Day 142: Anchoring in Okatuppa Creek

 Day 142: December 7: We did hear a barge pass by early this morning; maybe about 3:00 a.m. The rumbling of the engines is unmistakable. It's so weird lying in bed and being woken up by the distinct sound, sometimes illuminated by the powerful spotlight, just waiting for the river monster to pass. 

Misty and cold morning became a very foggy morning, prolonging our departure. It wasn't long before the other two Loopers anchored close by completely disappeared in the thick soupy sky. We finally felt comfortable to travel the river at about 9:30 a.m. when they began to reappear and the river began to emerge out of the mist as well. 

Today's travel was pretty much the same as the last few days. Cold on the upper helm until midday when temperatures rose just enough so we could at least shed the coats and "soogins". 

Some interesting sites included a shack hidden behind trees, almost impossible to spot, a water spigot creating a fantasy atmosphere, Summer Fling driving by a majestic bluff, the Meridian and Bigbee railroad bridge and a small red cabin tucked away with a cliff for a backdrop. 

We traveled 46.5 NM in 5:45 hours, finally arriving at an anchorage called Okatuppa Creek at Mile 123.2. This area is part of the Choctaw National Wildlife Refuge located in southwest Alabama just north of Mobile. The refuge provides wood duck brood habitat and serves as a protected wintering area for waterfowl. John entered the narrow inlet, carefully making his way around several overhanging trees. Having read reviews regarding how the creek widens out after the first bend, we decided to keep heading in, checking for depth and watching for logs. There was a slight current running so we used a bow and stern anchor in about 10 feet of water. We alerted Zendeavor and Summer Fling that we were good to go so they followed after us. Both boats looked stunning as they made their way to our spot. Reflections galore! 

Nebo app shows how windy the river is