Turner Marine ~ New Orleans

The every day seem to be pretty great.  It is Thurs. the 8th of November.  We really have not had that much bad weather.  We were moving to Turner Marina today which is right next door to Dog River Marina.  Some of the other Looper's had left very early in the morning.  I decided to make a banana nut bunt bread for breakfast.  Yummy....  The people at the marina were waiting fro us so it made it very easy to dock and tie up. Don, Dave and Dianne went to pick up the rental car at Enterprise.  When they got back we left for New Orleans.  It was a great day to travel.  We stopped at a Welcome Centre in Louisiana and made hotel reservations at the Hotel St. Marie in the heart of the French Quarter.  We had taken our GPS so it was easy to find.  The hotel was on Toulouse Street just a block away from Bourbon Street and right in heart of everything.  Our room was nice but Dave and Dianne had a problem with theirs.  We went out for a walk and of course a drink, we are in New Orleans....  It was dark out and all the lights and people and things going on everywhere was fun and exciting.  My phone was not taking great pictures so we came back to the hotel to pick up mine.  Some how there was some kind of misunderstanding but when I came down everyone was gone.  They though I was not coming back I guess.   Anyway they went out for dinner but I waited for them to come back....  Not a great way to spend your first nite in New Orleans....

Fri. the 9th, day two started off with an explanation of what happened the nite before, and then I just wanted to put it behind and have a great day.  We had to change hotels so we are now moving to the Prince Conti Hotel on Conti Street.  We all decided to do the Hop On Hop Off bus tours, that way we could decided where and what we wanted to see.  We started at the St Louis Cemetery #1 where the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans, Marie Laveau is buried, and Nicholas Cage has his burial site all ready for him in the shape of a pyramid.  One of a couple I think.



The old charm was there as we travelled along in the bus.  We went by where they make and store all the Mardi Gras floats and a costumes.  So interesting and to think that Mardi Gras started originally in Mobile....  We stopped at the Riverboat Docks on the Riverwalk by their World Trade Center.  Had a great lunch and my first Shrimp Poorboy. 






We all got back on the bus and Don and I got off at the Jackson Square stop.  So much to see and so little time.  The first thing we saw was the Basilica of St Louis King of France.  Beautiful church built in 1718.  Inside the ceiling had a beautiful fresco painted on it and another one at the front of the Church behind the alter. 






Outside the streets were all line with vendors, some wanting to read the tarot cards for you, some to sketch your portrait, lots selling painting and musicians playing on every corner.   There were people on all the balcony's, drinking and having fun.  It was great.  We then walked down Decatur Street to Cafe du Monde to buy some of New Orleans famous beignets to take back to the boat.  The Cafe was packed and it was late afternoon.  Even at the take out window I had to wait 20 minutes.  Later we continued to walked down through the French Market Place.  Store of every kind and size, but lots of little shops off on all the side streets.  You could certainly leave lots of money here.  We walked back to one store to buy a Mardi Gras ceramic mask that had been mounted on a stick and with a wooden base.  Our New Orleans memento....


We walked back to the hotel and got ready to go out for dinner.  We met Dianne and Dave on Bourbon Street and just prosed around the streets.  People on the balconies were throwing beads down on everyone.  If you were lucky you could catch some of them.  We stopped for dinner at the Chartres House and had a wonderful dinner.  We walked the streets for awhile aver dinner then back to the hotel.  Don and I stopped in the bar Vacherie at the hotel and had a nite cap.  Great day in a beautiful city.  Would love to come back again.     

Its a Dogs World

Well it is now Wed. the 7th of November and a beautiful morning.  Went for a walk along the water front.  Very pretty with lots of statues.  The river traffic was so heavy so early in the morning.  Large barges coming and going.   We certainly had been bounced around last nite on the wall at the Convention Center.  They seem to run all nite.







We got up early and were heading just a short way to Dog River Marina.  Larry had been there before so he lead the way.  Along the way we could see the USS Alabama, quite impressive even this far away. 





