TIME TO SAIL AWAY!

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10 - We are almost ready to put the sails up once again and sail away...almost.  Our last day at Turner Marine was a busy one and included a final grocery run, painting Marley's bottom, and cleaning the boat up inside for me.  

John changed Free Bird's oil among many other things.  We have put 140 hours on the engine since we left Grafton, IL so it was time for a little lube job!  He also gave Free Bird a much needed bath!  Being in port for over a week we dragged grass and all kinds of muck on board.  We can already see the effects of salt water, it is not only in the water but in the air.  There is residue all over our windows, all over our hull!  This marina was not exactly a garden spot, but it did have a token palm tree.  At least that makes it feel a little tropical!

And we had some more friends stop by - Mike and Sheila Newton from West Plains, MO.

They had been down in Gulf Shores, AL and stopped to see us on their way back home.  We took a break from chores and they drove us down to Pelican Bay at Fowl River Marina for lunch.  Nice to see them and catch up.  They will be coming to Florida to visit in January too.  They dropped us back off at the marina and we finished up our final tasks.  We spent a little time kind of saying goodbye to a few folks and enjoying the rest of the evening.  

 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11 - We left at 8AM with another Catalina 42 (the same boat as ours) owned by a local gentleman named Barry who we met the week before.  We raised the sails and headed out together across the bay weaving our way through all kinds of nautical traffic including but not limited to towboats with barge loads, cargo ships, supertankers, shrimping boats and more.  

It wasn't long before we had dolphins!  Almost everyone we had talked to had seen dolphins coming into Mobile and we had not.  That was about to change! 

They were riding our bow waves and were right there!  Oh they are cool, what a wonderful welcome to the Gulf!  Can't wait to see more of them.  Molly was sitting out back with us in the cockpit when one surfaced right in front of her...she jumped about 2 feet straight up in the air!  She ran downstairs and then came right back up to look for them again!

We had been in communication with the crew of Sundowner who had been in Fairhope, AL and planned to meet up with them today at the next anchorage in Ingram Bayou.  As we went across the bay, lo and behold who do we see but boats Estrellita and Sundowner coming down the coast.  We couldn't have planned it better if we tried!  Unfortunately the wind died so we had to motor so we could make it to our anchorage at a decent time.  

We entered the GIWW (Gulf Intercoastal Water Way) and we are now officially on the "Intercoastal" - yay!!!  What a different world we are in compared to the rivers were have been traversing of late.  Started seeing some cool condos and homes.  Loved looking at all the neat things people had in their yards, their docks and boat houses.

Sundowner went ahead of us and got anchored in Ingram Bayou.  Estrellita stopped at the Wharf marina they had heard good things about and said they would see us later.  We rafted with Sundowner and went up onto their deck for a nice sunset cocktail.  Here is girlfriend Karen in her fun hanging chair on their back deck.  I think I need one of these!

Captain Jack was in his prime and was hoping to meet Miss Molly.  

Molly was not quite as receptive but she she did see him and didn't hiss.  I think that is a step in the right direction.

Karen made a pot of Jambalaya which combined with a few rum drinks made for a great evening.  It was a great spot with just a few other boats, very relaxing.  It sure is nice to be out of the marina and on the water again!