Tombigbee Grand Adventure Tuesday, September 21, 2010

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Bill and Brenda Russell

New member
This is another GRAND ADVENTURE on '"Falcon" our C-Dory 22 cruiser cruising down the Tombigbee launching at Pickwick State Park in the evening of 9/21/2010. We ended our first quest back in April,2010 pulling out just ahead of a troubling weather front and obligations here with church and family. Now with more time we will try again.

There are many C-Dory boats in the Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama area and we invite you to join us. All the C-Dory owner I have met are just great adventurous people, I never met a D-Dory owner I didn't like. We would love to have some of our friends on the Cumberland River and on the Tennessee River to cruise with us.

Our son Robert or grandson Drew will post our progress on this site daily.

Bill and Brenda Russell
870-533-2663 H 870-904-0708 BRENDA C or 870-533-5036 Bill-C
 
Mr. Bill and Miss Brenda.... Now...Pickwick is about 3.5 hours drive....then... you are hitting the "rivers".... which you could go any direction..... Give us a clue... Will you be headed from Pickwick towards Decatur, AL, Demopolis AL or Cadiz KY?

Others in the Nashville and Mt. Juliet area this week too.

Byrdman
 
Bill, Maybe we will meet on the Tenn-Tom. I shall be headed to Mobile on 9/21/10 with a friend to bring a 40' Bayfield Ketch back up the Tenn-Tom to my subdivision marine at the mouth of the Elk river (Tenn. river M.M. 285). We shall be on the Tenn-Tom about 10 days and I shall keep my eyes peeled for you. Also shall monitor your daily progress when signals are available. Enjoy your trip.
Ron
 
Falcon launched at Pickwick State Park around 3:30 pm Tuesday. Traveled approximately 14 miles and anchored for the night at Pickwick Lake on Tombigbee Cut @ N34 55.770 W088 14.528. Falcon will continue south tomorrow.
 
This mornings temperature was 67 degrees as we awoke on Lake Pickwick. We traveled south today and went through a total of 3 lockes. We were delayed at Whiten Lock for 2 hours as divers worked to fix a problem on the Lock and Dam. We are docked for the night at Midway Marina in Fulton, Mississippi. Our coordinates are N34 degrees 17.862
W 088 degrees 25.182. We traveled into town for dinner tonight. We plan to continue south tomorrow.
 
Bill and Brenda Russell:

Sounds like you are having a wonderful time. Marlene and I (Dave Mason) on CHARITY wish we were cruising with you. Maybe next year we can schedule a gathering with some advance notice and we will join the group. I sure do miss the Gulf gathering.
 
safe travels to all on the TN river. Great waters. Some of us are going to "gather" on the Cumberland River, around MM 233-236 area "ish" on Friday.

Now... just poking around a thought of maybe taking ALOYSIUS down to the gulf for Thunder on The Gulf boat race week..... 12-17ish Oct. Been a while since I stayed a week on the boat and I think this may be just what I need.

Byrdman
 
We are docked for the night. Coordinates N33.14.136 W 088.17.784 We are at the Bevill lock. We went through 5 locks today, saw multiple pairs of Bald Eagles in trees... continue south tomorrow. We were delayed making our way through the locks and dams because of a fuel barge and slow progress due to the multiple locks and dams. Have not done too much today, hope to make better time tomorrow. Very sparse river traffic today, only 5 barges today .... simply no river traffic. Water is murky and the temperature of the water is 85F. Outside temperature is 80F. It is about to get cool enough to retire for the night. Post again tomorrow.
 
Bill as you are becoming aware of.....there is no need in even attempting to make an attempt at fast travel as long as you are in the "lock-ville" portions of the rivers. Just slow down, enjoy the birds...and wonder about how cool will it be tonight for good sleeping. Or, just find a little junk hole and take a nap along the way as you and barges will often travel the same speeds come the end of the days travel. Most of the families have their kids back in school now, and for the most part, you will now have the river to enjoy by yourself. Just your own private river....unless you get into some trafic of those heading south for the winter months but those will be limited too if the last couple of years are any indication.

Hey Bill.. you may be able to take that long sleve white shirt off and let you pony tail down a few days. :teeth

Enjoy and safe travels....checking in on your post.

Byrdman
 
I hope that you are not getting clobbered by the weather I have seen along that area.

The down stream traffic will not be heavy for about a month or more. Most yacht insurances keep you from coming onto the Gulf Coast until after Hurricane season--and the official end is November 30.

It is finally starting to cool off in Pensacola. Today it has been in the high 80's even with some rain. Next week it is susposed to cool down to the mid to low 80's and be more pleasant. However, the threat of hurricanes remain, as long as the gulf water temp is up (usually 80 degrees or more) or the first strong Norther blows through. However, none of these are "certain" criteria of safety. I know of boats which are waiting in Demapolis currently.
 
Friday Night in Demopolis Marina at the little Inn.

Saturday Night anchored 2 miles north of the Coffeeville Dam.

