Day 39 – 11/11/23

Starting location: Sumter recreation area, AL

Weather: Rainy most of the day. Overcast. Low 50s am. Low 60s pm

Ending location: Oxbow anchorage, AL, MM 265 on Ten-Tom

Statute miles: 5 miles

General summary: Restful night at anchorage. Only boat. One group of campers on land but they were quiet. We kept an eye on our previous flotilla via their AIS signals and Nebo app. They had anchored about 5 miles upriver from us. As they got close on their way to the next lock, we pulled anchor and contacted them by radio. Exited the inlet very slowly and carefully and had no issues touching bottom or bumping anything but it did go to 3 feet again at the shallowest. Caught up with the flotilla and the lock was ready with the green light on as soon as the group got there. Quickly locked through. Our next anchorage was immediately to the right of the lock, so we said goodby and hope we catch up with them in Demopolis. We didn’t actually get to meet most of them face-to-face. One of our shortest travel days – just 5 miles. Anchored close to the boat ramp in 14 feet. Very limited and sometimes non-existent cell coverage, so couldn’t do much research on the internet to make future plans. Took down dinghy and rowed short distance to ramp and tied off at side on some rebar. The ramp led to a parking lot and them some rural roads. Decided to take a walk down one, which led us back to the lock we had just passed through. So different seeing things from land. Headed down a gravel path that led to some grassy fields with numbered posts. Still puzzled as to what this land is used for. We saw some small animals crawling about and assumed they were rabbits. Nope, armadillos! Cocoa found them very curious, as did we. Went back to boat and read some books. Tom made pizza on the grill for the first time with the supplies we had recently obtained with our last Amazon order. As we swung around on anchor while having dinner we both remarked on how it felt like we were in a revolving restaurant. We thought we’d be the only boat for the night, but one came in after dark and anchored closer to the inlet opening.

Boater information: