Day #129: Up at 5:00 A.M. there was fog we could not see "Optimystique", "Lark" and "Sea Trolley" so Mike and I laid back down but at 5:20 A.M. we got up. Jan from "Optimystique" started texting asking when we thought that we would be leaving. The fog starting to lift. Engines were started at 6:30 A.M. and we were underway at 6:45 A.M. with "Bay Tripper", "Optimystique" , "Lark" and "Sea Trolley". No issues with the fog, it had dissipated so that we had no reduced visibility. At 7:20 A.M. there were clouds but the sun came out enough that Mike put on this sunglasses. At 8:00 A.M. we crossed "Graestone Express" no longer sunny. At 8:45 A.M. we did a speed pass of the "Judson B". At 8:50 A.M. we crossed with the "American Dream". At 9:05 A.M. we crossed with the "Tom Huckabee" At 10:00 A.M. we did a speed pass on the "Charles Haun". At 10:05 A.M. we could see the Mobile skyline. At 10:15 "Optimystique" took the lead after David talked to TowBoat US about taking a shortcut across the channel. At 10:30 A.M. we crossed with the "American Courage". We passed Mobile's industrial waterfront which was very impressive. At 11:00 A.M. we crossed into Mobile Bay. YEAH!!!! THE RIVERS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED (We started the rivers at Chicago on September 4, 2018). As we got into Mobile Bay we passed the United States Coast Guard Cutter/Bouy Tender "Barbara Mabrity". As we cut across Mobile Bay we did get into a bit of shallow water as we saw a low of 3.2 feet but we did go back up to 5 feet quickly. We saw dolphins in "Optimystique's" wake. Mike saw one come up right next to "Parrot Bay". At 12:05 P.M. we were holding station out in front of Dog River Marina. We were told that there was only one gentleman working. We didn't need fuel so they helped us into our slip as our reverse on the starboard engine is only periodically working we were secure at 12:20 P.M. We traveled 51.6 miles today (1942 miles total trip). As we helped the other boats into their slips the dark clouds rolled in and the winds starting to howl. We squeaked into Mobile Bay just in time. We all knew that we had a short window to get into Mobile Bay as a front was moving in temperatures are suppose to drop rapidly. It went from mid-70's to 62 degrees. Mike and I went to put a work order in for our starboard reverse gear. We reserved the courtesy car for tomorrow to go to the "USS Alabama". Bev made us reservations at the Yacht Club next door for dinner tonight at 6:00 P.M. Mike and I went to the West Marine that is on-site here at Dog River Marina which was awesome as we really miss our West Marine. Mike took some time in the engine room. We had docktails at 5:00 P.M. followed by dinner at the Mobile Yacht Club. Mike and I both had the grouper which was awesome. Back to the boat the winds are gusting to 30 miles per hour and it is cold. On the dock that we are on the north winds are rocking the boat. It's going to be a Dramamine night.
Interesting Facts:
Travel days to get here (the actual number of days that we have been moving): 37 days
Miles:
Bay City to Chicago: 629 miles
Chicago to Mobile: 1313
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| Interstate 65 (Twin Bridges) |
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| "Oslo Bulk" is a sea going freighter. |
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| Naval vessels. |
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More naval vessels. 
Mobile skyline. 
This is a free dock in the middle of the shipping canal of Mobile. This is a looper boat at the free dock.
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"Nor Goliath", a heavy lift utility boat.
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| USCG "Barbara Mabrity" |
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| Dauphin Island Parkway |
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The welcoming committee as we were waiting for a slip assignment. |
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| Our first official palm tree siting. |
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| Dinner tonight at the Mobile Yacht Club. The yacht club allows anyone who is staying at Turner's Marine or Dog River Marina to eat at the restaurant. |
