Mobile Bay, Dog River, and a new crew.



  We entered Mobile Bay from the Mobile River around 1:00. What a busy area. We travelled about 5 miles at idle past many shipyards, loading points, a cruise ship terminal, Navy facility, and hundreds of docked ships. At the end of this we entered Mobile Bay. Mobile Bay is the 4th largest estuary in the United States and is very shallow. We followed the shipping lane out 1/3rd of the way across the Bay to reach Dog River. The water was 30 to 40 feet deep in the shipping lane and dropped to 4 feet or less outside the channel. We paid very close attention to the red and green markers designating the channel.

 

  We arrived at Dog River Marina around 3:00. Ed showed up just in time to share a late lunch with us at the Mobile Yacht Club and then drove Dad and Dave to the hotel near the airport. Brian, Tom, and Jeff arrived at 8:00 and Chris left for Cleveland. The new crew is ready for the voyage around the Florida panhandle.

 

Downtown Mobile.



I am willing to bet that my passengers enjoyed their trip more than the passengers aboard this ships last voyage (Carnival ship that was towed in 2 weeks ago). 

Mobile Bay, calm peaceful, and BIG.

We came down the river on the right on the top of the Bay.

                                  

Dave, Chris, and Dad. A great crew.

New crew (from left), Brian, Tom, Jeff, and Ed.

End of the day, checking in with the ones at home.