Eastern Shore Marina is directly on Mobile Bay
We enjoyed a banana tree off our stern and a
beautiful sunset off our bow.
The next morning it was early to rise as the guys were ready to get to work.
By 0730 SeaGlide was in the lift and on her way to the boatyard.
We were really pleased by the way everything looked underneath,
and the guys wasted no time in pressure washing and sanding her down.
Before we knew it, the first coat of bottom paint was finished,
and SeaGlide looked brand new.
As luck would have it, some friends on Silver Boots, who we met last year while waylaid in St Simons Island, happened to be in Mobile and came over to take us to lunch. We had a great time catching up with them while enjoying a great meal at Big Daddy's. Afterward they took us by the Fairhope Tire Company which is also known for selling Claude's grits... go figure... it sure is good to be back in the south... For a change, not a single person today asked me where I was from...
A beautiful Confederate Rose, a gift from Silver Boots' mom.
The next day, as the painting continued, we borrowed the courtesy van and saw the sights around Fairhope. Fairhope is a quaint little town filled with flowers, cool shops, and delicious restaurants.
At a local park a guy brought his pet bird so that he
could talk to the ducks and geese - so cute to watch.
Another park with a beautiful garden of fragrant
roses complete with rose-colored water fountain.
Surrounding countryside with fields of cotton.
That evening we had dinner with Always Five O'Clock and Reunion,
both of whom arrived at the marina earlier in the day. We ate
at Tamara's in downtown Fairhope where they had an interesting
way of displaying their art.
Halloween was a fun day of shopping with the girls.
The guys joined us downtown for dinner that evening.
The first day of November was a relaxing one at the marina
as we prepared SeaGlide for her launch the next day.
The Captain trying his hand at bottom paint...
The next day as SeaGlide was launched, the bay kicked up her heels. We decided to stay in port and swab the decks enjoying one more day on shore before taking off for the Florida Panhandle. As luck would have it our buddies aboard Inch N Along were finishing up their repairs at Dog River Marina in Mobile and were also planning to take off the next day.
Maintenance and repairs complete and her decks squeaky clean -
SeaGlide is ready to resume the trip.
The Captain grilled up some steaks, and we celebrated by watching the sunset.
The following morning Mobile Bay was like glass as we resumed the trip.
Happy to be underway again.
Soon we were back on the ICW making plans to meet
up with our buddies at Lulu's - Jimmy Buffet's sister Lucy's restaurant/marina.
Lulu's
Met up with friends as we enjoyed watching the traffic go by.
It seemed like ages since we saw the last tow and barge...
Kicked back contemplating Jimmy's philosophy on life...
Be well travelled, Live by the sea, Listen to your spirit and find joy...
The next day we pulled into the ICW in route to Ocean Beach, AL.
We pulled into The Wharf resort and marina and were greeted by lots of shops and restaurants on property. Whoop! Whoop! After throwing down some bucks in the new Tervis shop, we got to see the movie, Gravity. Can't even remember the last movie we went to.
Hard to believe Christmas is approaching. Christmas at the sea
would be wonderful one of these days, but this year we have
plans to go back home to both NC and GA.
After the show we met up with friends and went to
Doc's Seafood Shack - a local favorite.
Then it was back to the resort for their light show.
The next day the marina manager let us borrow her car,
and we made a run to WalMart and West Marine. We were
treated later by the arrival of our old buddies aboard Barefoot'n.
It was great catching up with them at long last.
As much as we wanted to stay another day we had to move on.
There was a lot of water to travel so that we could park the boat
before Thanksgiving to get back home for the holidays - Florida awaited...
