Enjoy your adventure.

In a message dated 2/28/2007 9:03:01 AM Eastern Standard Time, martybhawk@charter.net writes: Has anyone made the trip from Birmingport to Mobile? I have a 24' Pontoon boat with a 70 Evinrude. I need advice on length of time to run it, total distance, Marty Hi Marty, The Black Warrior River can be described as a beautiful river with scarce facilities. From Birmingham, your first day should be a short trip to Eagle Cove Marina at mile 348. Be sure to fuel up. The next gas stop is at Demopolis, 132 miles away. Next there are two locks to negotiate, the first is just one mile from the marina. 'Locks' talk on channel 14. By eavesdropping on channel 14 you will get an idea of the boat traffic situation at the lock as you get closer. Call the lock to request an opening. You can call the first lock from the marina since it is so close.(You may have to call on channel 16, then the lock will ask you to switch to 14). By the way, 'tows' talk on channel 13. When you buy a radio be sure you can scan these three channels, 13, 14 & 16. You will need to anchor out on this stretch. There are no good anchorages between Oliver Lock (mile338) and mile 280. Choosing an anchorage, try to find a location that is impossible for a tow to get into. After anchoring tell a passing tow of your location and request he notify other towboat traffic also. (When fog occurs, tow captains drive their barges into the bank of the river to wait out the fog. There was a fatal accident on the Black Warrior some time ago. The wreck was not discovered for a few days afterwards.) One more lock then you can stop at Demopolis Yacht Basin at mile 216. Again fuel up because the next fuel is 97 miles downstream. If you like to anchor out there is a nice anchorage next to a park at Bashi Creek. This is on the port side at mile 145. Otherwise you can continue to Bobby's Fish Camp at mile 119. The final lock, Coffeeville, comes up within two miles of Bobby's. Your radio requesting an opening may reach from Bobby's. There is an anchorage at Bates Lake, mile 54. On the starboard side, it is more like a river than a lake. There is a very friendly marina at mile 8.3 which could be a good place to end your trip and pull the pontoon out. First you have to pass under a railroad bridge with only three feet of clearance. Call the bridge tender on channel 13. If no answer ask the bridge tender at Fourteen Mile Railroad Bridge what's going on? Winter's Marina, Satsuma, AL is 3.5 miles up the bayou. Enjoy your adventure. Alan Lloyd Great Circle Navigation Notes http://www.navigationnotes.com/ Visit web site for more information.