Gulfport to Orange Beach, Al

         It was midnight by the time I had checked, rechecked, and confirmed all the weather reports and possible escape scenarios for heading back out into Mississippi sound.  Everyone had long since retired without us having a go- no go decision.  Beth, basically wanted to stay in Gulfport until it was perfect weather, which may have been as much as a week!  Tom and Mildred leaned toward keeping Beth happy.  I felt we had a reasonable chance, with a one day weather window, to get back into the intracoastal before we had to deal with the oncoming weather front.  At 5 am, walking out to view the now foggy sound, I decided to stop  at the marina office to talk with the night man. We checked the weather again on his computer, it still looked good to go, except for the fog!  I returned to the boat and fired up the generator just as the night man arrived to tell me that he checked with the coast guard and the fog would probably lift when the sun came up.  I looked out the stern of the boat and the fog was already lifting.  Bam! It was a go!  I was about to tempt the "colonoscopy gods!"
     The water was smooth as we exited the well protected marina with only an ominous mild swell when we were out about 5 miles.  Turning east into the first glint of a rising sun, the fog, as predicted began to clear.  As the wind increased to 5 to 10 knts a not uncomfortable chop developed and Docs Holiday rose easily into the rhythmic swells.  We were for the most part behind the channel islands, which were protecting us from the mayhem further out into the gulf.

                                                     Dolphin's jumping in our wake
                              

  We knew it was 5 to 10 foot waves with 20 knot winds gusting to 30 further out and realized just how rough it was when we heard a Tow captain on the vhf call to say he was coming back in because it was too rough for him.  This was much more tolerable than yesterday, no water over the bow, no need for the windshield wipers and no white knuckles sitting on the floor......until....you have probably already guessed it!....the open areas to the gulf.....between the islands!  OOPS!   Now the ominous swell was a damned 4 to 5 foot wave rolling the boat from side to
side .
 " Mildred,  did you dump that half glass of buttermilk that was in the fridge, " I reminded her.
  "Oh, shit! I'll get it now. " she exclaimed as she jumped up to take care of it.
   "Don't open the fridge door!" yelled Beth.....too late.
     Tom and I glanced at each other as we heard, what sounded like dishes and food crashing to the floor.  What was impressive is that it didn't stop. Mildred had a conundrum.  She had to keep opening the door to get her hand in to get the open glass of milk and as she did more and more and more stuff kept falling out.  Exasperated, she finally came out and asked, "Doc can you turn up into the wind so I can clean up this mess!"  Turning bow into the waves helped some.  Instead of rolling side to side we were pitching up and down, but  it gave the girls enough time to secure things so we could continue on.  The time between the islands was only about 30 to 45 minutes which was not quite long enough to prevent Beth from yelling, "How much longer before this stops!" I could sense that I was close to tempting the "colonoscopy gods"!

                                                        Ghost ship in the fog.                  

      As we approached Dauphin Island, it all settled down and we had flat water all the way to the intracoastal in Alabama.   Hurray, now we could open her up to see if there were any vibrations with the new props. I am happy to say, Docs Holiday came up and planed easily at 17.5 knts.  Engine temps stayed at 180-190 deg., no vibration... and the cat didn't puke!

                .                               Ahar! Who said there be Pirates!                 

      We slowed to 8 knots as we glided by Lulu's.  This marina and restaurant is owned and operated by Lulu-Jimmy Buffets sister.  We took a picture and waved to the customers seated on the dock as we headed past to our marina, "The wharf".  I refused to pay $2 per foot for a berth and exorbitant prices for food reportedly served on paper plates, when 3 miles down the ICW is a marina with a new floating dock for $1 per foot along with an oyster bar on the premises and over the top friendly staff.
Hey, all  you marina owners times are tough. Fuel  is  expensive so less boaters are cruising. Its time to get in line with the rest of the new economy and start getting competitive with your pricing.  Both "The Wharf" and the "Gulfport city Marina" have seen the light and are given positive reviews on Active Captain, so are getting my business.

                                                   Lulu's.......Jimmy Buffets sister. 

     If you stop at the Wharf,  say Hello to Beverly the manager.  Not only did she allow us to use her truck to go get supplies, she also brought us 2 dozen of her chicken's eggs.  Thanks Beverly!
  Don't forget to try the $3.89 breakfast at nearby Nibbles cafe.
     We plan on spending a couple of days here than maybe we can do what we have been dreaming about... find a secure unpopulated anchorage to wile away a couple of days, "stopping to smell the roses" and thanking the "colonoscopy gods" for lowering their heads and allowing the final part of the journey to be a smooth ride into Alabama.