We arrived at Dog River to another Looper get together.  We fueled up and then docked.  We both needed a shower since we did not have at water and it felt so good.  We went to West Marine and picked up a few items and ordered some others.  Dave's leg was still bothering him but he has done well walking after his fall.  After we got back to the boat they told us that we had to move the boat that we could not stay tied up on the fuel dock over nite.  We had to move to another dock that was not going to be easy to get into.  The wind and waves were playing against us and Don was having a hard time.  He tried to go stern in starboard tied in one slip but the water was too low.  He then tried to go stern in at the next slip but the wind was playing with the boat.  After four attempts and finally went bow in, success at last.  We relaxed for a bit and then went to talk a tour of the boat Aurora.  An amazing boat and Jacob was so very hospitable in showing us his boat.  Just before we were going to leave a 74' boat that was coming in so the guys helped them dock.  Funny the dock spot they went into was the spot that we were asked to leave..... 


Larry and Sherry had made reservations at the restaurant across the river for 7:00PM. so we all left and got ready.  The courtesy car was held 2 in the front seat and 3 in the back since it was a pick-up truck.  We arrived and it was not too busy inside.  After a few comments from Don, it set the mood for dinner again.  The food was just average, nothing to write home about and nothing that I would go back for.  We came back to the boat and called it a nite. 

Mobile Convention Center

We had a rough nite last nite.  Wind, rain and waves sloshing all round us.  We were all up early on Tues. the 6th and ready to depart at a little after 6:00AM. Larry had called the lock and they knew that there were eight boats heading their way and they were ready for us. It was only 2.3 mile to the lock. It would be our last lock after many, many locks and the last till the east coast if we go back home with the boat. The Coffeeville Lock and Dam at mile 116.6 was a 34' lock.  After all 8 boats were secure it took no time to get through. It was a nice morning after a rough nite. Last lock hooray.... Again we had a number of decisions to make with regards to if we anchor out or if we continue on to Mobile. We looked at the Alabama River Cut Off at mile 52.8 But it was to early in the day to stop. The next was the Texas River at mile 39.3 but not good for the Lady KK or Boot Scootin so on we go. The best anchorage may be Big Bayou Creek at mile 16.6 but with only that many miles left to go we decided to cruise on to Mobile. 

 
 They were just completing a new rail bridge that raises on demand to replace the swing bridge at mile 13.4.  Larry was ahead of us and said the bridge was going to wait for us for about 30 minutes.  We made it through as the sun was setting.   Nice pic of the sun rays through the clouds. 




We were slowly running out of day lite.  Alan on Muriel June had called the Convention Center and the security guards said that they would meet us and help us dock.  The wind had picked up and made it a bit more of a challenge to dock.  What a beautiful Sun set that nite. Once Muriel June and Lady KK were tied up we came in and then Boot Scootin.  It was dark by know.  We went to talk to Alan and Peggy on Muriel June and they told us that they had just crossed there wake.  What an unbelievable journey and they are such great people.  We met them in Green Turtle.  Don and I took them a bottle of red wine and a card and took their picture.  I am glad that we were there to do that.  They have such a nice boat and they have been doing the Loop for 3 years.  We went back to the boat and cooked dinner and relaxed.  We tried to use some water but even though we filled up at the last marina it seems that we ran out.  We were tired so it did not mater.  We were only a short distance to the Dog River Marina tomorrow so it was okay.

Bobby's Fish Camp

It is Mon. the 5th and the group of four decided to leave early to get a head start on a long day.  It was a foggy morning but nice.  We had one lock to go through at mile 213.3 the Demopolis Lock and Dam, and it was just as we got out of the marina.    We all got in right away and it went quick for a 40' lock.  After that we just had a long, long day of cruising.  There were six more miles of white cliffs along the way which made it a very beautiful cruising morning. As the day progressed we had to make a decision do we anchor or do we continue on to Bobby's Fish Camp.  Dave on Boot Scootin draws a little more than five feet so some anchorages were out of the question.  By mid afternoon, it was decided to go on to Bobby's, so on we all go.  Nanseann had problems with Bobby's before so they anchored out.  When we arrived there there were already five other boats there.  We all had to raft off another boat tied to shore. Lady KK went first the boot Scootin and then us.  What a site it was.  The weather had turned nasty and very windy.  It was certainly going to be a very interesting nite.  Dinner was on our boat tonite.  I had made a chicken pot pie in a crock pot and biscuits and for dessert a lemon meringue pie. Dianne brought salad and sherry brought a great appetizer.  The dinner was amazing if I must say so myself.  It was only exceeded by the friends.  What great times we all have had.  After dinner everyone retired to their boats for another early morning.  The boat that was tied to shore had to get out at first lite, as he had to get the boat to Florida, so that meant a 6:00AMish departure. 

