Great Loop Day 075 Nov 11, 2016, Rattlesnake Bend Anchorage to Demopolis, Alabama
Rattlesnake Bend to Demopolis, Alabama
"Each of us must confront our own fears, must come face to face with them. How we handle our fears will determine where we go with the rest of our lives. To experience adventure or to be limited by the fear of it." --Judy Blume
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Day 75 Friday, Nov 11, 2016. Rattlesnake Bend to Demopolis, Alabama. 8.6 miles.
Mickey and I got through the night unscathed.
A chilly start in the low 50s. Anchors both fore and aft held well. Lots of fog and mist in this section of Rattlesnake Bend.
Had a short distance to run so I didn't have to hurry. Had plenty of hot water in the thermos for my oatmeal and coffee. The banks of the river were very still and quiet. No activity. I’m enjoying my second cup of coffee out in the cockpit and Mickey is eating his can of cat food. Then a soft rustling on the near shore. Thru the weeds and rushes and river mist, I see a glimpse of black fur. The feral pigs were back. Can't say how many, perhaps 3 or 4. Camera in hand I patiently wait and listen. One of them sticks his head out and snap, I got his picture. He's very camera-shy and takes off in a split second. The other follows deep into the woods again.
Stillness descends. An occasional crow shouts his familiar 'caw, caw', out in the distance. A soft outboard motor is heard coming in from the main river channel. I see the sun sparkling off the wake of a small bass boat with one person aboard. Zoom! Flys right passed me with an obligatory wave. The mist is lifting. Time to weigh anchors and move on. Yep, they still weigh in at 11 lbs and 4 lbs. Haha. No problems getting these anchors off the muddy bottoms.
The main river channel is quiet with a light mist glowing in the sunlight. I'm heading south and the sun is high over the trees and in my face as it has been for the past several days. Would be nice to have a cloudy morning once in a while. No significant rainfall since overnight rain at Green Turtle Bay, 15 days ago. None in the near forecast either. The guidebooks are not very clear about what the marina at Demopolis looks like. Will have to trust my judgment and look for the fuel dock. About a mile away I call Demopolis Yacht Basin on the phone. A woman answers and goes by the name Anna Marie. She says to check in at the fuel dock. I scan the shoreline for docks with fuel pumps. Sometimes marinas have flags flying on the dock making it easy to spot. No flags here. I see several large barges banked on the shore and just behind them an entrance to a marina with shelters but no fuel dock. A little further downriver a large tug is docked and behind him are what look like fuel pumps. I glide past and make the turn upriver for a closer look. Yep, fuel dock but not enough room for the Sea Marie to dock behind the tug. But there's room on the other side of the dock. I slow to idle watching my depth for signs of shoals. Depth alarm goes off, I'm in 4ft of water, turn to port puts me in deeper water. I ease alongside the dock, put the motor in neutral, and at the right moment jump to the dock with stern lines in hand. Nobody in sight, the pumps read Diesel on one and Gasoline on the other with Self-Serve sticker on both. I tie off the bow line and stop the outboard. Not familiar with procedures here I walk to a small shed-like building on the end of the dock. A young guy comes out, Matt is his name. Said he'll turn on the gas pump for me and I can fill the 5-gallon can and top off the main tank whenever I'm ready. Stupid me grabs the diesel pump and nothing happens. Matt comes out. The gas pump is on the end of the dock and he turned it on. Duh, both pumps look alike. I grab the cans and walk 20 feet to the gas pump. I need to see the gallon dispensed meter. I put 5.5 gallons in the can and top off 1.8 gallons in the main tank. Fully loaded. Marine Gas is $2.99/gal here. Load the tanks onboard and walk over to the small building. Here, I can pay for the gas and the night's stay at the marina. Matt hands me a tag with wire to wrap on the starboard rail, then brings out a map of the area, The Kingfisher Marina is a little upriver, the opening I passed behind the barges. He informs me there's a dredge working across the entrance and has a cable blocking it. Matt puts a call to the dredge on the radio and says he'll lower it for me to pass. Slip A 21 is assigned and shows me on the map where it's located. And for me to call the dredge on Channel 11 when I'm ready to cross over.
I untie myself and head to the marina entrance. I put a call out to Dredge on channel 11, the dredge operator responds and the cable is lowered. I stay in the middle of the small channel. I'll be fine. Pass over and call back to thank him and let him know I passed. I see someone on the dock with a handheld radio. He hails me and asks if I need 30amp or 50amp service. 30 amp I reply and he directs me to another slip next to the one assigned, port side looks closer to the power outlet. Helps me tie up and I hook up my shore power cable. Settled in, time to relax and make plans. I’ll be checking with local sailors on downriver anchorages, not many. Got the Demopolis Lock a few miles down to get thru and the next marina is Bobby's Fish Camp 71 miles away. Still, I need guidebooks on the Gulf ICW after Mobile. No marina stores here. Looks like plan B, buy and download Skipper Bob's guidebook on the Gulf, the best source for finding anchorages and marina information. Planning to stay two nights here. Still have lots to do before taking off in a couple of days. Fair Winds and Gentle Seas...
Comments from 2016:
Henry Krzemien RN This was shot yesterday on arrival at Rattlesnake Bend North.
Satellite view of Kingfisher Bay Marina and my route.
