Mechanic has located the problem, parts should be ordered this afternoon. We hope to have parts arrive and installed on Monday. Then head out on Tuesday. Heah, right. Like that'll really happen. We'll keep you posted. For now we are safe and sound in Orange Beach, Al. Marina is up scale. Two restaurants right on the water. Seems to have good laundry and shower rooms. It is sunny and 74 now. Though storms are supposedly head this way. We are good for now. Don't cha love a man with a vacuum?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SALLY...Things went according to plan this morning. We left Dog River Marina at Mobile for a rather smooth crossing of Mobile Bay. We made way points just as planned and right on schedule. Stopped for a delightful lunch at Lulu's...she is Jimmy Buffet's sista. Cheeseburgers in paradise, LA caviar (black eyed pea dip), and fried green tomatoes were beyond good. We did our bit for the economy at the gift shop....and then things went %$#@ in a hurry. Coming out of the dock, Floyd had more difficulty than ever....and before we crashed into a few million dollar yachts behind us, he announced that we had no port engine gears. We limped along for awhile, called a few marinas and found some mechanics to meet us. They were unable to fix or even diagnose the problem. But suggested we report to Orange Beach Marina where they could get a better look tomorrow. Wish it were so easy. Getting in required more maneuvering than we could do...yep, ran a ground. Called the boat towing service...that's why we have insurance...Sat there for an hour and a half with mosquitoes buzzing. But just like Underdog, they came, they towed, and we are now sitting in a marina. Three restaurants, nice folks, Internet, interesting lay out. It is suppose to rain here through the weekend...if we have to be broken down, it might as well rain. %$#&... I have some photos but am too depressed to post them tonight....Maybe tomorrow.

Coming through Mobile was exciting. We were to dumb to know any better when we went through St Louis...and Mobile is the second largest port city in America. We saw really LARGE stuff and lots of it....I was at the helm, Floyd was navigator and helm boss, and Fair Majesty was in front. Miles and miles of ocean, wind and waves but just a narrow channel of water for safe travel. A Carnival cruise ship was behind us....just a little stress.

Meeting people is definitely what makes this Looping so much fun. And we struck gold in Tom and Liz, home port Eufaula Al. They have been great travel partners this past week. Their boat is a 78 foot house boat named Fair Majesty...same engines as Tumbleweed. We cruise at about the same speed. We've had some great laughs, though they totally missed Floyd stepping into mud up to his knees. They lead the way for us down river and through Mobile Bay, as our chart plotter quit. We were able to help them dislodge their anchor on Monday. They say they'd still be stuck in the river if Floyd hadn't been there. I say that Chapman's Schooling has really paid off....anyway...boat and friend photos....and don't we look like boat people...anchoring out for a couple of nights, and those cool, damp days...yep, turned us right into boat bums. We didn't care what we looked like. We had made it to Mobile safe and sound. We wanted food we didn't cook and a stiff drink or three.

Another highlight was the 14 mile railroad swing bridge. We thought our train friends would enjoy these. With only 4 feet of clearance, we were at the mercy of the bridge tender to swing it open. Our lesson in pleasure boats being at the bottom of the food chain was never more obvious. We called and were told that men were working on the bridge, we'd have to wait awhile. After an hour of circling, a tow boat appeared, called the tender to open, and in the blink of an eye the bridge swung open. Interestingly enough it was a tow we had followed out of Demopolis, passed, and he was now headed back up river. The Gilbert Taylor...good guy to know I guess.

Trip highlights included passing under the I-65 bridge. We hear tell the locals refer to it as the "Dolly Parton" bridge. It's up to you to figure out why...

We made it to Mobile. Boat is running GOOD. We managed to get 9 MPH with same rpm's that only got us 7.5 MPH last summer. I told Floyd it was because the water is so cold. hehehehe....The beauty of it is that the trip we thought would be 41/2 days only took us 3...and we made friends along the way. Tom and Liz left Demopolis on Saturday morning ahead of us. We were able to anchor with them Saturday night. Then travel together the rest of the way to Mobile. We are currently at Dog River Marina. Weather tomorrow is suppose to be rainy, cold and windy. When it clears on Thursday we are headed east across the bay. Seems as though Jimmy Buffet's sister has a little place about 30 miles from here....we are excited to check it out.