (free) members that (free) burgee is proudly flying on Nellie.  Ironic, isn't it?

In Gulfport, Mississippi.  No miles today and 1025nm to date.  DBH