Rafting

After the heavy rains a couple of nights ago, we’ve been keeping a keen eye on the river water to avoid logs and other floating debris that have resulted from the flooding.  We were told that the river down from the Coffeeville Lock had risen 9 feet after the storm!  The frequency of dodging “drift” is just enough to keep us on our toes.  We’ve also been told that as river levels recede, the trash and debris will worsen.   And so we cruise southward with caution and “Good Karma.”

“Good Karma”—with captains Kermit and Katherine—and “Velsignet” have been traveling together since Bobby’s Fish Camp.  Kermit and Katherine completed the loop a few years ago, decided they like the boat life, and are taking their 1983 live-aboard trawler from their home state of Ohio to Florida.  Last evening at our anchorage on the Tenshaw River, they introduced us to the concept of “rafting.”

Rafting is when the larger boat (“Good Karma” is a Hattaras 53’ yacht) sets its anchor and other boats then tie up tight to the anchored boat.  By rafting to “Good Karma” we were able to easily go back and forth between the two boats.   We enjoyed an evening of getting to know one another (Katherine is a Chicago city girl!  Ohio-ans are humble, polite folk.  Their son is marrying Julia on January 13th ;  Destination:  Dominican Republic.), increasing our boat knowledge (Kermit says we should ONLY use “AquaTech” cleaner for our isinglass; and wash the isinglass EVERY DAY when in salt water), and sharing stories over a Mexican meal together (Katherine offered fajitas; Brenda provided the side dishes).

We cruised 90 miles today.  We started Velsignet's engine at 6:30 am and shut her down at 4:05 pm.  We took the Tombigbee/Mobile River to Mobile, said our “see you laters” to “Good Karma” in Mobile Bay, and arrived at Homeport Marina in Gulf Shores before sunset.  The weather is cloudy, drippy, and a comfortable 67 degrees.   Tomorrow we will make plans to get together with family.

This is "Good Karma" and "Velsignet"-- Each had "places to go and people to meet" in Orange Beach.



Comments

  1. Renee RongenJanuary 13, 2019 at 10:14 PM

    Sounds like you need someone like me up front with a good pointer

    ReplyDelete

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