A Demopolis Christmas

So it’s December 23^rd and we’re at the Demopolis Walmart looking at their limited supply of wines.  We’re discussing the “possibilities” for purchase when another shopper interjects with her thoughts about the wine selections.   A conversation ensues (which lasts a good 15 minutes or more), we  hear about her recent trip to California’s Sonoma and Napa areas (her enthusiasm is contagious), and we learn more about Demopolis (she grew up here, and it’s “much more than Walmart!”).  Twenty-four hours later, our new friend, Billie, has invited us to a Christmas Eve party!   YES!!

Stopping in Demopolis for a Christmas break, Harbormaster Anna-Marie greeted us at Slip B13.  Our Christmas Eve Day included “facetime” with Allison, Brent, Iris and Rose as they relaxed in their Arvada, CO home, happy hour with David and Molly (M/V “Teva”, locals) and Van (MV "CCGG"), and by 7:00 pm Billie and her husband, Chuck, arrived to whisk us away from Kingfisher Marina.

The Christmas Eve party was a gathering Billie and Chuck participate in every Christmas.  It’s a tradition that has been hosted by the same family for its second generation.  Billie and Chuck introduced us to their many friends-- people from the community, their children (if they were in town) and even a few grandchildren.  We felt very comfortable and warmly welcomed in this home of people we didn’t know, and appreciated how we were included in the jovial conversations.   We made plans for the our next Demopolis visit!

Our Christmas was spent with the Stow family via “facetime” as they opened their Christmas gifts.  Later we joined other boaters at an afternoon holiday social hosted by Kingfisher Marina.  With 17 sitting around a rectangular table in a community room (that also houses the washers and dryers), we heard a story from Van about a man on a kayak who stopped at Kingfisher Marina for a few days earlier this fall.  The kayaker was from Nova Scotia and was paddling the loop raising money for various charities (my arms are sore thinking about it!).  Having slept along the Tenn-Tom a few nights and awaking one morning to a nearby snake , the Canadian kayaker accepted Van’s gift of his hammock (and Van loves his hammock!) as a means to sleep a bit higher off the ground and away from the critters—including alligators—that live in this neck of the woods.  

We saw this lonely white egret along the Tenn-Tom.  It would fly ahead of Velsignet, then stop and wait so we could catch up him before flying ahead of us again.  This bird did this for almost 4 miles until he was joined other egrets in ushering us into Kingfisher Marina.

The skyline of Demopolis, a town of approximately 8,000.

This lighted Christmas Tree towers in the air and, according to Billie, has been part of the Demopolis Christmas decor since she was a little girl.

We arrived at the Christmas party greeted by Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

This is a poor picture that doesn't show the number of folks at the party, but you can see how inter-generational it was.

There was a table of good eats at the party thanks to the hosts and their friends and neighbors who contributed to the buffet.

Meet Chuck and Billie Reynolds!

We left Demopolis the day after Christmas and anchored on Bashi Creek, off the Tombigbee River. 
There was a beautiful sunset.

Another photo of the river and sunset.  If you look closely, there's an approaching tug and barge.

This is our 7-year-old granddaughter, Astri, who is happy about the skateboard and helmet she got for Christmas!

This is our 8-year-old granddaughter, Rose, who is liking her new book we gave her for Christmas!

And this is our Long Lake neighbor, Silas, whose enthusiasm (and blue eyes and fun personality) makes us smile!