Kingfisher Marina Alabama

Good Morning America. Good Morning America. It is a beautiful misty morning in Sumpter Landing. We had the best time anchored and rafted to each other in our secluded little basin. We have not anchored much but it was amazing. Diane went to shore when had arrived with Larry and Ms.Peaches so she could relieve herself.  Such a cute dog....

Diane got the best picture's of all of us rafted, so I do owe her  many thanks.... This morning we got off at 7:00AM in the mist and it was eerie. We only had one lock to go through and it was coming up in 3.8 miles. The Howell Heflin Lock and Dam at mile 266.1 was only 32' and they were ready for us when we got there, so it
was in and out with no problem. It is an easy cruising day today. The temperature has warmed up and made it quite nice outside. Has we approached mile 248.8 we all slowed down so we could get some good pictures of the White Cliffs of Epes. They are large spectacular limestone cliffs mostly on our star board side of the boat. With the full fall colors made a beautiful contrast to the white limestone cliffs. We all made a few passes so we could get pictures of all of our boats by the cliffs. Great stuff....

 

 

 

 

 

 We will leave the Ten-Tom Waterway at mile 217.0 and entering the Black Warrior Tombigbee Waterway.  We also will stop zigzagging between Alabama and Mississippi and will be in only Alabama.  The day is going by and soon we have found ourselves at the Demopolis Yacht Basin and the brand new Kingfisher Marina at mile 216.2.  We were all put side-by-side on one dock and Nanseann on the far dock to make it easier to take the dog for her constitutional. 
After we got back it was time for a cocktail and then Sherry had reserved the car for later to go into town for dinner at the Red Barn.  The car holds 4 people and we put 6 into it.  So the people in the back had to sit on the guys laps.  Well did that start us all laughing....  The Red Barn was a very rustic Alabama restaurant, nothing special about it, but it was licenced for alcohol.  We were having so much fun it did not matter that the food was not so good.  Piled back into the car and back to the Marina.  We all called it a nite when we got back.
 

The next day was Sat. the 3rd. and it was another nice day.  Made a great breakfast of Canadian bacon and buttermilk pancakes and fresh strawberries.  Yum yum...  Today would be a cleaning day in the morning.  We have a small list of things we wanted to get done.  Just before we left Diane told us that Dave had fallen down the stair on the back of their boat and was hurting pretty bad but did not want to go to the hospital.  She was going to give him a call in an hours to see how he was doing.  We had the car reserved for 1:00PM and the again at 3:00PM.  The ladies took the courtesy car and went to WalMart in to get supplies.  After we came back to the marina, dropped off everything we had checked on Dave and he was okay but lying down.  Diane and I went back into town to go through Bluff Hall, built in 18--.  Lovely old house that the Historical Society keeps up.  We got back to the boat just in time to turn the car over to Nanseann, who had reserved it for 5:00PM.  We had all talked and decided to stay one more nite, which would help Dave's leg.  We all stayed on our boats and had a relaxing nite.  I cooked a great pork tenderloin dinner with a fresh pineapple and mango chutney and rice.  Watch a little TV and called it a nite.

