| CHAPTER 9 Mobile Bay to Carrabelle Page 1 |
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NOVEMBER 18-20
Jeanette and I drove over to Fairhope, AL which is on the eastern
shore of Mobile Bay. We orginally had planned to take the boat over to
visit the town and meet and visit Sunshine Golden Rescue, however, we
get us in the day after we got here. We also wanted to wait for
Highlander to get repairs completed so we could leave together.
Fairhope is such a cute little town and we wish we could have spent
leave tomorrow, Nov. 20 for The Warf at Orange Beach. It's
extremely cold here! I'm glad I have gloves and a warm hat.
Jeanette and I drove over to Fairhope, AL which is on the eastern
shore of Mobile Bay. We orginally had planned to take the boat over to
visit the town and meet and visit Sunshine Golden Rescue, however, we
get us in the day after we got here. We also wanted to wait for
Highlander to get repairs completed so we could leave together.
Fairhope is such a cute little town and we wish we could have spent
leave tomorrow, Nov. 20 for The Warf at Orange Beach. It's
extremely cold here! I'm glad I have gloves and a warm hat.
| CLICK ON THE PICTURES TO ENLARGE FOR DETAILS. |
NOVEMBER 21
We find ourselves still at Dog River Marina. We were planning to leave yesterday, but Highlander has
stick with friends. Today we have fairly large white cap waves on the Dog River right where we are
tied up on the transient dock, but the boat is pretty sable, just bouncing a little bit. The wind is
howling at 25+ MPH and there's a small craft advisory out, so it's a day to stay here. Tomorrow is
supposed to be a light chop on the bay, and we hope to head out then.
Yesterday the marina owner treated Highland and us to lunch at the Mobile Yacht Club since we missed
the day to leave. What a wonderful treat! We may drive over to Fairhope again to enjoy the town and
SHOP! Below is a picture of the quaint city of Fairhope.
We find ourselves still at Dog River Marina. We were planning to leave yesterday, but Highlander has
stick with friends. Today we have fairly large white cap waves on the Dog River right where we are
tied up on the transient dock, but the boat is pretty sable, just bouncing a little bit. The wind is
howling at 25+ MPH and there's a small craft advisory out, so it's a day to stay here. Tomorrow is
supposed to be a light chop on the bay, and we hope to head out then.
Yesterday the marina owner treated Highland and us to lunch at the Mobile Yacht Club since we missed
the day to leave. What a wonderful treat! We may drive over to Fairhope again to enjoy the town and
SHOP! Below is a picture of the quaint city of Fairhope.
A small craft advisory was issued again today with rough and choppy seas on Mobile Bay. However, the
bay seemed calm enough, so at 01100, Golden Lily and Highlander finally left Dog River for the open
waters! As we entered the narrow channel the Norwegian Cruise ship was heading south, so we held back
until it was ahead of us, and boy did it throw up a good wake. A tow was the next ship to navigate, so
Jim called in to the captain, and we passed on the "one whistle"...that's his starboard/our port side.
We finally started moving along at our economical trawler speed...9.2 MPH. It turned out to a great
ride. We did hit a little chop of about 2 feet as we came closer to the wider part of the bay, but it
quickly calmed down. Just about then our first DOLPHIN started swimming near the starboard side of
our boat. We saw several more appeared off our bow. This was an exciting moment for us! I was unable
to get a picture at this time because they disappeared quickly.
We arrived at The Wharf at 1600. Jim washed down the salt off the boat, something we have not had
to do since we left NYC. Lily fed and walked, we all walked over to "Nix" a restaurant in this
unbelievable complex of stores and shops, along with this towering hotel/condo. The main street is lined
with palm trees. It makes us really feel like we are in the south. The only difference is that it's COLD
here: night time goes in the 30's and day time has been in the 50s. It's supposed to warm up to the
60s in the next few days. I guess it's better than snow!
bay seemed calm enough, so at 01100, Golden Lily and Highlander finally left Dog River for the open
waters! As we entered the narrow channel the Norwegian Cruise ship was heading south, so we held back
until it was ahead of us, and boy did it throw up a good wake. A tow was the next ship to navigate, so
Jim called in to the captain, and we passed on the "one whistle"...that's his starboard/our port side.
We finally started moving along at our economical trawler speed...9.2 MPH. It turned out to a great
ride. We did hit a little chop of about 2 feet as we came closer to the wider part of the bay, but it
quickly calmed down. Just about then our first DOLPHIN started swimming near the starboard side of
our boat. We saw several more appeared off our bow. This was an exciting moment for us! I was unable
to get a picture at this time because they disappeared quickly.
We arrived at The Wharf at 1600. Jim washed down the salt off the boat, something we have not had
to do since we left NYC. Lily fed and walked, we all walked over to "Nix" a restaurant in this
unbelievable complex of stores and shops, along with this towering hotel/condo. The main street is lined
with palm trees. It makes us really feel like we are in the south. The only difference is that it's COLD
here: night time goes in the 30's and day time has been in the 50s. It's supposed to warm up to the
60s in the next few days. I guess it's better than snow!
Norwegian Star Cruise ship
NOVEMBER 23 Day at the Wharf
loop. We were lucky because Jeannette is professional hairdresser, however, the "salon" today was on
the dock! We then drove a few miles to LuLu's Restaurant, owned by Jimmy Buffet's sister LuLu and
had a nice lunch. We met up with Kismet who docked their boat on their way to tonight's anchorage.
Deborah Ann, Nordic Tug 37, drove by as we were eating.
