Castawayll Great Loop: 2013

Friday, December 27, 2013

December 26, 2013 Thursday

Went with our friends to towns across the bay, looking for marinas for them to move over to. Cost of the marinas per night will be going up. Curt's looking for good anchorages. Went over the ICWW on a bridge we'll be going over, good to see ahead of time what the ICWW looks like and what the marinas look like. We had Cheeseburger at LuLu's, (Jimmy Buffett's sister's eatery). A definite must go to place, like an amusement park that was quiet in the winter months. My excitement was going by a stand that was selling fresh picked Kumquats, 1/2 gallon bag for $2.00. The rind was soooo sweet and the inside was soooo sour. Soooo Good! Also Darlene and I shared a 8-10 lb bag of Satsumas, (tangerines) oh my I'm in love, so sweet, another must have again treat. We're working on using our airline tickets that Med Trans gave us but having a difficult time coordinating the hotel and flight. This would be a good cheap place to leave our boat, Curt's mom can get tickets too, so perfect if we can get the flights to work around the hotel plans.

Christmas Day 2013

Frost on our Bimini this morning that hasn't melted off yet.

Walking the Marina's this morning.

The boat to the left of the black bottom boat is the one we had Christmas dinner on.

This was a steel hull boat, hand made by a gentleman in Iowa or Minn., he even made his mast, very interesting boat and well done

Thru the window of the inside cockpit.

Walking the docks looking at the boats with Christmas lights, we didn't know to bring lights for our boat, no room either.

Merry Christmas everyone. This morning there was frost on the dock again in the 30's last night but supposed to be up in the 50's. Again we stayed warm with our little heater on board. Went for a long walk with our friends and their dogs this morning thru the boat yard and by the rocks on the bay side.
Came back to make the Waldorf Salad for our potluck Christmas dinner. Darlene cooking the prime rib in her oven on her boat. 3 pm dinner was served on their boat and all at the table agreed it was the best prime rib, potatoes and salad, green beans that we've had in a long time. We all made a squeal with the taste of the horseradish (found at the grocery store hear, made close to where Darlene and Pete live in Wisconsin). Our eyes and noses were cleared but it was so good. Tom from the boat next door said the Dr. would be happy with his weight gain from all the good food at Christmas. We went for another walk to make our full tummies feel better and back to our own boat to call our family. Got to hear Kiren say Merry Christmas, she was too busy eating candy and playing, but was fun to hear all the things Santa brought her from Kristina.

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

December 24,2013 Tuesday

Christmas lights in downton Mobile, sorry for the blurriness, we were driving

Interesting lights around the steeples even though it was blurry, after the service

Inside the church, above the front, looks better when you click on the picture to enlarge it.

Ceiling architecture is very interesting

The carvings on the wall were all around the church with the different stages of the Crucifixion

Front doors of the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, built in 1800's

Darlene and Pete Bak at the front gate of the Basilica

Building downtown Mobile and below looking down the street at the tall towers

Christmas decorations, many businesses closing, bars staying open though., below, front of the church with people going in early to get a good seat.

Our dock angels, Darlene and Pete came by this morning to see if we can't to go grocery shopping or run errands, they were so kind to take us. Darlene and I went to a meat market to pick up Prime Rib, she's cooking in her oven in her boat. Wow a boat with an oven, new to me. Curt went to Lowe's and Walmart. We set for provisions if we decided to leave Thurs. Got lost and had to drive around an area of town, was the Mobile Country Club, nice big houses and nicely manicured yards.
Went to an old Catholic Basilica downtown Mobile for Christmas eve service, got there early so was able to walk around downtown, some areas were reminiscent of the French Quarter in New Orleans. Roomer is the Mardi Gras starter here in Mobile first. Supposed to be sunny and warmer Thurs., thinking we need to get moving again, still not definitely sure east or west after we leave the bay. Guess we'll see which way the wind blows us.
Just want to wish everyone of our family and friends, new and old a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!
It's so much fun to get a comment back from you when you come on our blog. Thanks.

