Today is our last day on the Tenn-Tom. After a slightly delayed start due to fog, we departed our anchorage and headed toward Mobile.
Shortly after we started, we passed by the Barry Steam Plant. They are doing some serious building on their site and the construction manager in Fred was intrigued. It was interesting to see the new technology they have installed at their unloading dock.
Since we are through all the locks on the waterway, we are now in a tidal area. We traveled today mostly on an outgoing tide, so we got an extra few tenths of speed from the tidal flow. As we are approaching Mobile, the waterway is very swampy. Because we are traveling at low tide, we aren’t seeing the swampy parts at their most interesting, but it is still beautiful.
As we begin to emerge from the swamp, we start to see the Mobile skyline in the distance. The Mobile harbor is a very busy one. Each year more than 40 million tons move through this port; we see tows with barges as well as ocean going vessels. There is lots to see and quite a bit of traffic, but we get through without any issues. We then follow the marked channel a few miles before turning to the east toward Eastern Shore Marine. Mobile Bay is very shallow and we see depth readings from seven feet to twelve feet as we make our way across the bay. We are tied up by 3:00pm and have a chance to visit with some Loopers we haven’t seen since the rendezvous at Joe Wheeler.
Miles: 55.3 Bridges: 2 Locks: 0
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| channel markers just visible in the fog |
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| new construction at the Barry Steam Plant |
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| the old crane at the Barry Steam Plant |
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| the new cranes now in use at the Barry Steam Plant |
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| the new crane in use |
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| the new crane at the Barry Steam Plant |
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This is one of the spans of the old 14 Mile Railroad bridge. The old swing bridge
was recently replaced with a new lift bridge. The final work was done so that
the railroad was only closed for three days while the new bridge was completed
and this span was removed. |
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This is the first of the spans of the old 14 Mile Railroad Bridge that has been
removed. Workers are continuing to dismantle the old bridge. |
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| This is the new 14 Mile Railroad Bridge. |
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| two pelicans hanging out on a green channel marker |
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| one of the pelicans swallowing a fish |
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| the swamp area near Mobile Bay |
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| downtown Mobile |
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an aluminum tri-hulled littoral combat ship being
built for the U.S. Navy by Anstal USA |
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| a cargo ship getting work done in dry dock |
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| ship loading equipment in the Mobile harbor |
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seagulls follow Boreas as we cross Mobile Bay - they are hoping we stir
up some fish so they can dive in for a quick meal |
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