August 28, 2007
Our final destination: The Travellift at Demopolis Yacht Basin
A quick update before departure tomorrow morning – early.
We arrived back at the boat last night around 18:00 central time. I was very nervous. First of all, it was hot – Mobile hot. Next, we had to unpack the boat and make it livable for us. I could see the displeasure on Vanessa’s face – the heat, the mess. Bing was uncomfortable and whinny. I was exhausted from the long drive and didn’t want to deal with settling in, but there was no alternative. We hauled everything necessary out of the cabin and on deck, put on the air conditioner, and went to bed.
Up early this morning, we rented an second car and drove both cars to Demopolis Yacht Basin, our final destination, where we would leave our car for the return trip. We returned to Mobile to provision with some groceries, returned the rental car and stowed everything aboard. We have also left our slip at Dog River Marina and moved the boat over to the fuel dock at the marina entrance. Our fuel tanks are full and we are tied, ready to go.
Back in the clear water of Apalachicola, I noticed there was some growth on the propeller. We will need maximum performance for this run, so I was forced to bite the bullet and get in the water to scrape. It was GROSS!
It’s a funny thing: When I was a child, I lived in the water – any water. Lake water, river water, pool water, sea water, clear water, dirty water – it didn’t matter. If there was water, I would be in it. Now that I am older, I still love the water – I love seeing water, I love being near water, I love being on a boat on the water but, I hate getting into the water. The only water for me now is in the shower! Taking my loathing for getting submerged into consideration, Dog River water is not even remotely inviting. There is so much mud in the river you couldn’t see two inches into it. I certainly couldn’t see the prop. Not only was I forced to get into the water, but I had to scrape by braille, feeling the barnacles with my fingers, then hitting and scraping them with a hammer, then feeling again to “see” if I got the job done. Feel, scrape, repeat.
It took a while, but eventually the prop “felt” clean. It wasn’t that bad, actually. I probably didn’t really need to do it, but I couldn’t see it to know for sure. So, I got wet in the brownest, muddiest, cruddiest water you would ever want to be in. My reward? Besides the clean prop, when I climbed from the water I was covered with this funny brown slime that attached itself to every hair I on my body. Even the most invisible peach fuze was visually amplified by this slimy brown goo. DISGUSTING! I stood on the dock and showered with a hose and a bar of soap right on the spot! Then, I went over to the marina showers and showered again! Lather, rinse, repeat!
Now that I am clean, I feel good. The boat is ready enough for our trip. Tomorrow, we depart at first light and make our run back to Mobile Bay, and up through the Port of Alabama, and into the Lower Blackwarrior-Tombigbee waterway. I know we will leave early; we have no choice. I told the lady at the gas dock to cut our dock lines and shove us off if we are still there when she gets in at quarter to 7:00 in the morning.
“Jus push us right out in th’ bay,” I said in my finest attempt at a “suthun” drawl.
No worries. I’m excited. I’ll be up.
So, good night. I’m turning in early to get some rest and to enjoy our last night of air conditioning!
– Steve