Friday, April 10, 2015

A really varied experience today.  Tried to outrun the rain and was successful ( at least for today).  I rode through Bayou la Batre ( which was featured in "Forrest Gump as being where his buddy Bubba was raised).  Then I rode over a very long bridge going to Dauphin Island.  It is strange to be out there in the middle of water riding the bike.  I have another long bridge coming up in Pensacola.  Dauphin Island was really neat - homey, not very many people.  Lots of people out walking and jogging.  Then I took a ferry across Mobile Bay.  It looks short on the map, but it took 30- 40 minutes to get across.  Lots and Lots of off shore oil rigs.  I've seen pictures before, but this made an impression.  When we got to the other side, the atmosphere changed dramatically.  Beach says it all.  ALL of the buildings were built on stilts or some such thing.  Raised 8 -12 feet in the air.  It was interesting to see how the fancy houses made it look kind of chic.  And there was definitely money.   I made it this far without falling over, but I  finally fell over.  I ended up riding through some sand - looked like dirt to me.  The tires got bogged down and I couldn't get my foot out of the clips.  Embarrassing, but I didn't get too scraped up.  

Gulf Shores and Ocean Beach.  Wow!  Lots and lots of beach.  Lots of fancy condo's and motels with lots and lots of people walking up and down the beach and enjoying the water.  I spent some time off of the bike walking on the beach myself.  Tomorrow Pensacola and the last state.  Hard to believe I will be in Florida tomorrow.  Before when people asked me where I was going I said "to Florida".  Now that doesn't make sense.  So now I say I am going to St. Augustine.  Other than worrying about the rain, the biking is good.  Most surfaces are good and there are no hills.  Doing well.  Til later.