December 23, 2013 Monday

Went for a walk today to go to lunch at the marina across the river. A little windy but warmer 50's. Ended up walking a little over 6 miles, found the River Shack Rest. Luckily they served us even though it was 5 minutes before they were to close for the day, summer hours close at 3 pm. Had grilled shrimp which were amazing and breaded shrimp not as good but okay, we were hungry and thirsty. Found a dime on the 1/2 mile bridge over Dog River. It is amazing to find money on the road side especially on a bridge. We found a nickel and penny the last time we crossed this bridge. Big money now a whole 10 cents. Just can't figure out how the change get's out of peoples pockets or hands. Felt good to get some exercise today. Spent the evening on our boat watching a movie. Found out they were turning of the water for the next two days because it is supposed to get in the 20's at night. Scurried to get our water tank filled on the boat. No courtesy car to get groceries. Would have been nice if they would have posted something sooner regarding no car till Thurs.

the steel boat hand made by the gentleman from the midwest

Where in the world is Castaway? The little boat between the red and blue hulled boats above, below it is on the back side of the second row of boats four boats from the dock, Dog River is the waterway in the back ground. Walking over the bridge by the marina.

Boats dry docked or "on the hard" in mariner's terminology

December 22, 2013 Sunday

Rained all day, cold in the 40's, water dripping in the vent in the front hatch. Decided to make Chili on the boat, had Darlene and Pete over along with Tom, older gentleman from the boat next door. He regaled stories about Chicago mafia when he was a bartender there. Good chili, good visiting. Tom brought homemade pecan pie, which was sweeeeeeet, but good. A nice way to make a cold rainy day go by faster. Glad we brought the heater along especially tonight. Wind blowing quite strong, also glad we're in a marina rather than out on the hook, would have to worry about dragging again with 20
knot winds. Glad we got this rain geer, Curt thinks I'm cute. I'm secure enough in myself to put this ugly picture on my blog, I think he's looking at the sailboats in the background and I just got in the way.:) What do you think?

December 21, 2013 Saturday

Another warm day, bought an air conditioner from Darlene and Pete. It will fit in our companionway. If we ever get far enough south for warm weather. Boat is still damp, sweating around the floor, heater on which helps a little. Went over to Darlene and Pete's boat for Jambalaya with sausage and shrimp. I brought banana pudding with bananas sliced up in it-Nebraska style. No vanilla wafers mixed in with whipped cream on top like they have here:) Watched a movie called Sunset with Bruce Willis and James Garner, a western about Tom Nix portraying Wyatt Earp. Corny, funny but good.

December 20, 2013 Friday

Got up early to take the generator in but they didn't open till 9 am, so...we decided to try a Waffle House and get that off our list of places to try. I had a pecan waffle which was very good. Took the generator into the service dept., told them it just wouldn't start, we've tried taking out the spark plug, new gas, tried for several different days but just would start, not even a spark. I had a feeling we should just try it once more on the service shelf, with encouragement from the intake lady Curt begrudgingly tried to start it and first pull it started purring like a new Honda generator. After the shock wore off Curt was speechless, is disbelief he shut it off and tried it again. What do you know, it worked perfectly. The service guys all had a good laugh, said that has happened to them too. Made us feel like we weren't stupid, Curt bought a spark plug and some fuel additive just in case, off we left with a perfect working generator.

Beautiful day again 70's and sunshine, friends and family at home telling us the temp there brrrrr. Hesitantly decided we wouldn't go back for Christmas. My heart aches not to be there with the boys and grand daughters but I console myself that we can Skype and that will help.

Decided it was Friday night, I cleaned out all the little areas in the boat trying to find where the smell is coming from (Curt says a dirty sock) . Just did laundry so it's not that. Maybe the water under the cooler or under the sink, boat seems to be "sweating" in the humidity here, even the galley floor has water around the edges. Turned the heater on for awhile, which seemed to dry thinks out some. Really weird to see the floor of the boat sweating. Anyway we felt we accomplished a lot today and should go out to dinner at the Yacht Club next door, since we don't have a car and nothing is close by here besides marinas. Asked our good friends and they later suggested they take us to their favorite spot Pelican Reef close to Dauphin Island. They have taken us so many places, so kind of them. Left at 4:30 so we could see the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico and the island before dark. Beautiful Island and sunset over the gulf, great meal of red snapper with a cup of crabmeat dressing and shrimp gravy over the top of that, baked potato and lettuce salad. Yummy, glad Curt and I shared so I could share with Darlene the bread and raisin pudding with whiskey sauce. Yum Yum!!

beach off of Dauphin Island overlooking the gulf at sunset.

