Mobile Bay, AL, Fairhope, AL to Pensacola, FL

We depart Dog River Marina, AL and head out the shallow channels and across the shallow Mobile Bay toward Fairhope, AL (32NM). We are thrilled with the company of a few pods of dolphins that ride the bow of Independence for over twenty minutes until we reach the Intracoastal Waterway. Back in the salt and in the ICW it is a short cruise to the Wharf Marina where we spend a couple days as the wind is forecast to blow. Larry and crew get a few projects done, one being replacing our old anchor with a new heavier ‘Rocna’ anchor. A few more miles up the ICW brings us to the Palafox Marina in Pensacola, FL (24NM) where it is ‘Homecoming’ weekend for The Blue Angels and the air show is in full swing as we proceed toward the marina. This is the older and charming part of Pensacola with plenty of places to eat and drink and a nice BayFront Trail to jog. My cousins head to the Naval Air Museum where they have an amazing day. I will make note that you can only enter the base by private car or approved taxi services and NOT an Uber or Lyft as it is on a military base. From here we will continue to harbor-hop along the Gulf and wait for our window to cross over to the West Coast and the Sarasota area of Florida.

Darryl watches the approach of a pod dolphins as we cross Mobile Bay, AL

Our dolphin friends rode the bow for over 20 minutes…

It is the off season at The Wharf in Gulf Shores so it was pretty quiet and VERY cold

A Great Blue Heron braves the chilly weather

We brave the chilly weather with Looper friends Connie & Rich to visit the bar ‘Flora-Bama’ (on the Florida/Alabama border). They poor a little booze in this place as the boys are quite impressed with.

The song writers conference is underway and there are many groups playing music this night, On stage while we where there was Dallas Moore, John Newcome and Bo Roberts

Larry, Connie & Rich in front of the famous bra collection at Flora-Bama

On our way to Pensacola, FL we cross the 5,000 mile mark

A nice warm day is welcome as we tie-up at Palafox Marina. Shelley & Darryl looking good on the Independence

Darryl, Shelley, Larry, Connie and Rich at the Palafox Marina, Pensacola, FL

The fountain in the historic Seville Square in Pensacola, FL

…and a little tequila with a little ‘Butter Tart’. Thanks to Connie of ‘The Allure’ I finally got to taste a butter tart!