We leave Grand Mariner Marina in Mobile on Saturday November 7, 2009. Everything is going great - we get through the Mobile Bay and into the Mobile river (which is much calmer than the bay). Soon we realize that our batteries are not charging and Josh checks the alternator - which is obviously not working. We turn off everything except our depth finder to try and conserve as much of our batteries as possible. I am convinced, as is Josh, that The Nineveh is rebeling from being dry docked at Demopolis. She knows what is coming and is screaming and kicking. We push as far as we can and hand anchor on the Tensas River at mile marker 45.
Josh checks the alternator and the engine and finds a series of unfortunate events has unfolded - the water pipe (which has been just fine for as long as we have lived aboard) burst immediately next to the alternator. It shorted out and therefore couldn't charge the batteries. It also meant that our water pump had been pumping water into the bilge for however long and we now didn't know how much water we had left. We turn on only the anchor light and Josh raised a portable anchor light as well just in case.
The next morning - a Sunday - Josh calls the Coast Guard (who couldn't get enough of us on the Gulf) who recommended calling our insurance. Our insurance was as helpful as could be - finding someone in Mobile who might help. Only that company would charge us 6 hours (at $150/hour!!) just to come out and charge our batteries. This is on the offchance that our alternator would work after this charging. Boo. We decide this isn't an option and Josh figures he will take the dinghy to shore and try to find someone to help.
Let me tell you right now that the hunters and bass boaters of the river are the volunteer Coast Guard and should be respected and upheld for being good people. We flag down a bass boater who offers to take Josh to shore to get the starter battery charged. Josh and I accept and this wonderful hunter/bass boater not only helps us charge our starter battery but also takes Josh to AutoZone to get a generator!! Too sweet. They return, Josh gets the generator aboard and realizes he left the oil onshore. But we have enough onboard and are fine. We get the batteries charged and set off to try and get even 10 miles up river (the alternator is now working - hmm). Only one mile or less up the river another bass boater flags us down and pulls up beside us to give us the oil we left ashore! They found us on the river to give us our oil for the generator. Too awesome!
We anchor at Bates Lake (mm 54) - we use our oil lamps during the evening and have only the anchor light on. We are now on "conserve battery" mode even with a generator. I write very little down in our log hoping to not upset The Nineveh. I have quickly become quite supersticious.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
New Orleans to Mobile
Our trip from New Orleans to Mobile went smoothly - thanks to our crew! Plus the weather was very nice - maybe a little chilly with the wind.
We didn't sail our first day because there was not enough wind. However we did have plenty of action. We were boarded twice (twice!) by federal agents. First by Customs (en route) and then by the Coast Guard (once anchored). We saw dolphins and jellyfish! Very cool - the jellyfish were very numerous. It was like a school of jellyfish going around our boat. Better than any aquarium!
Our first night we anchored behind Ship Island and had a beautiful sunset. Unfortunately, our anchorage was great for the wind (coming NNE) but bad for the waves (coming east) - so we rocked and rolled all night.
The next day we decided to push through to Mobile. We were able to sail for about 2 hours and then the wind died. Boo.
Close to Mobile we were approached by Marine Enforcement (why are we getting picked on?) but they just asked us to be careful and didn't board. We approached Mobile during sunset - which was very pretty except that the wind had picked up blowing perpindicular to us and huge huge ships were entering the channel as well. They didn't bother us too much (they look out for the little guy unlike on the Mississippi river). However, we had to find an unlit channel to Fort Morgan Marina. A fabulous little marina that has new facilities and great people working there. But try to get there in the daytime - the channel is clearly marked but not lit.
Our awesome sailor enjoying the wind and not minding his Magic Jacket.
Under way sailing!
The Nineveh at anchor south of Ship Island.
Daddy and Will enjoying the sunset in the cockpit.
Entering the Mobile channel. A huge THANK YOU to Lil and Katherine for their help during the leg of this trip!
