Truth be told, the next 3 days of the Loop were the section that Bob and I were dreading. We were almost relieved when we had the threat of weather and had to stay an extra day in Demopolis. We have to do 3 days of 60-80+ miles each which means getting up at 5am and running until dark at 5pm and hopefully find a safe anchorage as there are no marinas. Can you feel the tension!
We cast off at 5:50 bound for the Demopolis Lock and were joined by a flotilla of 7 other boats all jockeying for space in the fog and in the packed lock. Everybody is headed for Mobile but a few of the boats can make it in 1-2 days. Here’s where I am wishing for a real powerboat as “Baby Grand” is left alone in the wake of the speedsters.
Even the Alabamians refer to this part of the Black Warrior River as “Deliverance country” as there is nothing but wild desolate shore. There are no towns on the river, no boat launch ramps and the only boat traffic is boats heading south and pushers heading north. It is not the type of place where you want to get into trouble.
All day we were both secretly worried about where we would find an anchorage. We are Great Lakes boaters used to clear deep water to anchor in. These rivers are dark and gnarly with so much debris so the idea of pulling into an overgrown forested slimy area to anchor is very foreign to us. Plus, there are critters with teeth.
At about 2pm, “Failte” , a beautiful green Nordhaven trawler passed us and Bob asked him if he had some local knowledge of safe anchorages. Danny answered back that he and his wife, Chris, have been boating the rivers for the past few years and were planning on staying at Bashi Creek. They would be glad to go in first, sound it out and help us out. We could have hugged them right there.
Here’s a picture of our boats rafted up with them. “Emery” was also the recipient of Danny and Chris’ hospitality when they tried to anchor in the river, got their anchor fouled and needed help. Failte means “welcome” in Gaelic and Chris and Danny certainly demonstrated it. Thank you so much.
We cast off at 5:50 bound for the Demopolis Lock and were joined by a flotilla of 7 other boats all jockeying for space in the fog and in the packed lock. Everybody is headed for Mobile but a few of the boats can make it in 1-2 days. Here’s where I am wishing for a real powerboat as “Baby Grand” is left alone in the wake of the speedsters.
Even the Alabamians refer to this part of the Black Warrior River as “Deliverance country” as there is nothing but wild desolate shore. There are no towns on the river, no boat launch ramps and the only boat traffic is boats heading south and pushers heading north. It is not the type of place where you want to get into trouble.
All day we were both secretly worried about where we would find an anchorage. We are Great Lakes boaters used to clear deep water to anchor in. These rivers are dark and gnarly with so much debris so the idea of pulling into an overgrown forested slimy area to anchor is very foreign to us. Plus, there are critters with teeth.
At about 2pm, “Failte” , a beautiful green Nordhaven trawler passed us and Bob asked him if he had some local knowledge of safe anchorages. Danny answered back that he and his wife, Chris, have been boating the rivers for the past few years and were planning on staying at Bashi Creek. They would be glad to go in first, sound it out and help us out. We could have hugged them right there.
Here’s a picture of our boats rafted up with them. “Emery” was also the recipient of Danny and Chris’ hospitality when they tried to anchor in the river, got their anchor fouled and needed help. Failte means “welcome” in Gaelic and Chris and Danny certainly demonstrated it. Thank you so much.
