Memsahib's Voyage

The bad news is that Memsahib is going in for open heart surgery tomorrow, since extensive tests (that even required sending the injectors and oil to Tuscaloosa for analysis) have shown that the severe knocking we experienced coming in to the marina is down in the bottom of one of the cylinders.  That means to get to it we have to pull the engine, and that means we have to pull the boat and live on land until it’s fixed.

The good news is that there couldn’t possibly be a better time to be in Demopolis than this, since the “Christmas on the River” celebration is going on all around us.  Demopolis means “City of the People” and there were 40,000 of them in this little town over the weekend for three great events:  the Alabama State Barbecue Championships Friday night, the Christmas on the River Parade on Saturday and the “Floats that Float” Nautical Parade and fireworks last night.

A bit more on each below, but the most amazing thing is that with thousands of people lining the riverbank waiting for the nautical parade last night, the floats all ready to go, and the fireworks all programmed up, the organizers (wisely) decided to postpone the whole thing SINCE GEORGIA WAS LEADING ALABAMA in the SEC conference championship.  Only when Alabama had pulled ahead and won were the floats released down the river.  We were on the barge fuel dock right in the heart of the action and could hear 5,000 TVs in RVs and 10,000 radios in pickup trucks playing the game.  As Alabama would score, huge roars would echo up and down the river and every horn that could be blown was. ROLL TIDE!!

Alabama State Barbecue Championships

How’s this for a deal — all the barbecue and beans you can eat and all the Bud you can drink, plus a great band plus autographis from the Alabama Gang (NASCAR racers) — for $5.  This was a sort of combination community picnic, national level barbecue contest and corporate event rolled into one.  The free barbecue was produced locally and was fabulous, but all the local businesses and corporations hired the top-level barbecue teams and had invitation-only corporate tents. Barbecueing is almost as big here as bass fishing, and the equipment arms race is incredible.

Here’s the deal — if you are sober enough to haul your ID out, you get a beer

Nothing is real subtle in the championship barbecue world

Dozier Hardware corporate tent — reminds me of either the Masters or US Open, can’t recall which

My nephew is a manager with Rock Tenn, but was there a ticket to their fancy/smansy corporate tent waiting for me? But noooooo…

Didn’t know Peterbilt made barbceue trucks — note portable TV dish to watch Alabama game

No comment

Barbecuing is hard, hot work so you need your comforts

Championship level barbecue support vehicles are loaded with sponsor stickers like NASCAR racers

Christmas on the River Parade

I rode my bike over to town thinking in a town of 8,000 the Christmas parade would last 20 minutes.  It was huge — thousands of people, a parade route that stretched through half the county and floats that looked like they had been worked on for months.  Great floats, great Christmas music, cool old vehicles, Southern belles — I love a parade!!

Santa flies over a minature Demopolis

Cute float — one of about 50 from a town with a population of about 8,000

Christmas on the River Queen and Her Court

Nice float by the Methodists, but the REALLY BIG church in the background is the First Baptist

I believe this is the Demopolis Junior Miss candidate. Bad picture, but looks like a winner to me.

Particpants throw candy and beads just like Mardi Gras

Did I mention that we’re in the South?

“Floats that Float” Nautical Parade and Fireworks

This is a really unique parade on the river featuring lighted barges with all kinds of Christmas themes that are pulled up and down the river fight in front of town.  While they go by, fireworks shoot off in the background, then at the parade’s end they really let loose with a great display that shoots right over the water.  Needless to say, from the Marina we had a great view.

Float that floats

Fireworks over water are on my list of the 10 great things in life right up there with World Peace, Chocolate and Mount Gay Rum

My guess is somebody on the other side was casting for bass