Photo of where we are.

Here is a photo of Turner Marine. I didn't take it and our boat isn't in the photo but you can get an idea of what it looks like. The Dog river is out the entrance in the upper left. You take a left and go under the bridge into Mobile Bay. It is about 25 miles to the Gulf of Mexico.



We have met quite a few couples and single men that are living aboard there boats. Some are just staying here and others are doing the same thing we are, preparing to leave for south Florida. There have been two boats leave since we arrived. One was a couple, Tom and Lynn, in there early to mid 30's that are fixing up there older boat as they go. They both have doctorate degrees and got tired of the academia world and decided to go sailing. They left last Thursday for Marathon Florida. They had come down the river system from Chicago and arrived here in November. We are going to try and meet up with them there. We are a couple of weeks behind them.

Right at the moment we are pretty much done with getting all the mechanical things ready to go. We still have to provision and we are waiting for a friend from Texas that wants to go with us. We are also going to pick up another friend from Texas in the Clear Water, Florida area once we get over there.

Taking time to relax.

We finally took some time to relax. We drove down to Dauphin Island. It is a beach and resort island about 25 miles south of the marina we are in. We did a tour of Fort Gaines. Fort Gaines is a Civil war era fort that was used to protect Mobile Bay. It is on the west side of the Mobile Bay entrance and Fort Morgan is on the east side of the Mobile Bay entrance. The fort was occupied by the confederates until a battle in August of 1864 when the northern Navy and Army overwhelmingly defeated the southern army garrisoned there.

We then went to a place near the docks where the shrimp boats come in and were able to purchase shrimp at a rediculously low price.

I need to get my camera out so I can start photographing our travels.

A really bad day

Today we moved the boat from the work dock into another slip. We wanted to back the boat in to give us better access to electricity. When we started there was none to very little wind. Once we left the work dock the wind came up from the south which puts it exactly cross wind to the boat. Now here we are with the wind pushing the bow off in a really tight area with other boats around. And of course because of other circumstances we haven't driven the boat since last August so we are somewhat out of practice. We did hit one other boat lightly but there was no damage. We changed our plans to go into the assigned slip forward. We get half way into the slip and discover the pilings are not wide enough for our beam and we stick between them. Also the depth is too shallow and we hit bottom. Thank goodness it is only soft mud. Yes, we did ask about the size before hand and were told we would fit. Another boater comes out on the dock and directs us to another slip next to his boat where we finally tie up.

Things like this really make you question if all this work and expense is really worth it. We sure hope things get easier and more enjoyable.

And then the bombshell hit. We received a call from Sandy's sister, her mother passed away today. It wasn't totally unexpected but is still a shock and saddens the heart.

It's a Clewie Clip!!

It's my party and I'll meow if I want too! It's my birthday today. I am one year old. I have been busy planning a party with my humans. I suppose I will invite them since they are bringing the refreshments. I got lots of gifts. A whole pack of mice, I just love chewing off the tails. I will definitely hide them from my sister. A new blanket and a cute pink collar. I can't wait to try them out.

I really think the humans are a little nutty. I question whether they know what they are doing. We were supposed to be in the warm waters of Florida by now and here we are stuck at the dock in chilly Mobile. It has been so cold that I don't want to go out and explore the deck. Besides that the deck is really dirty. At least it isn't as cold as Ohio was, and what's up with all that white stuff on the ground? Never seen that before. I overheard the humans talking to some other humans and I think we are out of here soon. On the sea again, I can't wait to get on the sea again! Well, I have never really been on the sea, I hope I don't get sick. I have lots of places to hide when it get's scary.

Well, it's time for a cat nap before the party. Bye, Bye.

Finally...Back on the boat

We left cold snowy Ohio on Sunday January 31st and headed for Mobile to get back to the live aboard lifestyle. It took a day of cleaning and getting things straightened up before we could move back aboard but we finally made it. The marina is much different than what we had at Cedar Mills. Floating raised docks can sure spoil you. Here we have pilings with a small finger pier to access about a third of the boat along one side.

The weather was great the day we moved aboard but it is raining now. I have quite a list of things to do to get the solar panels, electronics and other items running again. Also, the VHF isn't working now. It is a power problem that I will have to trouble shoot.

Once we get things finished we will be moving on. I was talking to some local sailors and it seems that crossing the bay to the intracoastal will be much easier than I had anticipated. There's a break! I am thinking we will be here for two or three weeks max. But then I thought we would be in the Florida Keys in earlier December. Ah. everyday is a Saturday when you are retired.