So we are at Dog River Marina...safe and sound! With lots of other crazy Loopers. We picked up a cheap rental car today and did the mass laundry mat run today. Cleaning and boat maintaince will follow. We plan to pick up a one way rental car and head back to Kansas first thing Tuesday morning. Dog River will pull the boat and apply a fresh coat of bottom paint, install a new crew air conditioner and a few other repairs...yes, like new seal on the fly bridge steering column!...while we are home for the holidays.

Another great adventure on the Tenn-Tombigbee Waterway. We are looking forward to Florida, new canvas, new carpet...Key West...Bahamas...and boating adventures 2014!!!!

Another cold day on the water as we headed to David Lake...really just a little bump out in the river...shallow and now we are encountering tidal currents. THE SECOND NOELLE joins us again. It is cold and windy...but we dinghy Dakota over a mile back into the river and down quite a ways to the boat ramp, parking area so he can do his business. We make one more run at dark...thinking that it'll be dang cold at 6AM when we make that morning run to shore. Alas, it was not to be. Dakota had the routine down...life jackets, long johns, gloves and ear cover...but at 42 degrees, the motor on the dinghy would not start.

Anchor up....we head to Mobile with one miserable dog aboard. Bless his heart...he didn't complain...even when the trip took two hours longer than we thought(12 miles of bay area, not four)...and Mobile Bay was rough! He was a green dog, with yellow eyes! Looking at us like we were totally crazy!

I must admit we didn't mess around getting the boat secure...he was off the boat two steps...and "katie bar the door",  he let loose. I hope that is the worse he has to endure. We have met a couple today who gave us tips on how to get him to use "pads" on board...we just haven't had any luck with that so far. Hopefully, their tips will help.

 

From to Demopolis to Mobile is a long, ditch of zigzagging river and water way...216 miles...at 7.5 mph that takes a while....we had a plan! Demopolis to Bashi Creek to Old Lock one cut off to David Lake and then to Mobile. We left Demopolis at 6AM...made the first lock down with a boat named THE SECOND NOELLE...Dakota was okay...and we used the dinghy to get to a boat ramp and small parking area at Bashi Creek. Passed several working tows...and even a couple of pleasure crafts headed north.

After another long day, we began to notice that when we used the fly bridge steering, there was a leak of fluid from under the steering wheel. Luckily, it was cold enough that we've been using the lower helm anyway. But this could get serious...loss of steering fluid eventually means loss of steering! Not good when you are headed into a busy bay area like Mobile. We'll guard that situation...

 At Lock one cut off, we encountered another boat...with a yellow lab aboard. "Honey" quickly became Dakota's playmate...though she swam to shore to "do it".  Since we had to dinghy our dog, we became the official sitters...hmmmm, how'd that happen???? We decided it wasn't so bad...as they were headed north to Demopolis...we can handle one day.

 

 

 

Somehow those two managed to get in the mud!!!! We have a little shower nozzle on the swim platform...so Dakota got rinsed off before coming aboard...but the dinghy didn't fair so well!





Then about 5ish, here came THE SECOND NOELLE...they went ashore for a little fire and cook out. We enjoyed chatting with them...and Dakota got to see FIRE on our night trip ashore! Made that trip and our early morning run without HONEY...lucky us! Though Dakota was sad to leave.

oh GAS!!! and the prices we pay!!! At Aberdeen, the marina is also a convenience store...they sell gas on one side to cars...and on the back side to boats...same price!!!! but those of you who own boats know that you almost always pay more for marine fuel. Try buying 140 gallons at 95 cents more than what is the current car gas price!...that'll make you take notice !....and, no you can't borrow my credit card to do that!

We love the critters we see in the air, on the land, and in the water. This trip we have had the great treat of not once, not twice, but three time seeing deer swimming across the water...right in front of us!!! Once, while talking on the phone and driving, I thought I might run over some! Kelli got the excitement of that occasion. Thank goodness for instant camera action...I can move fast when I need to.....

Backwoods....back water....any way you look at it...from Columbus to Demopolis to Mobile...it is the black hole of internet communication. We've been several nights without cell phone or internet coverage. Sometimes during the day, we'll have a moment or two of bars...so make your phone calls then!
And can we talk about temperatures! We are moving south...where it should be warmer...but no! It just keeps getting colder and colder. Smoke (or fog) on the water in the mornings is sure pretty...but it often makes it a chilly ride to get Dakota to shore...or we have to delay starting out...cause you can't see a freaking thing!

 

This was our view at Bashi Creek...first of four anchorages out of Demopolis. 47 degrees at 6AM...it is a shock to the system....thank goodness we had coffee!!!