Pete, Darlene and Marilyn

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

December 18,2013 Wed.

Enjoying the beautiful WARMER weather, starting to thaw out after the last 6 days down the river. Doing Christmas Cards. Went to Biloxi, Gulfport today with some friends we met here at the marina in their car. They were looking for a marina to move their boat and Curt was happy to walk around the marinas and look at boats. We ate at a restaurant in Gulfport called the Blow Fly, it was featured on the TV show with Guy called Burgers, Diners and Dives (I think that is the name). We had Fried Green tomatoes for an appetizer and Shrimp Po Boy Sandwiches. The bun was delicious as well as the shrimp and tomatoes. Good food, good service just like Guy said. :)

Beautiful clean white sandy beaches in Gulfport

Fishing boats in Gulfport, the nets look like they are Shrimp fishing boats

Took pictures of the Christmas lights here at the marina.

Found the article online that was written about us, thought we would share it here, nice of John to write the article, they were so kind and helpful to us while in Rock Island Ill.

Interesting meeting on the boat docks

Posted Online: Sept. 24, 2013, 6:49 pm

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We were coming in from our Coast Guard Auxiliary patrol Sunday evening when my wife, Judy, asked what I was going to write about this week. I had not written about winterizing yet. I told her it was still too early for that. Though I didn't know that the crew at Sunset Marina was pulling two boats on Tuesday.

However, I had several ideas. This was a common Sunday conversation. I have never figured out whether my wife is trying to subtly remind me I'd better be thinking about it or if she really wants to know about the week's column.

We slid the boat into the slip about 7 p.m. and I was starting to get the canvas out when two strangers walked down the dock and stopped to ask when the office would be open to pay for a night's dockage. They explained that they had pulled their 26-foot sailboat into an empty slip on the end of the dock and were concerned whether somebody was renting the slip.

I told them that it was empty and asked where they were headed. They responded that their ultimate destination was Duluth, Minn. Now Duluth and the Quad-Cities are a long way apart. That meant they were going to go down to Alton, up the Illinois River, into Lake Michigan and then Lake Superior and head west to Duluth, or they were to do the big loop. That option was a lot farther because it means going around the eastern United States. They replied they were doing the loop – down the Mississippi, up the Ohio, down the Cumberland, through the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, out into the Gulf, around Florida, up the eastern seaboard, up the Hudson River, into the Erie Canal and then the Great Lakes.

That was a lot more interesting, so we invited them aboard for some refreshments. They were Marilyn and Curtis Smith and they had started from Bismarck, N.D., towing their boat. They explained they had put it into the water above Lock 1 in Minneapolis and headed down the river.

We ended up talking until nearly 11 and found they had traveled to a lot of the same places we had. They told us they were going to take a break in their trip and were going to deliver a sailboat from Virginia to the U.S. Virgin Islands before it got too cold.

Their son had told them in a cell-phone conversation that they were traveling too fast and they should stop and smell the roses en route. So when Judy went down to the Coast Guard Auxiliary Station Monday morning, she met the couple – they had decided to sniff the roses in the Quad-Cities and had unloaded their bicycles. They were headed to the Visitor's Center on Arsenal Island and Judy suggested they visit the museum and tour the Davenport house where we could give them a tour. We met them at the house when they came walking their bikes up the road; they didn't have helmets so they couldn't ride their bikes on the island. Unfortunately, we found that most Arsenal attractions are closed on Mondays.

If you would like to travel along with them on their voyage, you can read their blogs. They are castawaymarilyn.blotspot.com and castawaycurt.blogspot.com.

I will pass along highlights as they head around the big "island."

-- Boaters and those traveling by car Saturday and Sunday will see a large fleet of sailboats in the waters above Lock & Dam 15. They will be competing in the Polar Bear Regatta which attracts scow-type boats from a wide area.

Jack Tumbleson is a retired copy editor for The Dispatch and The Rock Island Argus and a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. He can be reached by e-mail at jack@qcoline.com or by telephone at (309) 786-5980.

Monday, December 16, 2013

December 16, 2013 Monday Day 56 Miles from Minn., Minn--1583

We're at Turner's Marina, Mobile Alabama around 3 pm. Hooked up to electricity with the heater on. Yeah......!!!!! Had a good shower, clean clothes ready for dinner. More later.