We Went for A Walk

Couldn't Resist

put a song in my head, which then turned my thoughts to Joann, Madeline, Betty and all the lovely ladies at Total Fitness

Think this means Our Lady Queen of Martyrs

where we are

we are the 3rd mast from the left

                                                                         and a little art

SHOULD WE GO OR SHOULD WE STAY, NOW

HONEY, CAN YOU BRING ME ANOTHER CUP OF COFFEE? I CAN'T MOVE

A LITTLE BIT OF CHRISTMAS

So, we thought the way the cold fronts were sweeping in that we would have to stay  in Mobile, but then a weather window opened and we said let’s go. So bright and early Monday morning we shoved off. I mean that literally, because we were aground in our slip. The tide you know. Pushing and pulling, slipping on the icy decks, we made a less than graceful exit. The bay was brown and choppy with the wind and waves at our backs as we motored down and across Mobile bay to join the ICW. At one point the wind shifted a minuscule amount so we unfurled the stay sail. It was pretty but didn’t give us much more speed. Still, it was a lovely day and we were moving. Found the  anchorage at Ingram’s Bayou, watched the sun depart bringing Venus and the moon to take his place.

INGRAM'S BAYOU

Now our quandary is that with the shortened daylight and our top speed an average of 6 kts, we can only hope to make 40 miles. If the wind is for us, we can sail much faster. But if the wind and waves are wrong, meaning any direction with east in it, we can’t sail or motor against it. The second day we went just 15 miles to a nice anchorage in Big Lagoon and since we had a pleasant day and lots of time, Jack changed the oil. A mess as usual. Our mast is too tall for the bridges over the ICW between Pensacola and Port Saint Joe, so we must jump out to the Gulf, with Destin and Panama City the only safe places to anchor before we can join the ICW again.Each place is about a 40 mile sail. Early Wednesday with the sun quickly warming, we headed merrily out the channel to the Gulf. A north wind was forecasted but they were dead wrong, strong east winds and east seas gave us a top speed of 3 kts. At that rate we couldn’t make Destin before dark ,and the channel there is too tricky to go into at night. We turned around and headed back to Big Lagoon, where the water was clear and pretty and a long low sand island cupped us gently. Had it been summer, we would have had lots of company and swimming would have been delightful.

                                                                    

IN THE CHANNEL TO THE GULF

BUTTER, WISHING OUR CATS WOULD COME OUT TO PLAY

I know that many people are being prevented from traveling home for the holidays because of the same system that keeps us here in Pensacola. I feel their pain but I am giving over to our cruising fate. We found a safe haven in Bayou Chica at Yacht Harbor Marina where Captain Ted Germann has been most welcoming and we are comfortable if not entirely glad to be so close and yet so far from home.  

  MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL 

AND TO ALL A GOODNIGHT!

BTW

 Our friends, Christelle and Gary, on their journey from Columbus, Miss. to Mobile, AL, saw many alligators. They posted several pictures on their blog: http://timeandtidetravels.blogspot.com.

We did not see even a hint of an alligator but we did see the following animals along with many seabirds and dolphins.

                                             

who would have thought: Hippos and Zebras in an Alabama swamp, lol.

 Talk about your global warming!

and because it was so cold, this little fella happened by

Leaving Columbus, Part Two

                                        In case of trouble, Maggie is prepared

                        Keeping warm

                          At our anchorage at 63.8 on the coldest morning, 19 degrees

                                                          A little icing on the boat

                                                                    A recycling plant

                                           Anchorage at MM 12.2, in the marshes

                                                                something stealth-like

                                                   The BAR-B at the free dock, Mobile convention center.

                                                                  In Mobile Bay

                                                                 hitching a ride

getting cleaned up after the long voyage 

                                                               At the dock

This blog is dedicated to Chris Ryals, and the guys at Columbus Diesel. Chris was the mechanic who discovered the problems and did his best for us. He brought us to the shop to see for ourselves the damage done, he patiently answered all our questions even the minor ones. He taught us all we need to know to keep this engine running like new for many years. I wish nothing but the best for him and his family. We also thank T.Caldwell, Jimmy and the young fellas at Columbus Marina. We were safe and treated well at the marina while we waited for our new engine.  T. towed us the 20 miles to Columbus, put us in a covered slip near to shore, got us in touch with Chris and got the crane that took the old Universal out and put the new one in. He was a good help in so many ways.

After two of the coldest mornings ever!!! we made the coast and tied to a dock at Turner Marina in the Dog River, Friday, Nov. 29 around noon. Nine days traveling and 71.4 hours on the new engine. We missed Thanksgiving Day but what’s that saying? Oh yeah, “we’d rather be sailing”! or motoring and heading south, at that point, even better. S/V Scotia, who I mentioned in an earlier blog, are here, so we finally got to meet Brenda and Hugh in person after VHF-ing with them a couple times.The mast will be stepped on Tuesday and we should be heading to Tarpon, 451 miles away, BUT we’ll be sailing. Juan is slowly coming to understand the boat, hope he’ll like the sailing part better. Mickey fell in the water again, but after drying himself, he climbed in the bed with us. I’ve dosed him with echinacea/goldenseal and sprayed his sneezing nose with colloidal silver solution. Another cold morning but the sun should warm us up handily if the wind doesn’t blow.

Thank you all our family and friends. You kept our spirits from sinking too low. Mummy, thanks for your support and prayers. My brother Andrew in Bermuda, who took time to give us advice about the engine. Donna, the wine helped tremendously, lol. Gail the books are awesome as usual. Pete and Sandy on their big adventure in New Zealand, chatting whenever possible. Phone calls from Shane and Gene and the friends at Mar Marina.

I’ll blog again once we get over to the panhandle of Florida.