Day 33 - orange fender? What orange fender?

Miles cruised 72, fuel purchased $0, slip fee $0, daily high temperature 84 *F

Dale and Andy were up early and went for a morning walk. We planned an 8:00 am departure because we have a 72 mile day ahead of us. Andy observed two boats heading for the Bevill lock so Dale and Andy quickly returned to the boat. I called the Bevill lock master and he suggested we come right over and lock through with the other two pc’s. We quickly disconnected and rolled up our water house, reeled in our power cable, untied our dock lines and off we went through the salad.

Red Dolphin and Corkscrew were already secured in the lock. We tied up to a floating bollard and announced to the lock master we were secure. The lock master called back and said he needed some details about our boat. We assume this is some form of post 911 data collection. He asked for our USCG registration number, length of boat, home port and destination for the day. We provided the information and that was that.

We chatted with Red Dolphin and Corkscrew while we were in the lock. Red Dolphin is staying at the Ox Bow tonight. That is where will stay also. Corkscrew is planning on anchoring out at MM 269. They both plan to be in Denopolis on Saturday. That is also where we will be so I guess we have a new herd. The nice thing about this herd is they travel at 10 mph. That speed is better for our engines and makes travel times more reasonable. Our herd stayed together through the first two locks until Corkscrew pealed off and we continued to the Heflin Lock with Red Dolphin trailing behind us. The Ox Bow anchorage is only 100 yards past the Heflin lock.

We are anchored in the ox bow just below the Heflin lock at MM 265. There is a sailboat Glass Slipper and our new friend Red Dolphin in the river with us. Red Dolphin is from Montreal, Canada. We attached a trip line to the anchor in case it gets caught on one of the millions of logs still on the bottom of the river. The line is tied to the back of the anchor so it can be pulled in the opposite direction of how it was originally dug in. We tied on the smallest of the round orange fenders as the float.

Our round orange fender used as an anchor trip line float.

Living on Changing Latitudes is similar to living in the Biosphere 2 in Oracle, AZ. We are in a totally closed environment. Our cockpit is enclosed except for screens and two small vent windows. If it gets too hot or too cold we can turn on the heat or AC. The rest of the boat is enclosed except for side widows in the salon that open three inches and a few oval portholes and a round hatch in the forward cabin. There is a window in the aft cabin but it cannot be opened when the dingy is on the transom. We have two sun pads on the foredeck but they are hardly ever used. We are traveling on a boat but the reality is that this is more like a 34,000 pound floating condominium than the type of boat many people have. We can live off the grid for a while with 140 gallons of water in the tanks, 500 gallons of fuel allows us to cruise 750 miles and 100 gallon waste holding tanks.

Biosphere 2 is an unprecedented, on-going ecological experiment. It is a tightly sealed glass and steel structure on 3.15 acres near Oracle, Arizona in which scientists have created seven complete ecosystems or biomes that mirror those of Earth.

Manufacturer Provided Description
The Cruisers 4450 Express Motoryacht is a sleek, powerful yacht that offers all the advantages of express-style cruising. The cockpit provides comfortable seating associated with traditional express boats but eliminates the typical separation of guests between a bridge and aft deck. The cockpit includes a wetbar that accommodates a refrigerator and ice maker, and a full windshield provides excellent wind and weather protection. Designed with an aft hardtop with wing doors and a full weather enclosure. This boat offers triple-stateroom accommodations in a true aft-cabin interior. The master stateroom offers both privacy and luxury, is located aft, and features an island berth, walk-in closet, and a private head with shower. A guest stateroom is located forward, and a third stateroom is located amidships. The spacious, bright main salon offers additional sleeping accommodations with a large convertible dinette, full service galley, and an optional L-shaped sofa sleeper.

Tomorrow we will cruise to Demopolis, Alabama at MM 216. We plan to stay there for two nights. Demopolis Yacht Basin is the last marina before we arrive in Mobile at MM 0. The hundreds of boaters on the Florida pan handle are still unable to cross the gulf due to high winds and waves.

Priscilla and I cruised along the river bank in our dingy. You can easily see how large trees end up in the river as flooding erodes the river bank.

Andy took this photo of a phone booth in the middle of nowhere.
Perhaps it is Doctor Who’s Tardis or a convenient location for Superman.

This morning we went to haul the anchor and the round orange fender on the trip line was not to be seen. I had followed the sailors creed that if you can’t tie the right knot tie a lot. We looked on both sides of the boat but it was not there. We assumed it had come untied and floated downstream. If we found it we would have had to launch the dingy to retrieve it. As Dale and Andy hoisted the anchor up popped the round orange fender. Somehow overnight it got caught under the boat. Another crisis solved.

Sunrise over the Ox bow anchorage below the Helfin lock.

Clever advertising for Mondo Pasta

Carl (Chef) Wooden – quote for the day.
“I’m telling you that India is that way, now set my course.”
– Christopher Columbus