Alligator!!!!! Kingfisher Marina, Demopolis Al to Bobby's Fish Camp Coffeeville Al

We were up early and eager to get the journey started.  We were planning for an approximately 100 mile cruise today to make it to Bobby's Fish Camp.   This is a quasi famous stop for loopers.   It is really not much, but has great southern charm and a quaint little restaurant where they are known for their catfish dinner...yum!
  
  

We departed the marina at 6am and within 3 miles we arrived at Demopolis Lock and Dam which would be our one lock to traverse for the day.   We had radioed ahead before departing so the gates were open and they were waiting for us to slide right in.   We descended 59 feet and upon exiting we saw what we believe to be the coolest spillway/dam that we have seen thus far in our boating adventures.   The downside of the spillway had a series of very cool looking waterfalls.   To add some viewing pleasure there where a large number of pelicans outside of the doors swimming and flying around having their morning breakfast.


  









Within a mile downriver of the lock we noticed that the starboard engine was running terribly.   It was missing badly and would not get to over 2K rpm without back firing and bogging out...ugh!  Down to
the salon Erik went while Renee drove from the flybridge on one engine.  The couch had to be
removed from the salon in order to adequately access the poorly running engine.   All of the plug
were checked to ensure they were installed correctly and tight.   The new distributor cap and rotor
were removed to check if one was installed incorrectly or faulty.   After those checks the engine was restarted but still was having the same issue.   Matt, the marine mechanic, had joked about the timing job that was previously done by a friend of ours back home by just running the engines to speed and adjusting by ear/feel.   He stated that timing cannot be properly set without a timing gun.   So, with nothing else to consider as the issue Erik loosened the timing nut and turned the distributor
about a half inch.  Vrooooommmm.....she started purring like a kitten :-)   We were very happy to have that issue resolved fairly quickly and most importantly inexpensively!

Issue number two was discovered soon after.   While adjusting the timing we brought the boat up to near full speed (around 30 mph).   When we went back up to the fly bridge to continue on we realized that a large portion of the stitching on our fly bridge bimini had all come apart.   Darn it....we HAVE to have shade or we would both turn to lobsters and probably melt.   We were able to McGyver the bimini back together with a series of 8 clips that we have for hanging towels out to dry.   For now we have this under control but it will need attention when we get somewhere with a good canvas shop.

Today's cruise was very scenic and mostly remote.  Particularly for the first 40 miles or so there were
continual turns with alternating rocky ledges on one side and beautiful sand bars on the other.  Mid
morning Renee went up to the bow and got into the 0 gravity chair to lay out in the sun and enjoy a
nice siesta.  Shortly after, she drove while Erik did the same.  Ahhhhh.....now this is the life!


  



We were making good time and on target to arrive at our destination for the day plenty early.   It had
 gotten very hot again (imagine that in Southern Alabama!), so we decided to stop for a bit and take a
dip the in relatively cool (84 degree) water.   We had a nice relaxing cool down and got back moving again.  Not even 5 miles after our dip in the river what did we see.....AN ALLIGATOR swimming right in the middle of the river!  bahahahha.....Renee just could not believe that she had just been swimming in this water a short ways back.  Probably wont see her in the water for a while till we get out into the Gulf :-)    Unfortunately, we did not have our cameras ready and the gator went under water when we stopped and turned around to get some pictures.   Yep....it's official, we are now in the
 true south!

The remainder of the cruise to Bobby's Fish Camp was nice and we started seeing more homes and
campers.   Still not many, but way more than we saw the first 60 miles or so.   We arrived at Bobby's at about 3pm and went up to the restaurant/office to check in, pay for our slip for the night, and check into the hours of the restaurant.   We had skipped lunch so we were both hungry and about ready for an early dinner.  This place is definitely charming, but also definitely rustic.   The restaurant is cute as a button.  We went back down to the boat and got our shower stuff ready.   The shower house turned out to be an 8x8 plastic molded shed that was converted into a shower and toilet.   The door to the shed/shower did not even have a lock.    Did we say that this place is rustic??  Dinner was delicious and did not dissapoint.   The catfish was served whole (minus the head) fried up elegantly.   The cole slaw was the bomb (best I've ever had!).   After dinner we gassed up the fuel tanks and went for a
short 4 mile ride downriver and back.   We sit now on the aft deck blogging and enjoying the evening trying our our new Thermacell mosquito protection device.   So far so good....no bites YET.    We got key lime pie to go for desert.   So, I must log off so that i can make a cup of coffee to go with the pie

 It has been a wonderful first day and we look forward to being in salt water tomorrow!   Here we come dolphins :-)

Back on the water,

We left home early Saturday morning to begin our adventure this year.  We arrived in Columbus Mississippi in the early afternoon making our first stop to visit our new old friends from Happy Destiny.  Kim and Jim welcomed us into their new version of Happy Destiny, the RV.

