We were planning to push through from Pickwick Lake to Mobile, AL in one stretch. Well, multiple days, but contiguous days. We have thoroughly enjoyed the Inland Rivers section of the Loop, but we are ready to move into the Gulf.

We have read different sample itineraries that have the trip taking from five to twelve days. We need to make it in seven or eight. The main problem is not the distance. Our Dash can cover the 448 miles from Aqua Harbor to Mobile in four days without breaking a sweat… if it weren’t for the twelve locks.

We had planned to leave on Saturday morning, but with a light afternoon on Friday, we decided to throw off the bowlines early and get a head start. We figured we could at least make it 34 miles to the Five Fingers anchorage before the Whitten Lock for the night.

The first three locks on this path work in conjunction. They are pretty close together and there isn’t anywhere to stop in between them. If you plan to go through the first one, you need to plan to make it through all three. In our case, we didn’t want to travel after sunset. Fortunately, the three Lock Masters coordinate and will generally let you know if you can make it through all three or not in your allotted time.

We pulled out of Aqua on a cold, rainy afternoon and made our way south. We made good time past Goat Island, through the ditch, and into Bay Springs Lake. I called the Whitten Lock and he said that he could get us right in. That would put us going through the final lock at about 5 PM – an hour before sunset – and only four miles from Midway Marina. Let’s go!

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We went through the Whitten Lock without any issues other than the cold and wet. We went five miles and the Montgomery Lock was ready for us. After leaving the Montgomery Lock, we went the Rankin Lock about eight miles later. All told, it took us three hours to navigate all three locks and we exited Rankin at 1655.

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For the last little stretch, we decided to get up on plane for a little while to blow out the soot. Also, we were just cold and wet and wanted to get there as soon as we could.

Midway Marina has an interesting approach. The marina is on the left descending bank and there is a lot of timber in the water just to the north. You have to make a 90 degree turn out of the channel and stay close to the markers. We came in, went around to the inside of the long dock, and nestled into our spot.

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After checking in, we walked up the hill and enjoyed some shrimp and grits at Guy’s Place on the Water. Our head start ended up being 56.6 miles and three locks. That’s a pretty good head start!