Tombigbee Grand Adventure Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Bill and Brenda Russell · Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 8:26 pm Post subject: Monday Afternoon at 3:30

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.

Bill and Brenda Russell · Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2010 8:40 pm Post subject: WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON @ 5:00

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.

Bill and Brenda Russell · Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 8:10 pm Post subject: THURSDAY NIGHT

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.

Byrdman · Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2010 4:22 pm Post subject:

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... Mr. Green

Honey...I think Fido just flew off the deck..... Cry

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

Byrdman

Bill and Brenda Russell

"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