On Sun. Diane and Sherry went to WalMart again and I stayed on the boat.  Don had a bit more cleaning to do and I made a Key Lime Cheesecake to take to dinner on the Lady KK tonite.  More Looper boats came in on our dock and they are people who we have met before, Satisfaction and Oceanus.  We sat on the dock and talked and had happy hour till about 5:00PM and then after the sun goes down it gets cold and you have to go in.  We had Sunshine out on the lease and Larry brought Peaches down and Peaches just wanted to play with the kitten.  It was so cute to watch them...  Later we all went over to the Lady KK and had dinner.  We all brought something and Sherry cooked the main course.  Who need a restaurant when we had the best right here.  It was a great dinner of beef and mashed potatoes and rolls and vegetables and a marvelous cranberry salad, which I have to have the recipe for.  Diane brought the appetizer and a seafood dip which was to die for, and brought the cheesecake...  We had a great evening under the stars with great friends, great wine.....  Can not ask for more...

Anchors Away.....

Well it had been a scary Halloween with an almost full moon coming in and out of eerie clouds.   Where has the month gone.  We can not believe that it is Nov. 01st.  But it was a beautiful morning and a lovely sunrise.  Besides our group of boats there were many others leaving early to try to get through the locks and to an anchorage before dark.  Our caravan all left at 7:00AM to a beautiful sunrise and a misty water.  We all had to watch out for the water hyacinth's, they floated in all around our boat during the nite and they were everywhere.  Lady KK was getting fuel but caught up to us real quick. The John C. Stennis Lock and Dam was just on the other side of the marina at mile 334.7.  The lock master was ready for all of us so it was an easy in starboard tie.  We thought that they were going to close the gate when the lock master came on and said that they were no waiting for 2 more boats, a sail boat and a house boat.  That maid ten of us in the lock.
 

Once through the large yacht wanted out first because he had to get to Demopolis that day and was going to travel at 25+ mph.... So he was gone in a flash....  We all wanted to cruise at about 10.5ish which was great.  The river is very windy and has lots to see so you really need to have a keen eye to catch some of the birds and wild life and a steady hand with a camera would be good too....    We found a telephone booth out in the middle of no-where and many beautiful homes...  We are travelling as a group of four boats, Lady KK, Boot Scootin, Nanseann and us and we all seem to travel at about the same speed which is good.  The day was going by great and it was only 27.9 mile to the next and last lock for the day. It was the Tom Bevill Lock and Dam at mile 306.8 and they were ready for us and it was easy at only 30'.  We still had 36.9 miles to go but it seemed to go by quick. 

Larry & Ms. Peaches

We were all heading to an anchorage called Sumpter Landing at mile 269.9.  It was on our starboard side and tucked back from the channel and it was perfect.  Boot Scootin went in first and put a bow and stern line down then we went and followed by Lady KK and then Nanseann.  It went soooo smoothly.    There was a sailboat anchored in front of us but no one seemed to be on board.  Once all tied and anchored we started to hop from boat to boat for cocktails.  We started on Lady KK and finished on Nanseann.  The sun had gone down and it was getting cool so we all came back to our own boats for the nite.  We invited Dave and Diane to drop by and watch the CMA awards show on TV because they do not have TV as of yet and they love country and western music.  It was a great show, but Carrie Underwood did not win best female vocalist of the year, boohoo....  After Dave and Di left we called it a nite.... 

Columbus Mississippi

It was a cold and early start to this 29th day of October.    Don always gets up before me and feeds the cats and make the best coffee, so the day starts off great.  We keep the TV on for a bit to hear about hurricane Sandy and where it was heading and where it was expected to make land fall.  They are calling it the "perfect storm"  and the "the storm of the century".  We are glad that we are not on the east coast and we pray for friend who are there and in the path of Sandy....


