Days 171

Kingfisher Bay Marina Demopolis, AL - Bashi Creek Anchorage, AL

Start 6:25 AM
End 3:30 PM
Underway 8:05 Hours
Distance 61 miles
Total Miles on Trip 3548
Av Speed 7.6 knots
Locks 1
Weather Sunny , 73 Degrees, Wind 3 Knts SW

I was "elected" to call the lockmaster for our departure. I was worried that we were going to have a problem with lockmaster. At 5:30am, I walked to the end of the dock to make sure the fog was not to heavy to leave. From the dock I could see out of the marina and across the river. There was fog but it was light at low on the river. I called the lockmaster and he was as easy to deal with as all of the other lockmaster. I asked him if there were any tows coming, and if seven of us could lock through around 7am. No problem, just let everyone know there is some fog at lock to take our time and be careful. He asked me to "remind" everyone the lock was on the left side of the river. Yesterday in the fog some of the loopers went to the right side towards the dam.

By 7:10 everyone was in the locked and the lock doors were closing. There was fog on the way to the lock some of it heavy but it was easy and beautiful ride to the lock. The lock dropped us down 48 feet and right out of the fog. (Watch the video of the lock opening, on the video page).

Leaving the lock we traveled 58 miles to the Bashi Creek Anchorage. From Demopolis to the next marina (Bobby's Fishcamp) is almost 90 miles. Much farther than we want to travel in a day. There are also not a lot of places to anchor in this section.

Bashi Creek is an interesting anchorage. It is a 50 foot wide tree lined creek. The trees hang over the creek, in some places leaving you less than 20 feet of usable creek. I would never have imagined taking my boat in here, other than all the guides list and describe it. Mark and Karen (Kay Dee) went in first. They anchored, and then they tied the stern of their boat to a tree hanging over the creek. This would keep them from swing back and forth and possible hitting the bank. Know it was too narrow for me to turn around in the creek, I back the boat in for ¼ mile and rafted off Kay Dee. I did not want to have to back out in the morning in case there was fog.

Tomorrow we head to Bobby's Fishcamp.