Leaving the River Systems Behind, Welcome to Mobile, AL

After leaving Lake Michigan and Chicago on August 31, we have traveled south on the inland river systems of this great country. From the Chicago River, to the Illinois River, to the Mighty and Muddy Mississippi River, then on into the Ohio River, the Cumberland River, the Tennessee River, the Tenn-Tom Waterway, the Tombigbee River, the Black Warrior River and ultimately the Mobile River. Counting all the locks we have transited on the east coast, Canada and now the river system it is well over 100! (Before this journey is over, I will have the exact total compiled)

Finally, the last of the locks on the river system. Once through the Coffeeville Lock and Dam at MM 116.6, the river flows freely to Mobile Bay and the Gulf of  Mexico.

Our friends Carolyn and Harry on POURHOUSE in the Coffeeville lock.

After anchoring off the Tenn-Tom Waterway for the night, we awoke to a cold, 42 degree, rainy day that persisted the 55 miles to the mouth of Mobile Bay and beyond. Though it is hard to see through the rain splattered isenglass, this is the I 10 bridge going across the bay in Mobile.

Downtown Mobile.

Though it is difficult to make out, these two ships tied up at the Austal Shipyard are the Navy's newest and fastest ships. Classified as LCS, or Littoral Combat Ships, they are designed to operate in coastal waters at speeds of 40 to 50 knots and be almost invisible to enemy radar because of their stealth technology and construction.

As we approached Mobile Bay, the Coast Guard issued a Small Craft Warning for the bay and surrounding waters for winds of 20-25 mph and waves of 4-5 feet. With the wind out of the north and at our stern, the ride was not too bad until we turned west and headed to our marina. The last couple of miles to our marina, with beam seas pounding us, was definitely not a pleasure cruise!

Our welcoming committee of hundreds of seagulls and brown pelicans as we neared the marina.

Apparently our wake was stirring up the small fish in the shallow waters of the bay, thus attracting the seabirds by the hundreds.