Today we have four locks to go through and about  63+ miles.  Anything can happen at the locks so we wanted to get an early start.  The first was only 7.0 miles away at Fulton Lock and Dam at mile 391.0.  We were lucky, Larry had called and the lock was open and ready for us.  It is very pretty countryside and lots to see.  The next lock was 14.7 miles at mile 376.3, the Glover Lock and Dam.  The lock master had called ahead and told them we were coming, so they were ready.  Along the way we heard Jade call in that there were more boats coming so the lock master made us all wait...  About 40 minutes later everyone was secure and the lock closed and we started down.  It was only 30' as all the locks are today so not so bad.  In 5.2 miles was the Amory Lock and Dam at mile 371.1 and again lucky and they to were open and ready for us.  We travel a little faster than a few of the boat's but we all slowed to a similar speed.  The next was the last lock of the day, the Aberdeen Lock and Dam,13.6 miles away at mile 357.5.  As we were getting close to the lock Don called and they said that there was a tow inside and it would be at least 1 hour, so we all slowed down, no rush to get there.  Once there it was another 30 minutes as the tow had to left off some men at the lock.  Well we all gone in and we were out in no time.  It was now 22.50 miles to Columbus Marina.  Lady KK was first and the marina wanted us all the wait in the channel as there was a strong wind in the marina and they wanted to get one boat at a time in and secure.  Nanseann was next and then us and then Boot Scootin and finally Jade II.  As we were coming in the marina harbor was covered with plants in the water hyacinth's.  Hard to get around some of them.  We were all happy when we got in and tied up.  All tired we all stayed on our own boats as it was late and cold outside.  Dave and Diane came over for a drink or two.  Cooked a nice dinner and shared a great bottle of wine (from a box) and watched the news and a bit of TV.  Don went over to the Lady KK for a nite cap.



Sherry, Don, Me, Dave, Diane and Larry

The next day (the 30th) Don and Dave had reserved the courtesy car for 10:00 AM and Larry had reserved it for 6:00PM.  The ladies went in without the men and did some serious shopping.  Came back, dropped off the stuff and picked up Don and Dave and headed back in to do a few other errands.  Larry and Sherry had made reservations in a restaurant called Harvey's.  They have been here many time and said it was a great place to dine and they were right.  The six of us have had some great times and we are glad to be boating with them.  Look forward to the next few days....




Tennesse Williams First Home

Well it is now Halloween and the morning is beautiful and not as cold as yesterday.  Loopy Kiwi and Jade II left around 9:00ish.  Looper's go and Looper's come...   We watched the news to see the devastation on the east coast especially places we have been.  It is just unimaginable the destruction....




The girls are going into town to look at some of the beautiful old southern houses and have lunch and the men are planning what we are going to do the next few days. Each of us had one last errand to do and then off to Hank's.  It was a nice place but the service and food were just ok.  We toured the city and then headed back to the boat.  When we got back the marina was full of Looper's again but even more.  Gemini Dream, Bucket List, Muriel June, Oceanus and four more.  Don had been working on sending all his invoices into the insurance company for the lightening strike in Little Current.  Hopefully we can get this all settled.   Tonite We are staying on board and I cooked fabulous rack of New Zealand lamb, garlic and chive potatoes and minted carrots and peas, yum yum....



On to Midway Marina

The Convoy

Cold, cold, that is the only way I can describe the temperature.  The convoy of boats started to leave Grand Harbor.  Some left before us, and some were leaving after us.  Today there was Lady KK, Boot Scootin, Nanseanne and us The Last Resort.  Jade II and 3 other boats had left after us.  We had three locks to go through today.  The first was the Jamie Whitten Lock and Dam at mile 411.9 with an 84" lift.  We called and the lock was open.  When we got in there were the other boats that left after us and the lock master was going to wait for them. 
                                                                   So much getting up early...

There were lots of thing to see. We went by a large Pulp and paper mill, Scott Paper Co. And just before it on the port side in the middle of no where a beautiful home built off the channel at mile 409.8. 

Scott Paper Company

Small Country Home

The next lock was the "Sonny" Montgomery Lock at mile 406.7 with a 30' lift and they were waiting for us, great and what a breeze....  The next was the John Rankin Lock at mile 398.4 another 30' lift and they were also ready for us.  Moving along....  Midway Marina was just a short distance away at mile 394.0.  We pulled into our slip and tied up and connected our power and water.  The Captain and First Mate were having a not so great day today. 

Don left and went to talk to Dave and Diane and invited them over for drinks.  Since I was not having a great day today so really was not the best host tonite for our friends.

 

After our friends left I worked on the blog while Don watched TV in the solarium.  I was not in the talking mood tonite. 

Made a nice steak dinner, watched TV and we called it a nite.  Hope that tomorrow will be better than today????