We were up early on Tuesday to start our Mobile Bay crossing but, the fog kept us at the fuel dock until 10:00 am.
Fog at Dog River Marina
Fortunately, birds love the early morning and kept us entertained.
Crested Mallard DuckCootWater Turkey (American Darter)Heron in the Fog
As the fog lifted, we left Dog River for Mobile Bay, by the time we left the channel we were once again shrouded in fog, which lasted until we arrived at our entry into the Gulf Intracostal Waterway.
Fishing Boat in Mobil BayBreak in the FogT0w in the Gulf Intracostal Waterway – We are almost out of the “Land of Tows,” Florida does not allow tows in the Gulf Intracostal Waterway.
We spent today cleaning, planning, walking, and watching, you guessed it, the birds.
Andiamo – The Wharf Marina, Orange Beach, ALKingfisherGreat Blue HeronTake off!Green HeronHooded Merganser Ducks – MaleHooded Merganser Duck – FemaleAt the end of the day, hundreds of birds commandeered four sailboats and sportfishing boat in the marina.
Highlight of the Day
On returning from our walk, we had a note on our boat, “Hello Fellow Loopers- I am at on the 41′ Silverton – # 179 visiting friends – I had a 25′ Tug – would love to meet you…. Tanya.” When she came back, I realized that she was Tanya Binford, author of Crossing the Wake: One Woman’s Great Loop Adventure, which I had read. Tanya did the loop solo in a 25′ Ranger Tug. I really admire her for that achievement.
We will leave Dog River Marina this morning and cross Mobile Bay into the protected waters of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GICW).
Our home for the past few days.
A few historical facts about Mobile
• Mobile Bay was the first body of water in the new world to be accurately charted. This was accomplished by the Spanish explorer Alonso Alvarez de Pineda in 1519.
• Mobile was founded as the capital of colonial French Louisiana in 1702 and remained a part of New France for over 60 years. The flags of six nations and republics have flown over the city since its founding: France, Spain, Great Britain, the Alabama Republic, the Confederate States of America and the United States.
• Mobile is home to the oldest Mardi Gras celebration in the United States. The city held its first Carnival in 1703.
• During World War II the population of Mobile more than doubled in three years due to the influx of people coming to work in the shipyards.
• The Port of Mobile is the only deep-water port in Alabama and one of the Top 10 ports in the U.S. by tonnage.
Civil War History (April 12, 1861 – May 9, 1865)
On August 5, 1864, at the Battle of Mobile Bay, Union Admiral David Farragut, (1801-70), led his flotilla through the Confederate defenses to gain control over one of the last major Southern ports. During this battle, when the USS Brooklyn started backing up because of suspicious looking buoys, Admiral Farragut commanded, “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!” His flagship Hartford swept past the USS Brooklyn into the rows of torpedoes and the rest of the fleet followed.
David Glasgow Farragut, who entered the U.S. Navy at age 9, received his first command in 1824 during the War of 1812, serving on the USS Essex, he commanded the Union blockade of the western Gulf of Mexico. In 1863 he helped secure victory at the Battle of Vicksburg, the last major Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River, bringing the Mississippi River under Union control. An interesting article about Farragut and Buchanan.
Serendipity: From 2000-2004, Rick and I worked at David Glasgow Farragut High School in Rota, Spain.
A few historical facts about Mobile