Our anchoring experiences with a dog aboard have been interesting. We have had to make selections based on the ability to take the dog to shore to "do it".  Our first real test came at the TomBigee Oxbow...small little creek area with a boat ramp and lighted parking area...first trip in went really well. Then on the way back to the boat, disaster struck! Dakota fell in...Luckily he was wearing his life jacket and I had hold of his leash...but in and under he went!!! Came up bewildered...and, of course, dripping wet...so now we have a drippy wet dog on board! I thought we'd never get him ashore that evening... but ...nature calls and he knew that was the answer. Oh, my!

Somewhere between Aqua Harbor and Midway, we talked to a boat named FIELD TRIP.  Then when we pulled into Midway Marina, there they were. Traveling with four other boats, we dubbed them the Flotilla of Five....great folks and lots of fun...they showed up again at Columbus and Pirates Cove...when we anchored at the Tom Bigbee Ox Bow, they were just a little behind us...and arrived at Demopolis. We thought it was a hoot listening to them chatter back and forth with each other...but really! We like the peace and quiet...and we really didn't need someone pointing out every Great Blue Heron! No matter how you play it...it is still driving in a ditch...they were staying in Demopolis for a couple of days...we moved on!

One is always facing challenges when traveling by boat....we've dealt with transmission issues, engine issues...but this week was a catastrophe of mammoth portions.... I broke the carafe to our under the cabinet coffee maker! It is an older working model...and as we discovered, you can't just buy a new carafe. After several trips to WalMart...and several missteps...we finally broke down and just bought a new cheap coffee pot. Caffeine on these cold, o'dark thirty starts was a major necessity!!!!...Since I was in the mood, I also bought a Shark Pet Friendly dust buster....what a deal!!! the other vacuum is a just a hassle to get out and use...this seems to be perfect...may need one at home too! I think we can find a replacement carafe...they'll just now deliver to this moving vessel!!!

Let me back up and talk just a little about the fun we had at the Biltmore! Muriel (Floyd's sister) and Maxine (my mom) flew into Nashville on Sunday Oct 20. We dropped Dakota off at Athens Bark Avenue Pet Resort and headed to pick them up. Right on schedule....amazing!!! Then drove 5 hours to Ashville...Laughed, caught up on Wichita and Fredonia happenings...checked into the hotel.  Then Monday morning we went to THE BILTMORE. The weather was perfect...but where in the world did all these people come from???? Monday was suppose to be a slow day...but I think someone forgot to tell the barbarians!!!! They were everywhere...which made for a slow and often hard to see tour of the big house. That afternoon and again on Tuesday we enjoyed smaller private tours that included areas not seen by the general public. Much nicer!!! We ate in two of their upscale restaurants..shopped for souvenirs and enjoyed ice cream on the patio! Amazingly Muriel found folks from Midland that knew people she knew! Small world!

Wednesday morning we took the Blue Ridge Parkway and headed back to the boat in Rogersville. We stopped along the way and picked up darling Dakota. Thursday morning Muriel and Mom helped us with some laundry and grocery shopping before heading back to Kansas.  Though we felt a little guilty turning them lose on the highways, we were delighted to have them take the car back to Kansas! Friday we headed toward Mobile.....

Today is bright and clear....and we awoke to the sounds of engines as boats were leaving. Six ...then three more...looks a little empty around here. But I imagine it'll fill up again. There is yet another wave of loopers headed this way. They went to Chattanooga while we went to the Biltmore...and then we headed out before they came back. So somewhere behind us....but soon to catch up!

We are playing with projects today. Floyd is bound and determined to raise the height of this folding bar stool he wants to use at the lower helm. It is currently 24" and it needs to be 30".... A trip to Lowe's for stuff...and he is happily sawing away. We also got a small piece of carpet that will snap into place where Dakota hops aboard. Hopefully that will help his fiberglass skid....he often has wet feet...not a good combination for leaping onto the boat. I'm playing with my new shark pet friendly dust buster. That vacuum is in a " you have to really want it out" kind of place. This is so much easier...and this non-shedding dog brings lots aboard that needs sweeping up!

We are also celebrating Dakota's one year adoption. Yes, this time last year we drove to Harrisonville, Missouri....spent all of 30 minutes falling in love...and brought him to his new forever home. He weighed all of 7 pounds....and was full of wiggles from the start! Now he weighs 27 boney furry pounds...and still just wiggles with delight. He tries so hard to keep track of everyone that it is really hard for him to nap much. We think he has adapted well to having a small home that is forever moving. He's now the activities director on the TUMBLEWEED! Cause everyone needs a title! Alarm clock, walk supervisor, chief playmate would all work...so Activities Director it is! One thing for sure, he knows that yellow life jacket means something is gonna happen...and he gets right to his "spot" on the fly bridge...and stays there watching us "work".... Treats and pats work until he is given the okay and the life jacket comes off. Then he is free to move about the boat!

Saturday we plan a short cruise to Pirate's Cove Marina... A character place just outside of Aliceville...then we'll have to anchor out on Sunday before getting into Demopolis on Monday.