Five Deer A-Swimming

We left Kingfisher Bay Marina at Demopolis, AL, at 7 am, just when I wanted to see the updates on Hurricane Sandy. We locked through the Demopolis lock with six other boats. Again, we made the lockmaster very happy! It made us very happy, too, since it is our only lock for today's journey of about 100 miles.

Around 8 am we saw one deer swimming across the waterway, after first mistaking him/her for a log. A few miles later, we saw five deer swimming across! There were four smaller ones, all in a line, with a larger one bringing up the rear. It's amazing how they swim so well with their little hooves and skinny legs. It was the most exciting part of our day! Too bad our camera was aimed directly into the sun.

Today we have been traveling on the Tombigbee River which is one S-curve after another. Canals were often built to straighten out the waterways on the Tenn-Tom portion…but from here to Mobile Bay the Army Corps of Engineers just let nature take its course. The channel is well-marked, quite deep, with 70 feet sounded on two of the 90 degree turns, and at 15mph, we should arrive at Bobby's Fish Camp around 2 pm. We never stopped at Bobby's in 2010, but think we are up for the experience this time around. 

Sometimes we had the wind at our back, other times on our nose!

One of only a few houses we saw in 100 miles!

Bobby's Fish Camp was opened in 1956 by Bobby Dahlberg who was born in this area. Since his recent death, his daughter Lora is operating it and providing the only fuel stop in about 230 miles. The "dock" has been improved, and electric is now available. Three large boats fit at the dock, and others raft off. The Restaurant is normally closed on Tuesday, but they will open and serve catfish if we can get 6 people to go…not a problem with Loopers!

Yesterday we officially came to the end of the Tenn-Tom Waterway where the Black Warrior River flows into the Tombigbee River just above Demopolis. Tomorrow, when we reach mile 45, the Tombigbee and the Alabama Rivers join to form the Mobile River. 

Skipper Bob Publications…don't leave port without them!

Only one more lock tomorrow...Coffeeville Lock, just two miles away. We will be in Mobile tomorrow at Dog River Marina, where, if you fill up with fuel, you get one night free dockage...if you are a Looper! It pays to be "looped"!

We met Katie and Jessie on Louise again, and their adorable dog, Reggie. They rafted off of us for awhile and then went back to anchor in Turkey Creek. They just called us on the radio and said all was good! They had been a little nervous about anchoring there...but it turned out fine. We hope to see them down the way. Reggie is a rescue dog...and just adorable!