LA-MS-AL Trip May-June 09 Part III

Louisiana – Mississippi – Alabama Coastal Sailing
May 27 – June 8, 2009
Beautiful Sights and Valuable Lessons (Part III)

Tue 6/2. The weather was supposed to be very hot, in the low 90’s. Hey, this is only the beginning of June! What will it be like along the Gulf Coast during July and August, we wondered. T-storms out of the west were predicted for the following several days. We would probably have a decent day but the buildup would mean rain for sure by the early evening. We decided to stay an extra night at Bear Point Marina and dedicate ourselves to wallowing in the pleasantries of our new neighborhood. Not difficult at all. Besides, who’s on a schedule? Cruising is supposed to be about loosening the grip of past habits and demands. Etc., etc. And let’s not get started on that, for now.

The best way to explore the neighborhood is with the dinghy, we agreed. We wanted to get a closer look at Pirates Cove Restaurant and Roberts Bayou just across the way. And, maybe we could take a swim and admire other landscapes around there. A refreshing dip in the clear waters of the Canal would also be desirable given the direct, relentless heat of the Southern sun.

Pirates Cove faces the ICW and has sufficient pier for several boats to tie up. It was evident that patrons motored in regularly for the famous hamburgers, family time and a small natural beach for kids to romp around in. Entering the channel to Roberts Bayou was easy by daylight since the markers are clear, but we probably would have had our doubts by night. Nonetheless, despite appearances, even sizeable boats with deeper keels were nestled everywhere we looked in the coves we saw behind the restaurant. Roberts Bayou was delightful. I couldn’t get enough, as you will/have noticed in the slideshow. This neck of the woods is next door to Perdido Bay and accessible to Mobile Bay’s east shore towns of Fairhope, Daphne, Foley and others. It certainly made my mouth water. Who knows…

We continued making our way along the coastline and stopped where we had a view of the Canal on a lonely strip of “beach.” After some munchies and a cool swim, we crossed over the Canal and headed back the long way, taking our dinghy in close to shore to see the enticing homes and their boats.

As mentioned before, the live aboard cruisers at the Marina were just as nice as can be. One couple offered us a ride to the grocery a few miles away. I got the fresh goods we’d need for the next 5 days (which is what we can accommodate onboard Talisman). And, they entertained me with their accounts of travels to Venezuela and other parts of the Caribbean. Now their Morgan was parked at the Marina while they worked day jobs. But who knows for how long. It seems that, once you taste the good life, you always look forward to your next trip, when you can again break away from conventional life for as long as the funds hold out. They were probably in their 50’s but still going strong.

Another couple we met had sold their farm and their belongings in Texas. They were probably in their 40’s and whose grown son also loved sailing. This couple bought an Island Packet, moved onboard, and was making their way to Florida and the eastern Caribbean. This is not unusual amongst sailors. And, what pleasant and interesting people! Everyone at the Marina, whether sailor or staff, was great. Even teenagers seem to do well, and that’s a lot to ask for. Maybe it’s the saner, healthier environment of Nature that puts things in perspective for humans.

And, by the way, the food at Flippers Restaurant on site was very satisfactory, and the views, enchanting.

Wed 6/3. The weather was deteriorating. Heading west would have meant heading directly into the storms. Why not stay another night? We decided to do just that and spend the day cleaning, charging up equipment, checking on weather reports and so forth.
Meantime, we spoke with our sailing buddies on the s/v Candida. They were anchored in Wolf River. We would connect with them around Ingram Bayou where Mike and I planned to spend the next night.

Thu 6/4. Long necked herons accompanied my yoga. Everything looked refreshed after the all-night rains. We left Bear Point Marina and pointed toward Ingram Bayou, across the way and a few miles west. The entrance is easy to pass up. Just remember that it is on the east side of Barber Marine.

Once in we were met with a very pretty sight, and we weren’t the only ones admiring the scenery. Several sailboats, including a Cat, and one house boat occupied the area just inside the entrance channel. That’s where depths are reasonable (7-9 ft.). Beyond there, depths dropped off to 5 ft. or less. Ingram Bayou is very nice (different but not nicer than the Tchefuncte River, LA from where we hailed), with rich foliage, lots of birds, and frequent visits of dolphins. And clean, fresh water, perfect for a swim.

Our friends showed up and decided to overnight. So they rowed over in their dinghy (Bubba the cat stayed to protect the boat). We chatted and caught up, as well as revisited the inevitable events that occur when one is cruising (see Part I). Luckily Talisman didn’t have a breakdown of any kind. The engine was leaking fuel, and Mike had jury rigged a container to catch most of the diesel (taking care of that and a rusted 30-yr. old fuel tank will be the subject of a posting by Mike in the near future).

Mike and I took a dip in the Bayou. Oh, how refreshing! That, a nap, and dinner with our friends on Talisman made for a luxurious afternoon and evening. Good company, fabulous sights, and even the threatening cloud buildup and thunder were part of the fun.

Phil and Karen were going to leave for Pensacola the next day, and we would be pointing in the opposite direction toward New Orleans. Mike and I experienced a twinge of envy. Could we instead follow them to new and different places, rather than head home? Not this time, unfortunately. But soon we would be back and give in to that urge to push the envelope further: Pensacola, Panama City and beyond the Florida Panhandle.

Our trip wasn’t over. We would experience new places on the way back to New Orleans: Horn and Cat islands. Stay tuned for the final leg of this trip. Those islands and getting there added a lot to our total experience!