Orange Beach, Alabama to Carrablle, Florida - November 7, 2013 to December 4, 2013

We left the Wharf headed for Pensacola. There were several anchorages we were considering to spend the night at but as we traveled down the ICW and entered Pensacola Bay the wind started to pickup and the forecast for good weather started to deteriorate. I called SeaGlide on the radio and expressed my concerns about the weather. They had already been on the phone and had reserved two slips for us at Sabine Marina in Sea Breeze, Florida across the bay from Pensacola. We pulled in thinking that we would stay one night and then move on but a strong wind started blowing that kept us there for three nights. Lois got a call from her sister that night and was told that her mother was in the hospital. We spent the next few days walking on the beach and around the little town looking in shops and eating out. The third day we loaded on a city bus and after one connection in the city park headed to the Pensacola Naval Air Museum. Wow what a museum and to top it off, the Blue Angel pilots were all there visiting a new exhibit.

Leaving the ICW and heading out into Pensacola Bay.

Tied up at Sabine Marina.

Sunset at Sabine.

SeaGlide taking it easy.

We left Sabine heading for Panama City. We got a call from Lois's mom and sister and her mom asked that she come to California. Her mom was still in the hospital and not doing well. We pulled into San Destin Marina for the night and the next morning Lois got a flight to California. I left the marina the next morning with SeaGlide behind me headed to Pirates Cove Marina in Panama City Beach.

After a few days at Pirates Cove I got a call from Lois that I needed to come to California. Friend Al Leister took me to the airport and watched the boat while we were gone. Lois's mom passed away before I got there. We spent a couple of weeks in California for a memorial service honoring her long and wonderful life of 96 years and getting her affairs finalized.

We returned to the boat at Panama City Beach to a raging storm that rocked the boat all night, but we awoke to better weather in the morning.  We stayed at Panama City Beach for a few days and spent a lovely Thanksgiving with our friends the Goldman's at a beach house they had rented at Sea Side. That Thanksgiving evening we took a long walk on the beach with the Goldman family and pondered the many things we have to be thankful for. 

Pelicans at Pirates Cove.  We have seen a lot of Pelicans on this trip.
Alligators - no - Pelicans - yes!

On the beach with the Goldmans.

On Saturday, November 30th we rented a car in Panama City Beach to explore the marinas that we will be heading toward:  Carrabelle and Apalachicola.  After a wonderful lunch in Apalachicola we decided a walk through the town would help justify the food-fest we just finished.   On our walk we saw a festival in the park, with a dog-dressed-in Christmas- Clothes-contest. 

There were a couple of cages housing small, forlorn four-legged creatures, hoping for homes for Christmas.  I spotted a beautiful tabby kitty (remembering the many talks Mike and I had had about how nice it would be to have a kitty on board for the loop).  Mike was happy when the lady said the kitty was a male (as we won't have a male cat, and then remembering the talks we had had about the extra work a pet would pose).  I was thrilled when another lady assured us it was a 4 month old female, already spayed. 

I picked her up, she snuggled, looked at me with big, yellow, longing-for-a-home eyes, and ....yes...she was MINE!!!

Franklin County Humane Society kitty, lamely named by them:  Catie

At this point...I mean... what was I to do??? 

Our fifty dollar kitty, on the way home to the boat.

Soon we would realize the fifty dollars would soon balloon 

to nearly $400 as we got her needed medical

treatment and, of course, some stuff 

to make her life with us delightful.

Guest Blogger:  (lamely-named) Catie:

"They just spent HOW MUCH on me???

Guest Blogger:  lamely-named Catie: 

"It was a BIG day!  These people just spent big money on me, now here I 

am in 42 feet of new home that rocks! 

yes, rocks, but I mean literally rocks back and forth. I've chosen the 

table Mike made for Lois in the,... what they call the pilothouse, for the 

first of my favorite spots.

