Aug 27-28 Bobbies fish camp to LuLu's

Woke Up at 6:30 , called the lock at 7:30, bad news couldn't lock through until at least 9:30.
Because of the delay we weren't going to make Mobile Bay by nightfall, and we were not traveling at night. So, an anchorage would be in order. 16.6 miles from Mobile Big Bayou Canot was our evening accommodations. As we entered the creek we looked for shore and all we saw was soggy mud banks. We asked a fisherman about a dock and he sent us up the creek a couple a miles.
Another fisherman corrected our bad turn and we followed him 4 long milesThe creek had many logs and stumps which he pointed out to us. LOCAL KNOWLEDGE.

Finally, we arrived at another state park in Creola, Alabama.

The marina, the state park, and the creek did not exist on our GPS. At dusk, We tied up to a boat landing and the light rain became a torrential downpour.

The next morning , refreshed and awake, we retraced our path, much easier.

Still interesting

Cutter remained concerned.

It turned out to be a perfect spot.

Mobile Bay supported heavy commercial traffic, and was not pleasure craft friendly, we were glad to have taken advantage of the evening anchorage.

We slipped through these two vessels with plenty of room to spare. Crossed Mobile Bay and arrived at Homeport Marina, Home of LuLu's , Jimmy Buffett's sister's bar and grill.as the sky opened.

Aug 23-26 Demopolis to Bobbies fish camp

Our favorite next to eldest granddaughter, Kate drove over 60 miles from University of Alabama to spend the night with us. Everyone recommended "The Barn " for a great meal. Interesting...

We also took Katie to breakfast. We have had almost NO fast food since April 25. John was thrilled.

The city of Demopolis, was a french attempt to grow olive trees in Alabama. Didn't work. Cute little city with a few quaint shops.

After Katie left, we started our next 115 mile journey at only 12 miles per hour with one place to stop. Bobbies fish camp. This was another "write home to Mom about" experience. Seems they have recently expanded their dock from 30 ft. to 100ft. We were the only boat there, so we could choose our spot.

Don't be fooled by this humble exterior.

The interior is much more interesting. Everyone said we had to have the catfish dinner, but with luck Vicky found crab cake on the menu.

Sandee and Katie, notice the fine decor, from the stuffed deer on the right to the Christmas tree on the left. Everyone else will notice the catfish and bones. John highly recommends it.

Aug 20 -24 Still on the Tenn-Tom Waterway

This house was definitely not built on sand


Did a double take with these rock formations

This is a homemade fish feeder in one of the marinas

Catfish know its safe and visit whenever food is served.

AMAZING THINGS ON THE WATERWAY Work Stopped and the bucket will be unloaded tomorrow or whenever.

It's nice to know that Superman can change on the Tenn-Tom

Man made birdhouse in a nature preserve. Guess there aren't enough trees.

The trip from Columbus Marina, Mississippi to Demopolis, Alabama is 119 miles with no marinas. At One of the best anchorages, (Cutter agreed) is the Sumpter recreation area, a state park and campground.

It is hard to believe commercial barges are 100 yards away.

A small dinghy dock gave us a chance to easily get to shore and enjoy the nature trail. Much better than diversion canal. The park had honor system campsites, restrooms, and a playground.

We turned a corner and saw the White Cliffs of Epes.

Just before the end of the Tenn -Tom Waterway

August 15-18 Kentucky Lake to the Tenn-Tom Waterway

We left Green Turtle Bay Resort and Marina, at 4 pm. crossed a 1 mile channel connecting Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake. We arrived at Kenlake Marina at 5:30 Vicky and Cutter threatened mutiny so the crew less the Captain reluctantly made the decision to stay in a well appointed marina with many houseboats in a national park.

Luckily, we arrived before the ice cream stop closed.

Still fighting the water intrusion problem, we choose marinas over the many beautiful anchorages.

Everyone raved about Rick and Tammy, We called and Rick took on the challenge. They found and inadequate exhaust loop was causing our problem and ordered the hose. Came back late the next afternoon and worked until 1 am. They found a few more potential major problems and fixed them before real trouble. The next morning they came back and checked our dinghy motor so Cutter can get to the green, green grass when we anchor out.

We waited a while to leave and hoped to miss the rain. WRONG
Although the sky made for a great photo op before we anchored out of the channel to wait the storm out.

Look closely and see the beautiful rainbow. So much for not being able to photograph rainbows but leprechauns, that's another story.

Cutter is enjoying the scenery as it changes as often as the color of the water moving through the many different rivers.

Sunset found us at Pebble Isles marina

They loaned us a rental car to buy groceries. Up the hill to the main road, translates to travel 5 miles straight up the mountain. We're not in Florida anymore.

Celery slid off the boat as we were unpacking groceries, a comedy of errors and the fender fell. Never a dull moment when boating.

Along side of us on the dock, is a real working stern wheeler. The M/V Dresden Belle is 83 feet long and her beam is about the same as ours. John thought it was an imitation paddle wheel and had standard engines and bow thrusters. But Connie told us it is an original stern wheeler and has none of that.


They travelled down the Ohio from close to Pittsburgh when we met them.

How would you like to dock this ?

In the marina office, and restaurant, John found a gorgeous neon yellow and shocking pink tie die. Luckily I have great sunglasses.

Waterfront home for sale.

Ladyfinger Bluff, formed when the Tennessee River carved a path out of the ever abundant limestone.

Finally arrived at Mermaid marina.