Waiting to cross Mobile Bay; November 15 thru November 19, 2011

Weather is keeping us in Dog River while waiting to cross Mobile Bay.

Lollygag at anchor: taken from a passing kayak......
thanks, Rob!

Lollygag at Grand Mariner Marina: taken by Loopers we met in
 New York ....thanks Once Around !

Mile 0.0 on the Tenn/Tom; November 14, 2011

Link to anchorage in Dog river via Google Maps

Goodbye Alabama rivers

Mobile, Alabama
Hello internet and TV

Busy harbor is the official end of the
Black Warrior / Tombigbee waterway. 

Container ships are just one kind of ships in the harbor.

Leaving the harbor and entering Mobile Bay.

Only 217 miles to complete the Loop! 

Mobile River; November 13, 2011

Link to anchorage in Big Brier Creek via Google Maps

Passing the mouth of the Alabama River turns the waterway
into Mobile River.

"14 mile bridge"
The last bridge on the loop that needed to be opened!

These hyper little birds looked like bats
as they dart around the water.

Spanish moss hanging from a tree

Reminds me of a story . . . . A long time ago when camping with my kids in Yellowstone, we were setting up the tent when someone told us the moss hanging from the trees was bear hair. Well, we finished putting up the tent, but slept in the car!

Still in the Alabama wilderness; November 12, 2011

Link to anchorage in "3 rivers lake" via Google Maps

Narrow entrance opened up into a pretty lake

Deer along the winding river

Back to Gull country

Our last lock on the loop!;November 11, 2011

Link to anchorage at "Old lock No.1" via Google Maps

Captain checking the depth with sophisticated equipment .
Looks about 2' under us.

Cut off from the main channel opened up to a nice place to anchor.

Coffeeville Lock. 
After 108 locks this is . . . . .
OUR LAST LOCK ON THE LOOP!

As you are lowered, birds catch fish that are trapped in the gate.

Birds within earshot come in a hurry when they hear the lock horn.

Gates open and you are less than 4 feet above sea level.