Next we drove along the Gulf shore and stopped at a state beach to walk on the sand, collect shells,
and take some pictures. It was good to smell the salt air. Finally, we walked along the street here at
the Wharf and did some shopping. I picked out a bunny at Build a Bear and picked out an outfit for
Christmas. It will be fun to buy new clothes along our trip!
There was a gorgeous sunset from our pilothouse. The boat in the picture is a Kadey-Krogan named
Darling who just started the loop from Montgomery, AL.
loop. We were lucky because Jeannette is professional hairdresser, however, the "salon" today was on
the dock! We then drove a few miles to LuLu's Restaurant, owned by Jimmy Buffet's sister LuLu and
had a nice lunch. We met up with Kismet who docked their boat on their way to tonight's anchorage.
Deborah Ann, Nordic Tug 37, drove by as we were eating.
Next we drove along the Gulf shore and stopped at a state beach to walk on the sand, collect shells,
and take some pictures. It was good to smell the salt air. Finally, we walked along the street here at
the Wharf and did some shopping. I picked out a bunny at Build a Bear and picked out an outfit for
Christmas. It will be fun to buy new clothes along our trip!
There was a gorgeous sunset from our pilothouse. The boat in the picture is a Kadey-Krogan named
Darling who just started the loop from Montgomery, AL.
Hair cut on the loop! LuLu's Orange Beach, Gulf of Mexico
NOVEMBER 24
boat. Three went right under the bow and I could see their faces so clearly. I had my camera ready,
but they swim so fast and dive under and you don't know where they will reappear. Hopefully soon they
We left the Wharf with blue skies and calm water and several pods of dolphins that swam in front of the
will swim along with our boat long enough for me to get good pictures. The water turned to a Caribbean
blue, and the sand was sugar white. We crossed the border into Florida at 1000!
When we reached Pensacola Bay, we decided to keep going rather than stop there after only 27 miles of
travel since it was such a nice day. We traveled 62 miles to Fort Walton Beach and tied up at a marina
just about under the bridge. There was so much current, docking even at the fuel dock was a challenge.
Rain had been forecasted for the afternoon, but didn't come until we were ready to walk back from a
restaurant a 15 minute walk from the boat. We all got pretty wet, but even wetter when we had to top
it off, the circuit breaker went off on the post on the dock and Jim had to unplug all the cords to replug
to another post. It's a place to tie up here, but we are ready to cast off the lines tomorrow. Fifteen
plus MPH winds form the NE are in the forecast which may not be the greatest since we are entering
Choctawhatchee Bay which is about 20 miles long from west to east and about 10 miles wide.
boat. Three went right under the bow and I could see their faces so clearly. I had my camera ready,
but they swim so fast and dive under and you don't know where they will reappear. Hopefully soon they
We left the Wharf with blue skies and calm water and several pods of dolphins that swam in front of the
will swim along with our boat long enough for me to get good pictures. The water turned to a Caribbean
blue, and the sand was sugar white. We crossed the border into Florida at 1000!
When we reached Pensacola Bay, we decided to keep going rather than stop there after only 27 miles of
travel since it was such a nice day. We traveled 62 miles to Fort Walton Beach and tied up at a marina
just about under the bridge. There was so much current, docking even at the fuel dock was a challenge.
Rain had been forecasted for the afternoon, but didn't come until we were ready to walk back from a
restaurant a 15 minute walk from the boat. We all got pretty wet, but even wetter when we had to top
it off, the circuit breaker went off on the post on the dock and Jim had to unplug all the cords to replug
to another post. It's a place to tie up here, but we are ready to cast off the lines tomorrow. Fifteen
plus MPH winds form the NE are in the forecast which may not be the greatest since we are entering
Choctawhatchee Bay which is about 20 miles long from west to east and about 10 miles wide.
Welcome to Florida! Rainbow Condos Air Force training tower on
Santa Rose Island
Santa Rose Island
NOVEMBER 25
The winds had picked up over night after rain and thunderstorms, however, the Choctawhatchee Bay looked
fairly calm. We had about a 1 foot chop for awhile, but it soon changed to 2+, and we rolled quite a bit. Our
tug handled it very well, and Lily was settled in her spot under Jim's feet, occasionally getting up to "sight
see" out the pilot house doors. Many dolphins swam in front of us and beside us, but only for a few minutes
and it was difficult to try to get a picture. All I was able to get was the spray and wake from our boat.
They are very fast, much fast than my camera! One jumped almost as high as the bow deck and turned and
twisted into the water right next to the boat. We are docked at Bay Point Marina in Panama City, will be
here for Thanksgiving, and will spend it with Jeannette and Charlie aboard Highlander. Renting a car will give
us the chance to see the area and get some grocery shopping done before heading east to Carrabelle.
The winds had picked up over night after rain and thunderstorms, however, the Choctawhatchee Bay looked
fairly calm. We had about a 1 foot chop for awhile, but it soon changed to 2+, and we rolled quite a bit. Our
tug handled it very well, and Lily was settled in her spot under Jim's feet, occasionally getting up to "sight
see" out the pilot house doors. Many dolphins swam in front of us and beside us, but only for a few minutes
and it was difficult to try to get a picture. All I was able to get was the spray and wake from our boat.
They are very fast, much fast than my camera! One jumped almost as high as the bow deck and turned and
twisted into the water right next to the boat. We are docked at Bay Point Marina in Panama City, will be
here for Thanksgiving, and will spend it with Jeannette and Charlie aboard Highlander. Renting a car will give
us the chance to see the area and get some grocery shopping done before heading east to Carrabelle.
Sunset from our boat at Bay Point Marina at
Grand Lagoon, Panama City,
Grand Lagoon, Panama City,
