TRAVEL DAY 146 - Dog River to Fairhope
November 19, 2023
1.74 Hours/ 11.9 Miles
Today starts a new segment of the trip. Our plan is to cross Mobile Bay to Fairhope, Alabama to transit to the east side of the bay before heading south to the coast. Originally we had planned 2 days in Fairhope but this trip is now again weather dependent. Monday afternoon & Tuesday are forecast to be very windy and we do not want to be on open water during that time.
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| Dog River Sunrise |
We were greeted with a beautiful sunrise over the bay and prepared for an 8:30 am departure. The fuel gauge showed low but my calculations indicated we had 30 gallons, more than enough to move the 12 or so miles to Fairhope and where the fuel was significantly cheaper than Grand Mariner.
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| A calm Mobile Bay |
Today was a great day to cross Mobile Bay. It was chilly but calm and little waves. We made the short run across and into the harbor at Fairhope. We waited in the basin for an open spot on the fuel dock and once it was clear moved over and tied up starboard. Pau Hana took on 69 gallons of diesel, filled our two 5 gallon reserve containers and moved over to our slip.
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| Fairhope City Marina |
A few days ago one of the crew slipped getting onto the boat and still had a sore area on her rib. A Looper that lived nearby came over to the marina to visit and agreed to take the injured crewmember to see a doctor to get her checked out. While she was waiting, the rest of the boaters went to town to explore and have lunch. Later we picked her up and all seemed well, the doctor prescribed some mild pain meds and we had the peace of mind that she would be able to mend.
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| Runaway, Pau Hana (minus 1) & Jackpot |
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| Elementary School Choir singing Christmas Carols |
We didn't see much of the town but would love to come back another time. We were able to score some fresh shrimp from a local shrimper as soon as he came in from the bay and planned a great dinner in the next day or so.
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| Shrimp for "The Barbie" |
Going to pick up the prescriptions, we did get a neat view of downtown Fairhope lit up for the Christmas Season.
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| Christmas lights from the Uber |
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| Dog River to Fairhope |
TRAVEL DAY 147 - Fairhope to Gulf Shores
November 20, 2023
3.9 Hours/ 30.1 Miles
Although we would have loved to stay an extra day in Fairhope, the weather dictated otherwise. We made a 7:30 am start to avoid the wind shift from the east to the south. Since we were going south, the wind would be coming at us from the Gulf and predicated to increase and of course that meant an increase in wave activity. Tuesday would definitely be worse. so today was our best option for the open bay.
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| A Saltwater Bath |
The trip started fine but as predicted, by about 10 am the waves increased. Not uncomfortable as we headed into them and I pushed the throttle up some to keep the boat at a good attitude. We were now officially in Bon Secure Bay, French for "Safe Harbor" and we made a turn into the channel to Gulf Shores and now back in the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.
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| Gulf Intracoastal Waterway |
We had our sites set on Gulf Shores, Alabama and Lulu's. Lulu's is a legendary location on the Alabama shore. Started by Jimmy Buffett's sister, Lulu's is a must stop for at least lunch or a drink. There is a marina here ($2.65/foot) as well and although a little pricey, we decided to add this overnight to our route. The wind had picked up from the east considerably and I crabbed the boat in to the entrance. As soon as I got into the basin, there was virtually no wind thanks to the high outer walls on the north & east sides of the marina. I called the marina to possibly get some help with the lines. Radio silence. With not much of a breeze, we were able to easily get the boat backed into her slip & secured.
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| Lulu's |
No more freshwater boating, we are now in the salt water. I quickly rinsed the salt spray off the boat and we headed to Lulu's for lunch. I love these shorter travel days. We are now a few days away from Thanksgiving and couple weeks from home.
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| Fairhope to Gulf Shores |
TRAVEL DAY 148 - Gulf Shores to Orange Beach
November 21, 2023
2.15 Hours/ 16.3 Miles
Planning a late departure to allow a line of thunderstorms to move through and lower winds, our next stop, Orange Beach, Alabama and a few miles from the border of Florida. The winds did indeed lay down and we started up at 11:30 am and moved out of the yacht basin and into the main waterway.
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| Wolf Bay |
It was warm, a balmy 74 degrees and a little overcast. As we entered Wolf Bay, it started to rain and the visibility dropped. Radar came in handy and not long after it passed through. The wind continued to lay down, and we felt we had made a prudent decision by waiting.
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| Artificial Reef Vessel |
We rounded the corner to Ono Island to our port and passed Perdido Pass, avoiding the shoal to our starboard. A short run farther to our Marine Reel Surprise, hoping there was no surprise. We cozied up to the fuel dock and got our slip assignment, then moved over, spun the boat around and backed into the wide slip without any dock help (there was none anyway).
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| Perdido Pass |
The Deck Crew rented a condo for 2 nights so we could get off the boat and spend some time with one of our daughters and her boyfriend. The 2 of them showed up and we headed to Flora-Bama for food and live music and to meet a few other Gold Loopers who had recently "crossed their wake" here or close to here.
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| 7th Floor View of the Gulf of Mexico |
Flora-Bama is another of those "must stops". Located on the Florida/Alabama border (a hurricane changed the border location a few years back). Flora-Bama is a beach bar that features several stages, bars, a gift shop and food. Live music 365 days a year and this places rocks. We had a blast with our large group, this was defiantly a highlight of the trip across the Gulfcoast and a subtle reminder of how much we missed family.
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| Flora-Bama |
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| Gotta sit in the "Big Chair" |
Later that night we cooked up the fresh shrimp we had gotten in Fairhope. Fantastic! Thanksgiving Day was quiet and we just relaxed and prepped for tomorrow's departure. Still "Chasing 70".
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| Gulf Shores to Orange Beach |
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