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I left Demopolis Tuesday morning and decided to detour up the Black Warrior. Tuesday night I anchored just below the Selden Dam, and arrived at Tuscaloosa just after dark on Wednesday, and spent the night at a restaurant dock.

I had a couple of meals out and put in a big load of groceries in Tuscaloosa. The weather was threatening on Thursday, and the dock was not suitable for stormy weather or higher water levels, so I left to head back downstream on Thursday afternoon.

There was a violent front coming through in the early evening, and I kept going on the river until the nasty stuff was over. Lots of rain and wind. There was a tornado warning, and a couple touched down within about 30 miles of my position. I anchored in a safe spot outside the channel about 9 pm after the front passed.

Got up this morning to find that the water level had gone up about 6 feet and there was a big tree hanging on the anchor chain. The second pic is of it floating free after I had got the anchor up.

Today I basically stayed ahead of the surge. The water levels are forecast to crest this weekend about 20 feet above today’s levels. Today I had a 2-3 mph tail current.

I’m now anchored here. Tomorrow I head north on the Tombigbee. Weather looks good for the next couple of days, and the Tombigbee isn’t flooding like the Black Warrior.

I arrived here mid afternoon. No issues with the two locks I’ve been through – these ones have floating bollards, and there is very little commercial traffic so no delays so far. Last night I anchored here next to a bridge abutment.

After fueling up I came over an anchored here. Nice spot, in a park. Went ashore and biked out for dinner.

I’m at a fork. The Black Warrior River goes east through Tuscaloosa to end near Birmingham. This was a big coal shipping route during WW II. It’s about 400 miles up and back. I’ve been toying with the idea of doing it as a side trip. It looks like there is a stop in Tuscaloosa near groceries, restaurants, etc. So maybe I’ll head for Tuscaloosa then turn around.

My Spot tracker is on all the time, so if you want real time tracking of my progress, check in here: https://maps.findmespot.com/s/CW3R

The Tombigbee goes north. It’s something like 240 miles to the Tennessee River. That’s the way home.

I’m not in a great rush. Sister Susan is joining me in two weeks, and I’m planning to be on the upper Tennessee then.

Weather has been pleasant, sunny and clear. Frosty this morning. Rain is forecast for Thursday. I’m enjoying the low water and lack of a strong head current. There is no debris. But that can change.

The geography changed gradually over the last two days. There are small hills now. The river is a bit of a canyon now. I didn’t see much of the surrounding area today.

I’m anchored here 98 miles above Mobile on the Tombigbee River. Last night I stopped here. Today was a short day – I woke to thick fog and went back to bed and slept late.

It’s very relaxed travel on a broad natural river surrounded by wilderness. It reminds me of the Achafalaya. Lots of switchbacks. Current yesterday was moderate, and the water levels seemed a bit high. Once above the junction of the Alabama River levels and current went down. It looks like nice weather continues for the next few days, and water levels are forecast to be moderate. Smooth sailing.

Dempolis is my next planned stop, in 2 or 3 days. There are two locks between here and there.

Hello Alabama! I’m anchored here in Mobile Bay. Calm conditions. Weather has been fabulous and looks good for the next week. I went ashore in the dinghy and walked up the hill for dinner at a BBQ restaurant. Fairhope is pretty and prosperous looking.

Last night I anchored in a beautiful spot near Pensacola. Dunes on three sides. Very picturesque. I’ve met a few eastbound cruisers and a couple of tows. Yesterday there were a few sailboats out in Pensacola. The most obvious signs of human existence often come from the various military aircraft coming and going, or just hovering around. It seems like there is a base of some sort every 20-30 miles.

The motor is working well. Today we spent a few hours at higher cruise speeds. Drivetrain is very smooth. I still have a minor air leak, but I’ve been working my way through the system and am determined to resolve it.

Pics in chronological order for the last two days

Tomorrow I hit the rivers. But that should have its own post.

After a nice trip home I’m back underway. Left Rich’s place in Panama City this morning, and stopped for the night here near Destin.

The trip north was uneventful, about 1300 miles each way. I rented a Hyundai Elantra. Decent small car. I got back to Florida Sunday evening, and yesterday replaced the injectors with Rich’s help. The motor is running much better now.

Today was lovely, sunny later in the day. Mostly following a cut channel, with very few boats out.

I’m in Panama Beach getting ready to take a break. Escapade is safe and secure at a private dock offered by a Trawler Forum member, Rich. That’s him in the nice looking Pilot 30 escorting me in earlier today. Had a nice dinner out this evening with him and his wife Mary.

Tomorrow morning I pick up a rental car and head for Ontario, with a stop in Atlanta for a rapid COVID test.

Nice quiet cruising here. It’s been cool, with night time temps close to freezing, but not unpleasant. Most of the trip here from Apachicola was in a cut canal, and I anchored here last night.

I’m anchored here in Carrabelle. Good stop. I was here in Escapade and convoyed south with a few Loopers from here almost exactly 3 years ago.

To catch up, I did see manatees up close. These pics from Eric prove it! I got the dinghy motor working properly, and took Eric, Rosalie and Vicky in to the springs to see them. Dozens were hanging out in one spot.

I spent three nights at anchor as a front came through. As expected there was some carnage among the permanently moored boats, but I had stayed clear of them and had no issues.

