Fog advisory, ugh….however, Mobile Bay is glass. So we wait out the 2 hour advisory and head due south through the remaining portion of the Port of Mobile. We pass the manufacturers and repair/service areas for the military along with the huge ocean cargo ships moving their wares. Dry docks service the cargo ships here where they willl get the deserved TLC before their next task. The USS Alabama is here for a tourist attraction but we did not partake.
Leaving the comfort of the river and into the Bay we have glass for our trek south, then east to the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. The Bay is quite shallow with 10 foot depths usually but the moving sand can create unapparent shoaling. We will stay in the shipping channel until we have to swing to the east for the entrance to the GICW.
Dolphins, lots of dolphins. They follow us occasionally but are photo shy. Everytime I go out back to take the pic they leave. I do manage to get a few photos of some of them following the fishing boats. The dolphins and seagulls are hungry this morning. There are pelicans too. The southern ones that like the warmer temps unlike their cousins the white ones we have been seeing on the rivers. Oil rigs everywhere too. Standing majestically on the water looking like mini cities on this flat water. We are running the engines at 22 knts for about an hour to give them a chance to blow out the carbon. It’s been over a month since the last big high speed run. Then we will do our usual 8 knts to the GICW as we go off the shipping channel. Depth gauge is back too. The fault in the pods is still unknown however Scott did some research in the manual and it says that it can act up if there is too much change in the environment. So I guess never being in salt could be a reason. He will monitor it for the next few days and see if it corrects itself as the manual says it should.
Now settled in our temporary slip at The Wharf, with a fabulous Looper discount, the slip is a bit small. There is a 60 ft slip available so we will be moving there. We meet some loopers beside us. The Journey is staying here for 3 months and has given us the short verbal tour of the area. There is a looper info session at 3 which we visit and find that there are at least 5 other loopers here staying a week or more. It’s a great stop after running the rivers. Everything you need is available right by the boat. Shopping is a dream if you like that sort of thing. Designer shops everywhere along several blocks. Now all decked out in Christmas charm we wander through the streets to a musical light show, palm tree display, an ice rink, and the finale the laser show on the buildings.
