Monday, October 16 - Alabama River Cutoff

Woke up to a tow passing us as we were tied to the only dock at Bobby's Fish Camp.

 We thought we'd call "Eagle Heart" to see where exactly they ended up anchoring on Sunday night, when low and behold here they were coming around the bend towards our dock!!! 😀

Soon we were all underway for another adventure day on the Black Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway!

We only had to go two miles, and then we encountered our VERY LAST lock of the trip!!!  I didn't have to look very long to realize this was another submerged dam; uggh!

 To the left is the infinity pool 😉 (submerged dam) and to the right, our last lock!

 Before entering, we wait for the Coast Guard to exit.

 Had my coffee in hand as we went through this lock!!!😄⛾

Last ballard and it gets the award for the cleanest!!!

 Okay, where is that cup of coffee (this is "Coffeeville Lock and Dam" afterall😉)?!?!  This is the coldest I've been locking through; 56 degrees and an icy wind to boot!  😞

 As we leave, we can celebrate; a total of 47 locks since leaving Prescott . . . now that's quite an accomplishment!!!🙌

 Interesting how this dam has some hidden gates, as well as a section that is submerged.

 Dave and I both head to the pilot house to warm up, as "Rambunctious" and "Eagle Heart" follow.

We are now officially in "tidal waters".  Since the water is a mix of river and salt water, we are now in water that is referred to as "brackish" water. 

We are in such desolate area, that Dave and I get excited to see a bridge!!!😂

So desolate, even this loading dock has been abandoned.😞

BIG bend in the waterway!

 Behind us are our other "looper" friends ready for the bend.

 WAIT!!!  What do we have here?!  Civilization?!!!!

 A little dredging going on; never though I'd be excited to see such "action"!

 And check out this beautiful towboat in charge of all this dredging . . .

 the Kelly L!!!😁

Goodbye civilization.

A few wingdams bid us farewell; haven't seen these since the Mississippi.

We got some saw some REALLY GREAT things in nature today:

Oooo . . . a sign we're getting closer to the Gulf; pretty, white sand beaches!

 Haven't seen this guy in a LONG time; eagles just aren't as popular here, and when fellow "loopers" see them, they are in awe of them (guess they're not quite as popular in other parts of the U.S. as they are back home).

 OMG!!!  Nature is getting VERY interesting; a WILD BOAR!!!

 He walked to the river to get a drink, took his bath by laying at the edge of the water and rolling in it, and then walked back into the woods.  Never thought I'd see that!!!

And the daddy of all today, a HUGE ALLIGATOR!!!  Dave saw this guy today, but credit goes to our Canadian Looper friend, John, for getting this shot!

The Black Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway continues to be VERY windy!

Occasionally along the way we see these measuring sticks,

 and just a few homes,

 and of course, many towboats!

We end the night anchoring in the Alabama River Cutoff, which is an "oxbow" (remember that term?) of the Alabama River.  The anchorage was only about 80 feet wide!  "Rambunctious" tied up to us on our port side, after we put out the anchor.  Then, "Eagle Heart" deployed his anchor and backed up to our starboard side which kept us centered in the channel.  This was a good thing, as there was no "swing room".  I am still in wonder as to how the boat "Slow Roll" (that we've seen here and there), passed by us all at the break of dawn (he was anchored up this oxbow about 1000 feet from us).  He had to have gone through the tree branches to get by us!

"Slow Roll"

We end the night having "docktales" with great "looper" friends looking at this beautiful sunset!
GOD IS GOOD!!!💗