We didn't sail our first day because there was not enough wind. However we did have plenty of action. We were boarded twice (twice!) by federal agents. First by Customs (en route) and then by the Coast Guard (once anchored). We saw dolphins and jellyfish! Very cool - the jellyfish were very numerous. It was like a school of jellyfish going around our boat. Better than any aquarium!
Our first night we anchored behind Ship Island and had a beautiful sunset. Unfortunately, our anchorage was great for the wind (coming NNE) but bad for the waves (coming east) - so we rocked and rolled all night.
The next day we decided to push through to Mobile. We were able to sail for about 2 hours and then the wind died. Boo.
Close to Mobile we were approached by Marine Enforcement (why are we getting picked on?) but they just asked us to be careful and didn't board. We approached Mobile during sunset - which was very pretty except that the wind had picked up blowing perpindicular to us and huge huge ships were entering the channel as well. They didn't bother us too much (they look out for the little guy unlike on the Mississippi river). However, we had to find an unlit channel to Fort Morgan Marina. A fabulous little marina that has new facilities and great people working there. But try to get there in the daytime - the channel is clearly marked but not lit.
Our awesome sailor enjoying the wind and not minding his Magic Jacket.Under way sailing!
The Nineveh at anchor south of Ship Island.
Daddy and Will enjoying the sunset in the cockpit.
Entering the Mobile channel.The Last Great Adventure
I will have to post photos later as technology is not cooperating this morning - Boo!
Josh and I have been thinking about moving back to Knoxville, TN for a little while now. With that comes the hard decision as to where we should live. Should we get a house? Should we move The Nineveh?
Moving The Nineveh to Knoxville would take about a month of non-stop sailing and motoring. We've done two weeks before and didn't feel like four weeks would be a wise nor comfortable choice. Plus this time we would be fighting the current the whole time. Another factor is that Will is curious, full of energy, adventurous and almost a year and a half. Our 275sf living space is getting a little cramped. Plus, there is no space for Josh's Architecture firm and CoolCorC on the boat. So, we have decided that The Nineveh will have to have other keepers to make her happy.
But, we have to move the boat out of New Orleans (out of the hurricane zone - insurance is cheaper as is slip fees). Hence our Last Great Adventure!
Josh's mom and sister became our crew and we sailed The Nineveh from New Orleans to Mobile, AL. From there our crew left and Josh, Will and I headed up the Tennesee TomBigBee waterway to Demopolis, AL (the first marina north of Mobile). During this time Hurricane Ida hit land. We have quite a story and some nice photos which will be posted soon.
The short of it is everyone and The Nineveh arrived safe in Demopolis. The long of it will be in the next post!
Josh and I have been thinking about moving back to Knoxville, TN for a little while now. With that comes the hard decision as to where we should live. Should we get a house? Should we move The Nineveh?
Moving The Nineveh to Knoxville would take about a month of non-stop sailing and motoring. We've done two weeks before and didn't feel like four weeks would be a wise nor comfortable choice. Plus this time we would be fighting the current the whole time. Another factor is that Will is curious, full of energy, adventurous and almost a year and a half. Our 275sf living space is getting a little cramped. Plus, there is no space for Josh's Architecture firm and CoolCorC on the boat. So, we have decided that The Nineveh will have to have other keepers to make her happy.
But, we have to move the boat out of New Orleans (out of the hurricane zone - insurance is cheaper as is slip fees). Hence our Last Great Adventure!
Josh's mom and sister became our crew and we sailed The Nineveh from New Orleans to Mobile, AL. From there our crew left and Josh, Will and I headed up the Tennesee TomBigBee waterway to Demopolis, AL (the first marina north of Mobile). During this time Hurricane Ida hit land. We have quite a story and some nice photos which will be posted soon.
The short of it is everyone and The Nineveh arrived safe in Demopolis. The long of it will be in the next post!
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