I had originally been keen on going up the Suwanhee River, but couldn’t find any charts or evidence of any aids to navigation in the river and started thinking about the consequences of getting hung up there. Plus I’m more interested in having a visit home than spending more time alone on the boat. So I headed for Steinhatchee when I left Crystal River at dawn on Tuesday.

Steinhatchee was an easy stop. I anchored above the bridge and got takeout pizza from Hungry Howie’s. Left early the next morning for St Mark’s.

I was remembering a great seafood restaurant that I stopped at in 2018, and was sure it was in Steinhatchee. When I got there I realized that I had misremembered the place! Maybe it’s still ahead of me…

St Mark’s was new to me, and I had made some tentative plans to try to leave Escapade for a couple of weeks. But there was no room at the only marina in town. It’s a very small community. I went upriver for a few miles beyond town and had a pleasant evening anchored in the river.

Today I got away late morning, and got in here at dusk. Rainy and grey this afternoon, but not unpleasant.

I’ll likely hang around here tomorrow. There are stores, restaurants and marinas very close by. Still trying to organize some time ashore.

I was struck again coming in past Dog Island of how beautiful it is around here. Lots of beaches, and all empty this time of year. I don’t think I’ve seen any bigger recreational boats underway since I left Crystal River.

I saw a manatee up close. No pics yet. One swam right up to the dinghy as I was trying to fix the outboard. We were face to face for a few seconds.

Last night I anchored here just east of Anclote Key, sheltered from the west. This morning was calm and nice for the trip here.

I’m now anchored here in King’s Bay. Interesting trip in. I was 5-10 miles offshore coming up to stay in deep (10 ft) water, then in through a marked channel and into the river, then up here. Pictures below were taken coming in.

It’s going to be windy and rainy, with coastal flooding for the next day or so, but this is a good spot, as long as the long term anchored boats don’t come crashing into me. Tuesday looks like good weather to head north from here.

I thought new gas helped with the dinghy motor, but it’s gotten worse. I had the carburetor off this afternoon to check the float valve, but it looked ok. Now not running at all. Hopefully I’ll get it sorted tomorrow.

I’ve been listlessly moving north. I stopped here in Sarasota yesterday and didn’t move today. Tomorrow I’ll head up to Tampa Bay. There is a dinghy dock next to a grocery store here, so I stocked up yesterday and got Chinese takeout for dinner. Got a few boat maintenance chores done today. Monday night I anchored near Englewood and didn’t get off the boat.

Mostly I’m moving slow because I’m waiting for a weather window to go to Crystal River. I haven’t been there before. One pledge that I made to myself was that I wouldn’t leave Florida until I’d seen a manatee up close. I caught glimpses of them on the St John’s River on Escapade, but that’s it. Apparently there are lots there this time of year.

Things are now falling into place, as they inevitably do. So here’s the plan for the next month or so, all of which I’m excited about.

Saturday looks like a good day to head for Crystal River. I’ll get underway early from Dunedin. I’m planning to be there for a few days while some wind goes through. Eric and Rosalie are visiting me there on Sunday. Maybe we’ll go looking for manatees.

From Crystal River I go to the Suwanee River, about 50 miles up the coast. This requires daylight for the entire trip, calm seas approaching the river, and ideally a high tide. The entrance is shallow and the bottom hard. But once into the river, I’m planning to do a return upstream trip of about 35 miles each way. It’s mostly remote wilderness. I’m pumped. Need to get the lyrics for the Stephen Foster song.

From there it’s a hop further up to Steinhatchee. I went in there with Escapade and was quite taken by the place.

The last hop is to St Mark’s, about 20 miles south of Tallahassee. Another small place I’ve never been.

This whole area is quite different from the rest of Florida. These are the only four ports along the entire section of coastline that I can get in to, and entering without mishap requires favourable conditions and maybe some good fortune. It’s all pretty shallow and exposed. The alternative route is a ~150 mile straight line cutting the bend, but there’s not much adventure in that.

At St Mark’s I hope to find dockage for a couple of weeks and fly home to Ontario. There are convenient flights out of nearby Tallahassee. I’m ready for some family time, and a break from the boat is always good. And my schedule has sufficient slack it it. I was a bit concerned about heading north too early. When I get back in February I can travel with purpose.

All good! Will try to take some pictures as I go along.

I’m anchored here adjacent to a wildlife preserve. Nice quiet spot.

Friday I left the anchorage in the Everglades and came up the west coast to Marco Island, staying a couple of miles offshore. There are some remote deep water channels along that stretch that I could have explored, like Shark River. I’d like to come back to that area some time and poke around. Maybe with a canoe or kayak.

Saturday was a non-travel day. I got groceries and dinghy fuel, and explored a bit by dinghy. My dinghy motor hadn’t been running well, and I was thinking of cleaning the carburetor, but with fresh fuel it’s running much better. I was using gas I’d bought in NS last summer.

Today I had a lovely inside cruise up to Naples, then followed the shore line up to here.

Weather has been great, but is going to be a bit unsettled for a few days this week. I’m not in any mad rush to push north, but I spent lots of time exploring the area between here and Tarpon Springs in Escapade, and don’t have any specific destinations or plans until I get north of there. I’ll be loafing north on the ICW for the next couple of days, and watching for good weather to head up around the Big Bend area.