November 6, 2009 (Shane's Birthday)

Port Departed: Turner Marina, Dog River Mobile AL
Port Arrived: Holiday Harbor Marina, Pensacola FL
Miles Traveled Today: 51 miles
Total Miles Traveled to Date: 1061
Hours Traveled Today: 8.5
Total Hours Traveled: 174

Talk in the showers this morning was about Hurricane IDA brewing in the southern part of the Gulf of Mexico. Several of the “Loopers” said they were going to hold up until the Hurricane decided which way it was going to travel across the Gulf. The sky was blue. IDA had yet to make her presence know in the northern part of the Gulf. Tossed off the dock lines at 6:30AM and headed across Mobile Bay. Thought that I would make coffee after getting under way. Good idea but not possible. Mobile Bay was a very rough crossing. Lots of waves and wind in my face. In fact it was salt water spray. I could taste the salt on my lips. I drank at least a half gallon of fresh water as the salt made me thirsty. I cut diagonally across the bay. The shipping channel is 40 feet. The rest of the bay is a shallow 8 feet. Wes the salesman that hooked me up with the Garmin GPS told me that there was enough water to take the short cut as he had done many times. Based on the waves and the wind I was glad to save time on this passage. It took 4 hours to cross the bay. Once I reached the Inter Coastal Waterway, I was greeted by two dolphins. They swam next to the boat for several minutes. I tried to take a photo of them, but the camera was took slow in reacting as it has to automatically focus before releasing the shutter.

I noticed that once I reached the ICW there was a coating of salt all over the boat. It was everywhere. Welcome to the ocean!

I crossed into FL and headed to Holiday Harbor Marina. A huge storm was brewing in the south part of the Gulf of Mexico and I thought that it would be safer to tie up at a Marina than to anchor out.

The manager of the Marina asked me if I needed any supplies. Told him yes and he drove me to the Winn Dixie for provisions.