Closing the "Little Loop"

Bobby's is somewhat of an enigma, I am anxious to get there (because it is just about the distance I can travel on a full load of gasoline from Dog River and sometimes not quite enough) and because of the always high gasoline price (only gas between Mobile and Demopolis) and rustic docking provisions happy to leave. As previously mentioned the only good reasons to stop at Bobby's is the fried catfish and intense anthropological experience... either of which tend to fill one quickly. After the experiences on the lower Tombigbee the trip on to Demopolis is rather uneventful. I always enjoy getting to the Yacht Basin as Detour was a resident there for the first three years of my ownership. It's a coming home experience and I enjoy being there. Arriving at Demopolis marked a "semi" ending of the trip, at least for a while, because we were having Detour "hauled" for a bottom paint job. The time spent in the very nasty water of New Orleans just after Katrina and the month anchored in salt water at Dog River had completely covered Detour's hull with a healthy layer of aggressive marine life. The green slimy living mass had grown to at least two inched thick and probably was the cause of our not having enough gas to make the trip from Dog River to Bobby's. Gas mileage and speed had been drastically sacrificed, but on the bright side we had provided trillions of marine aqualife a healthy environment from which to thrive. However, I'm not much of an aqualife "hugger" so the good ole boys at the Yacht Basin got out the high pressure washers and, I'm sure, "non-eco" friendly concentrated hull cleaner and went to work. As we loaded our car and headed back to Knoxville the guys were hard at work getting Detour ready for our eventual return for the completion of the trip to our new berth on the Tennessee River. Tired and weary, we pulled the car onto the highway and I began to quietly ponder the trip, its trials and accomplishments, and soon realized that reaching Demopolis marked a significant milestone for me and for Detour. We had circumnavigated my home-state of Mississippi. It wasn't something I had planned to do, it just worked out. I wonder how many folks have circumnavigated the state they call home? I wonder how many states can be circumnavigated? I wonder why I feel so good about circumnavigating my home state? I wonder if I'll ever do it again?