We had followed them throughout their loop adventure so it was wonderful to finally meet them.  After checking into a room we met back up at the Unity Convention for an amazing dinner and speaker.

Sunday morning started with breakfast at the convention with Kim and Jim again, great food, great conversation, and the best company.  But...we were anxious to get to the boat so we said our goodbyes and headed for Demopolis, Alabama.

We arrived at the boat and began the process of completing the pre-launch check list. After we unloaded the SUV, Erik got right to work taking out the old air conditioner to replace it with the new one and Renee got to work cleaning, unpacking, and making a grocery list.  Since the boat was up “on the hard”  we could not test the new AC unit after installing it (it requires the boat to be in the water.  This was unfortunate since it was 98 degrees and the boat was sitting on the middle of a lot
with no shade.  It was HOT 🥵.  We debated on going into town to get a hotel and have AC but.  
           
 we stuck it out!  We ventured over to the pool for a dip in the evening.  This was not exactly refreshing since the pool water temp was like bath water, but...better than nothing.  As it turned out
after the sun went down things cooled down some and with fans in the hatch and window it was very comfortable sleeping 😴.
Monday brought more of the same....lots of hot sun ☀️ and many more boat chores accomplished.  We finished up the AC ductwork, installed our new anchor rode, started on the install of a new VHF radio, and attempted to get the water system working by installing the pump that had a new pressure switch put on after it failed last year.  Unfortunately, the pump still did not operate properly 😐.nb
By about 6pm we were borderline suffering heat exhaustion again so we stopped working and ventured back over to the pool again to cool down.  After that some burgers on the grill and an early bedtime were in order.  Once again, the temps fell pretty nicely and the warmth became bearable.
We were up early again Tuesday 5/28 both of us eager for “Splash” day of the boat!  By about 830am the boat was in the slings of the travel lift and Aquaholic was on her way moving toward the water
💦.

There are always some nerves when the boat goes in wondering whether motors will start, wondering what plug was left out 😂.  Fortunately everything worked as it should and we tootled over to our slip at the marina where we went through our usual test of systems.   Most everything checked out well and most importantly the AC was fired up and blew ice cold air....ahhhhhh 🥶 

We made a trip into town to do some additional provisioning and also to return our rental car.  Returning to the boat Erik did some work catching up on emails and such and Renee spent a good 

part of the afternoon cramming in video lessons and completing an assignment for her masters class (one of three that she is taking this Summer).   We rounded out the evening with a trip back into town in the marina courtesy car (a real classic.....old Buick with every possible dashboard light lit up like a Christmas tree!) where we attended the Demopolis Group of AA.  It was a VERY small meeting with only 6 of us attending.  We met some friendly folks (as usual) though and had a blessed evening.   

We decided to delay our planned  departure for a day to allow for a few parts to come in (plug wires/distributors) and we also wanted the local marine mechanic to be able to install these and properly adjust the timing on the engines.   Matt, the mechanic showed up about 1pm on Wednesday 5/29 and spent a couple of hours working on the engines.  He also was gracious enough to find us an end for our VHF antenna chord that we needed.  The GPS enabled radio is now up and operable.   The generator chord adaptor that Renee had ordered and we thought would not come till Thursday arrove today as well 😎.   This was nice because had it not arrived we were planning for the marina 

staff to forward it to us down in Mobile....nice for that not to have to be the case.   Finally, Erik was able to figure out the adjust,ent to fix the fresh water  pump! Renee slammed out a bunch more classwork while Erik gave the old girl (boat, not Renee 🤣) a good bath.   We rounded out the day with a short 4 mile cruise downriver to ensure everything was running smoothly prior to our departure in the morning.   Everything seemed to check out fine.   We are ready!