Mobile to Pensacola

We left from Turner Marine on Dog River just off of  Mobile Bay on Thanksgiving morning.  Gemini Dream had left the day before for New Orleans.  They were going there by boat to meet up with some relatives so we were on our own for the first time in a long time.  A sailboat, Flying Free, left a few minutes before us and we agreed to keep in touch as we crossed Mobile Bay.  They go a little slower and were going to take a more direct route across the Bay.  They didn't have an exposed propeller like we do and if they run aground they only hit the keel.  I had just spent a week here getting the boat made right including a wrinkled prop, so I wasn't about to do anything the slight bit risky.  We stayed in the ship channel until we were certain that we would have deep water all the way into starting into the intracoastal.  We had been looking for Porpoise ever since we first came into Mobile Bay a couple of weeks ago.  I had seen some from the helm, but they were way in front of the boat and didn't seem to want to come and play.  Today wasn't much different. Either we weren't going fast enough or it was the wrong time of the day. Cindy and Pat at least got to see some in the distance, but it wouldn't be until days later that they would come swim alongside the boat in our bow wake.

Lulu's

 

We passed Lulu's (Jimmy Buffets sisters place) because it was closed for Thanksgiving. We anchored for the night in Ingram Bayou just off of the intracoastal.   It was a very popular place!  By the time we got there, there was already 4 sailboats rafted together, a  powerboat rafted to a sailboat, and around the corner a sailing catamaran at anchor.  I have been told that you never go deeper in to an anchorage than a catamaran because they don't draw much water. 

We anchored in between

Too shallow here!!

 

Dinghy ride after anchoring

I attempted to anchor a ways in front of them and sure enough when we let out enough anchor to hold, the depth went to zero.  So we moved!!  We  went back to where the power boat and the sailboat were rafted up and I anchored off to their side, but after the anchor set again, I felt we were a little close and might not have room to swing if the wind changed and something new to worry about, the tides now changed directions every few hours, so we pulled up anchor again and I move a few feet forward.  I'm glad I did, because later on, the tide AND wind changed and we swung around closer to the other boats than I would have liked.  There was still plenty of room and the other boats didn't seem concerned.  Flying Free, the sailboat that left before us, came into the anchorage a little later.  Even though they took the "shortcut" we had arrived first.  They had tried sailing but could make better time (5 mph) on their engine.  Since space seemed to be at a premium, I invited them to raft up to us for the night.  One less anchor to set and navigate around.  They came aboard and we shared some drinks and snacks before we both retired for the night.

Flying Free got an early start again, way before we were ready to go.  We knew that we would catch them sooner than later that day.

We were now into the intracoastal.  All the time during my planning I had been calling it the INNERcoastal and have heard a lot of people refer to it as such.  It's actually the INTRAcoastal but it seems funny to say it.  I like innercoastal better.  A few more dolphin (porpoise) sightings today but not anything spectacular yet.

Cindy's first Dolphin photo

Just a short day today and we arrived at Pensacola Naval Air Station, home of the Blue Angels.  They have a marina that can hold our boat and we are able to stop here because of my retired AF status.  The only thing that worried me is that the Marina is closed today, the day after thanksgiving.  I had visions of navy boats questioning our presence, but no such thing.  We docked and asked someone if we could spend the night and where should we tie up.  They pointed out a dock next to another boat about our size so we went and tied up.  I found a sign that said that when the marina was closed, to go see the marina host.  Sure enough, behind the marina office was a travel trailer with a guy working on his boat trailer.  I asked if we could spend the night and he said no problem that the marina would be open on Saturday and we could sign in then and pay our .50 a foot fee.

Cheap dock rent, free washer and dryer, military facilities close by, as well as a Walmart, so we decided to stay for a while.  Cindy's son Tim, decided to fly down in a light plane so we located a small airport close to the base for him to keep the plane overnight.  He was bringing Tristyn and Preston so Cindy could get her "grand kid fix".  It has been almost 2 months since she has seen them.  We rented a car from National which came to the boat and picked us up.

We met Tim and the kids at the airport on Saturday afternoon.  Tim didn't want to stay on the boat. so we got him a room on base at billeting.  He and Tristyn stayed in the room and Preston stayed on the boat with Grandma.

On Sunday we gave them the option of going to the Naval Aviation Museum or take a boat ride to try and find Porpoise.  They opted to take a boat ride.  As we pulled out of the slip and into the narrow channel to leave the harbor, they sighted their first (and only) porpoise.  We rode out into Pensacola Bay and down onto the intracoastal a bit and turned around and came back.  Tim still had a long flight that afternoon and wanted to get on the way.  It was good to see them, even though we plan on being home for Christmas and New Years anyway.
                                                                        
Cindy's Observations:  This military marina was again, a first.  The docked boat we visited with here were past loopers and live aboards for 3 years from Maryland Heights, MO.  Since they had  cruised on the Illinois and Mississippi rivers  we brought them up to speed on current conditions and changes/additions the local towns have made.
The blue angels had completed their training 2 weeks ago for the season, so we missed out on being able to sit by the field and watch formation practice.  We had taken a bike ride over to BOQ and upon returning to the boat we were informed it was lucky for us not to have been stopped by the MPs for not wearing helmets.  I feel another Walmart trip coming up.  Note to self, helmets required on military bases.                 

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Seeing the kids was great!  They now can relate to our stories since they experience a short ride out on the gulf water, even if was just the bay.  I was excited for my grand daughter to see the dolphin from our boat. Little Preston and I watched little hermit crabs in the shallow water by the slips.  Later we made pillow forts until he fell asleep on the boat.  I made pineapple upside down pancakes, cinnamon rolls, eggs and bacon for breakfast. We said our good byes at the airport, watched takeoff and went back to boat (boathome, as Tim tells Preston).
Monday we took advantage of the free laundry service. Tuesday Gemini Dream caught up to us and went to the Naval air museum with us the next day.  For the air plane aficionado, this is the cats meow.