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!