Florida at last

Entering Florida from Alabama along the scenic highway.

The type of houses on Dauphlin Island

April 16 - Perkinston, Mississippi to Gautier (Go Che) - 62 miles. I didn't have to, but I did, take Denise's rear wheel to start my ride today. So she made the "BIG" sacrifice for her "One and Only" so he could ride. What a Woman! We had to go off route today because of accomodations. Could not find a campground on route. Stayed in Shepard State Park and we were eaten alive by the biting nat's, "NoSeeum's", because you don't see 'um until "Nowyoufeelum". My legs look like I have the measles and itch like he-double-l. On the ride into Shepard, which I missed for lack of attention, I ask directions to the park from a gentleman rebuilding his home after "Katrina". It had to be on pilings 19 feet high to be above a 17 foot storm serge as set by FEMA. He didn't like all the regulations and red tape he has gone through to rebuild his home. Few kind words for the government in his vocabulary.

April 17 - Gautier, MS to Gulf Shores, Alabama - 74 miles. Left the nat infested land of Shepard State Park for the cooler gulf breezes of "Sweet Home Alabama" I hope. Hot and muggy today. A store clerk told me it might reach 90 degrees, which did not make my day to that point. We took a bridge onto Dauphin Island and a ferry across to the gulf shores. The girls drove the motorhome around Mobile because it couldn't go across on the ferry. The guys saw their first alligator today. Both Mike and Russ saw it at the same time so it is a wash on the milkshake bet. We are staying at a nice state park in Alabama. It is a very touristy area (bet it is packed at spring break) with sand dunes, boardwalks for beach access and white sandy beaches. We actually will be here for a few days.

April 18 - Dauphin Island - 50 miles. Today Russ and I took the day to bike Dauphin Island. It is a barrier island off Mobile Bay. It was so interesting to see. Houses are built up on stilts and access is by ferry 20 miles from Golf Shores. We spend the whole day just biking the island, again all white sandy beaches. (Wish we had white sand on Washington beaches) One of the highlights was going in an "Open House" and chatting with the relator about housing and life on the island.

April 19 - 20 - Gulf Shores, Alabama to Holt, Florida 87 miles. It was planned that I would drive the motorhome but at the last minute, we had mechanical problems so Dawn and Mike stayed to get things fixed and I rode with Russ. Most of the ride was along the scenic highway which follows the Gulf of Mexico. What white sandy beaches and high rises along the shores. We stopped in Pensacola to have lunch with Dave Flaherty who worked in Yakima and is now the Parks and Recreation Director for Pensacola. It was great seeing him again. Some of the houses along the way were pretty spectacular. We pulled into Holt late and Mike came and shuttled us back to the Gulf Shores State Park because the motorhome repairs took all day. Then the next day, Mike and Dawn rode the route and Russ and I moved the motorhome. Russ finally got a chance to drive and I think he realized how stressful it is driving such a long rig. Still the 3 H's: Hot, Humid, and Headwind.

April 21 - Holt to DeFuniak 49 miles. Last night we stayed at a really nice state park. It was along a river that is a popular canoeing spot and white sandy beaches. I don't think I have seen such white sand. And for once, the "no see'ems" bugs didn't eat us to death. The ride was along highway 90 all day but it did have a good shoulder. We got into camp around noon and had the rest of the day to relax.

We weren't long in Alabama but what we did see was really nice. The state parks in both Alabama and Florida seem to be really nice. And of course everything is green because of the humid climate. That's all for now.