Tom Hanks here lately. Partly due to being in and around Shrimp Country, and partly because I was not sure I would ever “leave the island.”
I made record time getting to Dauphin Island. The island is very much the most beautiful place you’ve never heard of. Empty this time of year, which means you meet everyone in town – resident or tourist. I was very fortunately to have run into Sam and Sue from Ohio when I stopped for dinner. Our conversation was much the motivation I have been striving for the entire trip. Many, many thanks as well to Stan and his family for looking out for me the entire two days I spent.
I decided to spend a full day on the island as way of resting/recharging. While I was lucky in meeting Sam and Sue, and Stan and his family, the day off proved that my body expects to be pushed 80ish miles a day – rain or shine. Too much free time can be bad – ah – like when you want to work on you bike because it’s there… After leaving Pensecola I suffered a small leak in the rear tube – nothing majr, just one where I needed to stop ever 20 miles or so and add air. Anyway, I thought I’d change it yesterday to a fresh one…. this in turn left me with TWO crap tubes, one with a huge leak, the original one which suffered another slight pinch, thereby needing air every 2 minutes!!!!!…. honestly, after about 45 minutes of bike maitenance 101, in the heat and humidity, I was about to go for swim – straight into the bay. Finally, 4 patches later and some electrical tape, it was back to being a shitty tube that needed air every 10 miles – enough to get me to Mobile – and to the closest bike shop.
En route to Mobile this morning I was treated – literally – to breakfast at the Blue Heron Cafe in Bayou La Batre. Mr Randall Collier gave me the run of local history (he quietly snuck out of the restrauant and paid my tab without me knowing it….) I’ll describe Mr. Collier as Alabama’s greatest unknown folk/song writer/story teller.
Scored three tubes and dry place to stand for about an hour at Spoke and Trail in Mobile (punishing rain storm coming out of Bayou… water was running out of my shoes, ain’t nothing like riding a bike in the rain…) – thanks Brad for the turn by turn directions and the tubes.
The storm thatI rode through is still very much here which has made my getting to a campsite impossible. Sadly, I am forced to stay at a Comfort Inn – strange seeing a tv, bed, my own bathroom and no mud on which to set up a tent. I’m planning to sleep on the floor as I don’t think I can handle the bed.
I should make it to Mississippi, and maybe Louisana tomorrow depending on the weather. There’s a campsite just outside of Voncleave that I am shooting for.
Trust everyone is doing well – scared to turn on the tv, not sure you’ve done with the world since I’ve been out… Also, I put up a reading list, after mentioning my ever growing one to a few people before I left. It’s link to the appropriate amazon page, but you know – you could always just, ah, go to the library. Even better, go to the Decatur library around 9:15 in the morning and see Monique and Ray – two of Dekalb County’s finest…
Cheers, and as always, thanks for the comments,
j
Kris, glad you enjoyed the Clutch show – you must go forth now and spread the good word.