We left Pirates Cove at Panama City Beach, headed to Miller Marine at Apalachicola. We spent one night  there at the fuel dock.  More good food out for dinner.  Approaching the boat we noticed the wind shield wipers going (WHAT could explain this??), and in the pilothouse noticed all switches for bilge pumps were off, with a kitty looking innocent nearby.  (note to self:  engineer cat-proofing of switches).

Next day we headed to Carrabelle. Along the way we had discussions about less-lame names for our newly acquired member of the crew:  a cat that lives on a boat..."Boat Kitty"?  no, too long. BK, short for Boat Kitty?  no, would require constant explanation. 

Well...let's see, this cat has come to be truly in charge... We already have a captain, that's Mike, and a first mate, that's me.  Truly in charge, like an admiral of a fleet, even if a small fleet of just one...how about Adi, short for Admiral!? That's it ... and Adi it is!

Guest Blogger:  Adi

Star Date, December 2013:

"Yep, they're pretty swift, those two, 

didn't take them long to catch on to

who's in charge here.

I'm settled in and happy, here on 

Inch-n-Along"

Mobile, Alabama to Orange Beach, Alabama - October 29, 2013 to November 6, 2013

On Sunday November 3, 2013 we got up early and prepared to leave Dog River to cross Mobile Bay to Gulf Shores, Alabama. The wind was blowing about 15 mph and the Bay was a little rough. A look at the weather report indicated the wind was going to lay down around noon. So, we eased over to the fuel dock and filled both tanks with $3.60 per gal diesel fuel the cheapest so far on the trip. About 10:30 we passed under the Dog River bridge toward the ship channel. It was choppy at first but then smoothed out for a pleasant day. We were meeting up with SeaGlide at Homeport Marina for the night and dinner at Lu Lu's Restaurant. Lu Lu's is owned by Jimmy Buffet's sister and is quite a place. Entering Homeport we saw two boats from Grand Harbor, Ski Breeze and Bullish.

Leaving Dog River.

Mobile Bay.

Entering the Intracoastal Waterway from Mobile Bay.

Lu Lu's.

We're having drinks and a Cheeseburger in Paradise.

The next morning we took a leisurely 5 mile trip down the waterway to The Wharf Marina in Orange Beach, Alabama. SeaGlide came along with us and we spent two nights there. While at the Wharf, friends Bobby and Carol Champion who were down from Memphis for the week staying in a condo visited us. We all went out to dinner and had a great time.

The Wharf Marina.

Dinner.

As we leave The Wharf we are greeted by some dolphins.

Grand Harbor to Mobile - October 20, 2013 to October 28, 2013

On October 20, 2013 we said goodbye to family and friends and our homeport Grand Harbor Marina on the Tennessee River and headed south down the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway toward Mobile, Alabama. We traveled with buddy boat, SeaGlide, with friends Jeff and Grace and cat Amos onboard.

Here we are ready to go!





 INA pulling out of Grand Harbor.

SeaGlide pulling out behind us.

 

Our first night we stayed at Bay Springs Marina 38 miles from Grand Harbor.

The next morning we continued on our trip to Mobile, Alabama locking through Jamie Whitten Lock, the first of 12 locks, dropping us from 411 feet above sea level to sea level after locking through the last lock at Coffeeville, Alabama. 

There were lots of sights along the Tenn-Tom.

Bridges.

Factories.

A telephone booth in the middle of no where.

Eagles

The Alligator Hilton

Anchored with SeaGlide

SeaGlide tied to a tree.

Me and my friend Amos enjoying the evening.

Just before our last lock at Coffeeville Dam, we stopped for the night at Bobby's Fish Camp. Bobby's is a must stop when traveling the Tenn-Tom so you can enjoy a catfish dinner in their little restaurant. 

A fine meal was had by all.

We finally made it to Mobile entering the harbor and then the bay down to Dog River and Turner Marine. We stayed at Turner Marine for a week. I had them add some electronics to INA and we waited out some bad weather. 

Lots of loopers.

And Docktails with the other loopers.