Great Loop Day 083 Nov 19, 2016, Dog River Marina, Mobile, Alabama

Dog River Marina Mobile, Alabama

It is not the going out of port, but the coming in, that determines the success of a voyage. - Henry Ward Beecher

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Day 83 Saturday, Nov 19, 2016. Dog River Marina. Staying here for a few days to figure out my next tactical move. Visited the West Marine Express store here at the marina and bought a Waterway Guidebook to the Gulf that lists marinas and shows where they are. The online version of Skipper Bob's Guidebook to the Gulf Coast ICW was purchased earlier and downloaded on my computer as a PDF file. I found I could copy sections that are pertinent to my travels and send them via email so they can be accessed while underway. Would be nice to have hard copies to write down notes of the anchorages and marinas.

Chilly and windy today with winds out of the north gusting to 30 mph from the cold front that crossed the nation. Creating a chop in the Dog River that is sending waves to the dock the Sea Marie is tied to. Spent most of the morning and afternoon tying and retying lines and fenders to protect the hull from the wooden pilings during the rise and fall of the tides. Noticed there are no cleats on the wooden docks. All boats must tie off the pilings similar to the one on the west side of Michigan marinas. They are the size of telephone poles. Adequate for large vessels but difficult for small boats like mine to make adjustments. Found using a big fender vertical on the boat and then placing a smaller one horizontally to ride up and down with the tides works best. There are barnacles on the pilings that were shredding my fender cover. Now with the smaller horizontal fender that doesn't happen.

Notice the sailboat on the other side of the dock? That’s Steve’s Twolynne who we met in Alton, Illinois on Day 50.

About halfway to low tide.

Near low tide and the barnacles are exposed. Have to make sure I release the dock lines as the boat gets lower.

Winds from the northwest create more waves to rock us.

Leap of Faith behind me.

Mickey takes a “Leap of Faith” getting on the boat.

Managed to get my shower in and a couple of loads of laundry done.

Back at West Marine and I purchased a handheld VHF marine radio that has more power to transmit. The Baofeng worked well but only in close quarters. I have a fixed VHF in the cabin but difficult to use while underway. Many times have to steer and talk with the outboard roaring in the background. Talked at length with Judy at West Marine. She owns a 30ft Catalina that races and cruises at the Buccaneer Yacht Club. She shared some of her adventures on the bay like the time in a race with a newbie female crew and getting them to perform tasks that require quick maneuvering was a challenge, cost them first place but managed to take third. And the time a wire to line jib halyard had a 'meat hook', small broken wire protruding sliced open her thigh. Ouch!

Been invited to dinner aboard the Irish Lady Two, a 1979 Grand Banks 42ft classic from Baltimore MD. Skipper Kurt and his Admiral Susan were the most gracious hosts. Where else can you have Susan's fine and delicious chili with a glass of wine?

Walked around the Dog River Marina and out to explore the shore of Mobile Bay. Tried to get a picture of a small crab but they are quite elusive hiding in little holes dug out in the mud. Tomorrow I am borrowing the use of a courtesy car and getting to Walmart for a few supplies and dinner at Golden Coral. So Fair Winds and gentle seas till tomorrow.

No Manatees to report.

Got a photo of this little crab as he darted in his hole.

Low tide on the north end of the entrance to Dog River.

Getting some sun with Mobile Bay in the background. The days were still a bit chilly.

Mobile Yacht Club is built up on stilts to protect against storm surges.

Be careful walking down the boardwalk. This mast could very well smack you in the head. I know, I’m speaking from experience.

Barnacles on a ship’s hull.

Close up. They are tough and tenacious little critters with sharp edges.

Comments:

David Myers For a minute there I thought you were Santa Claus

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