Somber

Is it better to be ignorant of what is going on around you?  Remember yesterday we took our chances in the dinghy going to Acme Oyster House, barely missing getting drenched by rain?  Come to find out as most of you know by the news, the weather got pretty bad not too far away in Mobile Bay.  Reports claim there were at least 40 people in the water from capsized vessels or being thrown overboard by the violent wind and waves.  Four people are still missing.
That made for a somber day on the water.  After departing Saunders Yachtworks in Gulf Shores, the VHF radio was full of chatter from the U.S. Coast Guard.  Multiple PAN-PANs still from Saturday, one for a man still missing from the sailboat "Dauntless", and more weather warnings, thankfully farther out to sea, although the skies were not exactly looking good compared to the forecast for afternoon thunderstorms.  The predicted smooth waters for Mobile Bay were a bit choppy.  Luckily the east winds would make it better for us as we would be traveling along the eastern shore.  Unfortunately though, that made for predominantly waves on the beam, but we should be used to that.
A bit after taking a northerly turn, the starboard engine died.  No warning.  We traveled on one engine.  Ray went below to assess the problem and determined it had to be fuel, so he commenced to changing the filter.  While he was below U.S. Customs and Border Patrol pulled up along side us.  Linda slowed down and attempted to roll up that side enclosure as it had been raining when Ray popped up from below wondering if the slow down was on purpose.
They asked their typical questions; who was on board, where were we coming from, where were we headed, etc., then made sure we were aware that there was still a search underway for missing persons in the water from Saturday.  We stated that we were aware and they asked us to keep an eye out for bodies.  Off they went.  Ray finished changing the fuel filter.  Back to cruising speed for us.
We kept cutting our usual route a little shorter trying to get into Eastern Shore Marina before the ominous looking weather caught up to us.  There was rain all around, dark skies, and lightening.  We pulled into the harbor right behind a small tug looking cruiser and noticed the sailboat "Dauntless" was here.  We got into our covered slip right next to the other cruiser which made it nice as it started raining harder.  It seemed obvious that this other boat must have been on it's first day of cruising.  We were tied up with multiple lines to prepare for the predicted storms while they were still trying to find a line to tie up with.  Come to find out, they just started The Great Loop on Saturday from Demopolis, so yes, practically their first day.
We were glad we got in here when we did.  It did not take long for the winds to pick up and make for quite a bit of wave action in the harbor.  If it weren't raining so hard we would get off this boat just to stop jostling around.  We were relieved to find that it did not last all that long.
It seems we will be here for a while.  The above mentioned cruisers and another transient boat in here both just came down the river with stories of others having damaged their boats and one having to be pulled out here to check damage to his props.  Not what we want to do going against the three knot current.  "The Bar-B" got hauled out back at Saunders yesterday and they do have significant fiberglass damage to the keel of their boat.  The rain made it impossible for grinding to begin and the extent of damage to be assessed.  That will also play a part in our departure, although we will not wait for them for too long of a period.  We will see.