Eastern Shore Marina to Marina at the Wharf

Eastern Shore Marina to Marina at the Wharf

Calm winds and following seas

The expected storm front passed last night with some rain and little else, the wind shifting today from the south to the west and then to the northwest as it diminished. We identified a weather window of at least 5 hours from noon into the evening and made the trip down Mobile Bay in calm seas with clearing skies. I am beginning to believe the weather forecasters are providing a bit of hype in their evaluations.

Finger Piers, never again. I hope!

Leaving Eastern Shore Marina was ok with us as we were tied to a “finger pier”; that is a skinny little excuse for a pier – about 18 inches wide, and only reaching about 8 feet out beside the boat.  Getting the boat tied into the slip was a real challenge.  Climbing on and off the boat was comical except when it was downright dangerous.  I wish I had a picture of me leaving in the rainstorm to go to town, carrying an umbrella and making the jump over the railing and down that big step with the boat rolling up and down and every surface soaking wet. 

We liked the big water of Mobile Bay, it reminds us of Lake Michigan although Mobile Bay averages only 9 feet deep. Nineteen nautical miles down to the Intracoastal where the landscape changes again, this time with many pine trees and some palms, we just touched the Gulf for a few miles, and then went onto the ICW.  We passed LuLu’s, Jimmy Buffett’s sister’s place and the weekend party was just beginning. We hope to go back there for lunch one day this weekend. We have made good progress to this point and we have 20 days to travel a distance we could do in 5 days, we are planning for a very relaxed cruising schedule, some anchorages and some marinas.

As we entered the Intracoastal a pod of dolphins decided to welcome us by splashing in and swimming through our wake. They stayed with the boat for about 10 minutes or so enjoying the water flow. The landscaped is changing again now, more developed but still some clear marshes and tree lined canal edges.

Nice setting

Tonight we are in the town of Orange Beach, Alabama.  The marina is very nice, with a clean modern atmosphere and a restaurant at the end of the long pier.  Nearby is a movie theater, some condos and a giant Ferris Wheel.  Fortunately, the piers are wide and safe and a reasonable place to stay.

Intracoastal Condo Boating Communities

LuLu's