Sunday Night coordinates N31.06.445 W87.57.701 tied up in 0.9 feet of water to trees in front and back. 42 miles north of Mobile, Alabama. Spent about two hours this morning at Bobby's Fish Camp getting gas. Had to call someone to meet us(and others) there since it was Sunday. Topped off all fuel tanks. It has been raining this afternoon with periods of HARD RAIN. Tuna Fish sandwich for supper tonight.

Plan is to run all the way to Mobile tomorow. Will try to make Dolphin Island and spend the night in the motel.

Hoping for clearer weather and smooth water!!
 
Monday Afternoon @ 3:35

Made the run down to Dauphin Island today and crossed Mobile Bay. A little fog this morning, but otherwise great weather with a perfect temperature of 82F. Peanut butter sandwich for lunch since most of the restaurants are closed for the off-season or only open on the weekends. Had a little trouble with shallow water in the bay, less than 1 foot and the motor kicking up.... had to turn around and stay nearer to the buoys. Currently looking for the motel that we remember from our previous Key West trip on Dauphin Island. Hope they are open for a good bed and a shower and hopefully a good supper. Great to be on the boat for a few days away enjoying the water.
 
Could not find a room on Dauphin Island last night. We tied up at Gulf Shores Yacht Marina in Fort Morgan. Rocked all night long due to the North wind causing about 2 foot waves. Rough night onboard Falcon. Woke up this morning and crossed Mobile Bay headed back north in about 1.5 to 2 foot waves. We were able to find a hot breakfast so all is good again. Saw several Dolphins following the shrimp boats.

We are headed back up the Tombigbee and are about half way to the Coffeeville lock. We are going to take Falcon back out of the water in just a few short days. Sparse river traffic again with only 2 fishing boats and 2 barges. 12 more locks to go to the north until we reach our trailer.

The Falcon continues to be a reliable vessel and a refuge for everything that nature can throw at us. Could not wish for a better boat. Stay tuned C-Brats.
 
Camped on 4 mile bar south of the Demopolis Lock and Dam. Lots of animal tracks including deer, coons, birds, and possibly alligator have recently visited this same location.

The temperature was 60F this morning(perfect) when we woke up and around 80F in the afternoon while cruising.

We ran for over 120 miles today in smooth water, with only slight waves when the north wind could reach the water. Not a great deal of scenery on this section of the river, but the leaves are starting to reveal there fall color in a few isolated regions. We averaged about 18 miles per hour only stopping for gas, which was once again was a not so simple task.

We saw several deer alongside the river today as well as numerous birds.

Our trip is winding down and we will soon be loading the Falcon on the trailer in just a few shorts days. I look forward to home, but it is sure is a lot quieter and calmer on my boat than in front of my TV at home.
 
THURSDAY NIGHT

Anchored out just above Heflin Lock and Dam in about 2 feet of water tied off to a tree. Wind blowing from the North at 17mph earlier, but it has calmed down now. Saw five turkeys earlier. 58C this morning. Everything has been great today. Stopped at Demopolis Marina, and they helped us get groceries and we got food from the deli there at the marina. They we super nice people, and I recommnd stopping there.
 
Have enjoyed many, many hours in the Demopolis area. We use to air drop bridge pontoons in the river via Chinook helicopter and deploy the ribbon bridges then drive engineer trucks and other green stuff cross them then take it all down, load the pontoons on trucks at the ramps....then, back to the armories to clean all the stuff. We did a time or two take one of the jet boats and just push a piece of bridge around all day long with a nice grill and a cooler.....and that was much more fun than cleaning the gear back at the armories. I have a VCR tape in some box some where where some TV crews filmed us doing this ribbon bridge deployment/re-deployment stuff. Folks from town would find out when we were going to do it and watch from the banks and their boats too. Kinda fun prop washing some boats that got too close... :mrgreen: Honey...I think Fido just flew off the deck..... :cry :disgust :thup :smilep :smileo

Glad to see you enjoying that area Bill. Some wonderful history about the soil there and grapes for wine from that area too.

Byrdman
 
"Falcon" C-Dory 22 Cruiser powered by 75 Honda and 9.9 Honda Kicker is now clean as a whistle and in the tractor shed.

Travel days 13, Total Locks 24 round trip, Motel 1, Fuel Stops 10, Fuel 4.5 MPG, Speed 17 MPH +-

We found the Tombigbee a continuous canal with very little amenities for pleasure boaters. We did find the adventure worth the effort. Mobile Bay is huge and with a north wind ( 17 MPH) the waves were at least two feet with some waves of three feet. The new Gulf Shores Marina at Fort Morgan has no break water for waves coming from the north which made our overnight there uncomfortable.

The next morning our plans were to take the boat out to the beach and play in the sand for a day or so but the north wind changed our plans. We headed north and the first mate began counting down the locks, only 12 to go.

Where will the next adventure be, there are many places to see in this different way.

Bill and Brenda Russell
 
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