December 1

December 1-- Dog River Marina to Ingram Bayou Anchorage A cool night but the sun shown brightly as we prepared for our departure. Very light wind out of the southeast. A very important element in crossing the Bay. Mobile Bay is a huge body of water. For the most part it is shallow--8-10' except for the shipping channel which is very deep. You can imagine a very strong north wind and low tide could make for a very rough crossing as well as shallow water. If necessary one could follow the shipping channel to the Gulf Intracoastal Water Way (GIWW) and then follow the GIWW. Our plan is to cut across the flats of the Bay to where the GIWW starts across Alabama and eventually enters the Florida panhandle. Travel across the Bay was easy. A light chop developed on the Bay and after travelling approximately 20 miles we entered the portion of the GIWW that cuts through the land after leaving Mobile Bay. The Waterway is supposed to be 12' deep and in many places it is that and more. Several places we saw 8' of water. The GIWW is well buoyed and the landscape is different than the Rivers we have been traveling. The banks are sand lined and the trees and the vegetation is certainly different. Lots of condo's and very very nice waterfront homes but also lots of wilderness. Our goal is Ingram Bayou, a small bay just off of the Waterway to anchor for the evening. It is just Judy and me so it was up to Judy to oversee letting the anchor out. Don had handled the anchoring duties before, but Judy handled it like a pro. The wind picked up, so I let out about 60' of chain and the anchor kept us snuggled in the bay in the same spot all night. No other boats here in this popular anchorage. Veal on the grill was the choice of the day--although it was good, it didn't live up to restaurant quality. You may be tired of sunsets, but another great sunset view from our anchorage! We are still in Alabama approximately 25 miles west of Pensacola FL