Question about Mobile Bay, Al.

R

rich&judym

New member
We are planning a cruise similar to Halcyon's Horseshoe Loop and wonder if any Brats are familiar with the last place to get gas before heading up the Mobile River. Fly Creek on the eastern shore was what we are planning, before heading up the Blakeley River to Mobile-Tensaw Cutoff. Would it be better to head up the western shore? Anyone have knowledge of the area?

rich and judy
 
Going up the Eastern shore there are lots of mud flats and shoal water, but the channel is plenty deep. Be sure that you can get under the bridges. I don't know of any place beyond the Eastern Shore/Fly Creek Fairhope marinas to get fuel. I would be reluctant to leave a truck and trailer on any of the Ramps further up the rivers.

One of my friends who RV's at Millers Ferry thinks that you probably can get someone to take you in a truck with jerry cans to get some gas. Not convient, but possible.
 
thataway and volsman

Thanks for the info you both provided. After further study of charts, USACE information and a fuel capacity increase, we should be able to make this leg of the cruise ok. We added 15-gal. of fuel capacity and will run on one engine as much as possible. We also plan to travel the Tensaw River to its junction with the Mobile River at MM39 LDB.

Thanks again,
rich&judym
 
Rich & Judy: The "little horseshoe" we put together for Bill and El had them launching their boat at the state park in Eufaula, AL, then, once coming north out of Mobile Bay, about mile 39-40 range, they took the "right hand" turn...and went up the Alabama River and we pulled them out at a ramp in Montgomery, AL. They left their tow vehicle at the state park in Eufaula, AL and I picked them up in Montgomery (when we lived there) and drove them to Eufaula to get their rig and returned to Montgomery to pull out. They did not go up the Tn-Tom towards Demopolis, AL.... Both are great trips, but, the run up the Alabama will add for a bit more need to be sure you have fuel on board. Have not ran between Mobile and Demopolis in many years, but, there are many on the great loop that run it often. Either way...you will have some long legs....and, both are great trips.

Some of you may notice my mention to Bill & El about having indoor plumbing.. Well, that is in response to the fact that the day they landed in Montgomery, April 16th, the day after tax day....we were going to have El stay at our home during the day and do laundry, enjoy a nice bath/shower or two and get some rest in a full size bed that was not floating... Well, we were doing some home restoration work, and our contractor had removed every toliet, sink, and other items...and had the water turned off for the day. He misunderstood me and thought I was going down river to Mobile myself rather than picking someone up in Montgomery and bringing them by the house for some clean up work that is needed after a couple weeks on board.

I felt terrible...and the poor look on Miss El's face would melt anyone. I owe her a good day at a spa somewhere for that one.

Byrdman
 
Bobbie's fish camp occasionally does not have fuel--so a call there ahead of time is wise. But since he was going up the Mobile river, I mentioned Miller's ferry as a possible place where it is not too far to a gas station and there is a small "marina" --I am using the term loosely, and a nice RV park with people who have been very friendly and accomidating in the past.
 
Hey Gang!
Once apon a time I thought I saw a thread on the Brat site about trading or loaning chart cards or paper charts. Having a C-80, I would gladly loan my card for the area around the Cumberland, Tennessee, Ten-Tom and the vicinity. I am not looking at the card so I can't say exactly what areas it really does cover...maybe someone else knows, Byrdman has the same card and has used it in more areas than I. I would like to get some info on the Mobile bay area, coming from down the Ten-Tom, going East to the Florida ICW to include Perdido Key, round to Panama City and down the west coast of Fl to the Keys. Having never navigated these waters, I have a lot to learn!!!! Flagold, GREAT STUFF!!!
Mike
 
Mike,

We found two cruising guides for the Gulf Coast area, "Florida's Big Bend" by Rick Rhodes and "Northern Gulf Coast" by Claiborne Young. Both cruising guides are published by Pelican Publishing Co. I found used library copies on Amazon. Don't know for sure yet, but they are very detailed and helped us to plan our cruise this spring. The NOAA charts provided the way to follow the authors narrative.

rich&judym
 
Thanks Rick nd JudyM !
I will pursue that info. We may be in the Mobile Bay area around the end of Jan., first of Feb.; just depends on weather and initiative!!! We really want no definate time frames... we've never had the opportunity to travel without really tight scedules so our promise to ourselves is "no agenda".
Thanks for the info,
Mike
 
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