A Quick Stop

The next stop is at Kingfisher Bay Marina in Demopolis Alabama. It is the only marina between Columbus and Mobile. Just 250 miles to the Gulf of Mexico. Where they tell us everything will change.

The two nights we are allowed to stay are devoted to preparations for four-seven nights at anchor. There is one stop where a few boats can tie up to a barge. Otherwise, we fend for ourselves.

The usual chores of laundry, groceries and boat cleaning took up the morning. The afternoon was devoted to meal preparation so we won’t have to cook anything complicated while at anchor. Late afternoon we went to a briefing offered by a local boater on the possible stops on the way to Mobile. So kind of Jerry to share his knowledge gleaned from 22 years sailing down to the keys and back each year.

We also coordinated our departure plans with the other boats leaving in the morning. One boat took on the responsibility of calling the lock which is three miles downstream to request passage. Then broadcasting the results on channel 72 at 5:30 am.

Most of us leaving were hoping to travel at least 70 miles to the Bashi Creek anchorage. Two boats want to go further. Bobbies Fish Camp is the only place to tie up before Mobile. It is a 100 mile run. An early start is critical to us all and will depend on traffic at the lock.

We were in luck. A tow was in the lock at 5:30 but I saw it pass our location 20 minutes later when I was walking the dogs. It was light enough to see when I got back to the boat. John had taken in the power cords. I singled the lines and we pulled out. All the other boats followed as the lock attendant said”All you RVs come ahead”.

We are not sure why we are recreational vehicles here. Perhaps because we are not large enough to be a ship. On the other rivers we were referred to as PCs for pleasure craft.

We were in the lock and out after a 40 foot drop by 7:30.