March 10, 2013 Bashi Creek to Bobby's Fish Camp Mile 118.9

03/10:  Began relatively short run from Bashi Creek to Bobby’s Fish Camp (at MM 119, the last stop for fuel until Mobile Bay at MM 0).  Also famous throughout river system for their food, especially, the fried catfish.  We all had a late lunch (dinner) of same…Yummmiiee!  We are tied to a dock along the shore of the Camp, facing steady SE winds of  @15 kts w/25 kt gusts.  Wind is blowing straight down a lengthy fetch of the river so we have gentle motion…will be good sleeping weather as we are anticipating storms after midnight.  More to follow in log entry for 03/11. Bobby’s Fish Camp, like Hoppie’s on the Mississippi River, has been talked about since we started the Rivers. They are the only fueling and non-anchorage spots for many miles. Both are known for their incredible hospitality but also for minimal services and tie up space…fuel, electricity, probable boats rafting together and in Bobby’s case, a 1room portable building with (clean) shower and toilet facilities. Bobby’s also has a great (rural) restaurant if you are into Southern fried catfish and hushpuppies. Not that I am a connoisseur of fried Southern food but I like my catfish and hushpuppies crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. Bobby’s was just that! Bobby’s has been around for years and its exterior and interior are decorated with many commercial (Texaco, Chesterfied cigarettes, Coca-Cola, etc.) and personal (family and customer photos, local and family history/treasures, incl records of trips to Sweden to visit relatives) mementoes. Bobby Dahlberg passed away in 2010 but fortunately his daughter has kept Bobby’s alive and serves meals 7 days/week. We shared our mid-afternoon dinner with @ 8 locals who come weekly following church. Bill’s prediction of “gentle motion” held true for most the night except when we were pretty violently awakened with the ROUGH wake of a passing Tow. I found myself questioning if our lines would really hold tight. They did and subsequent Tow’s slipped quietly by as expected.