3 Rivers Lake, AL to Big Bayou Canot, AL

November 6^th, 2015
Miles Traveled 49.3
Total Miles Traveled 1177
Day 58

Our day started with heavy fog again, the air temperature was 72 degrees and the water temperature was 73 degrees.  The fog started to lift about 8:00, so we were underway by 8:30.  There is a chance of afternoon thunderstorms so we would like to be anchored by early afternoon.  Anchorages are far and few between in this section of the Black Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway.

This steel mill is the first image of civilization that we have seen for several days, as you can see, the clouds are building and we have yet to anchor.

We finally reached a good anchorage in another narrow channel leading to a bayou.  We secured the boat with bow and stern anchors because we are only 17 miles from Mobile Bay and the tide can swing us in different directions.

 

We were at anchor less than an hour when a US Coast Guard patrol boat came speeding up the canal toward us.  This will be our first boarding by the US Coast Guard; we thought we would have at least made it to Florida before getting an inspection.  There were five officers; two of them boarded our boat.  They wanted to see all of our documentation for the boat and all of the required safety equipment.  They were very impressed that we had a boat book which included all of our documentation, and that we knew the location of all of the required safety equipment.  Since I have taken several US Power Squadron Courses, and am currently a certified vessel safety check examiner, probably paid off on this boarding.  We passed the inspection without any violations.  All of the officers were very courteous and professional and even agreed to have their picture taken for our blog. 

 

 

 

 

We didn’t have much time to explore, but took a quick tour of the canal before dark.  According to the information we have on this anchorage, gators have been seen here.  I’d like to get a picture of one….as long as it’s not bigger than our dinghy.  We passed a couple of cabins, but I’m not sure I would be comfortable staying there.