Dolly's Bike Blog

April 23: Dauphin Island, AL to Pensacola, FL

After only a 3 mile ride, we took a ferry across Mobile Bay to continue east. This ferry only holds 18 cars, no coffee shop or bathroom, as we have had on Seattle ferries. It took about 40 minutes to make the crossing to Fort Morgan.

At the Fort Morgan dock, these pelicans posed for a photo.

The next 30 miles to Florida should have been a beautiful ride, as we were close to the Gulf for most of the time. But the 17-20 mph wind at our faces made it a slog. We did pass numerous bird watching sites.

Just opposite our first sag stop in Gulf Shores, we stopped for beignets – I ate them so fast that there is no photo of the delicious treats.

Further along the coast, I was intrigued by this church next to the beach.

From our cue sheet, we thought that crossing this bridge took us into Florida. In fact, it was another 6 miles to the state line.

And the cue sheet suggested great views at Perdido Keys State Park. I did take a photo from the boardwalk, but it was way too windy to walk to the beach.

Our lunch stop was at Trigger’s on the Gulf Beach Highway, less than 20 miles from Pensacola. Thankfully, the wind was reduced for those final miles.

We opted not to stop at the Naval Aviation Museum, located at the Naval Air Station. I was there 15 years ago, and we were all tired from the wind. And there was a bike shop next to the hotel, with several bikes needing adjustments/alignments.

We are staying at the Sole Inn, a boutique type hotel in downtown Pensacola.

It was our last margarita party, and Linda fixed jambalaya, to celebrate our days along the Gulf coast.

After dinner, I took a short ride to the historic and pier areas – seemed like a nicely restored area.

61 miles today; average 10.4 mph.

April 22: Dauphin Island

Sleeping in seems to mean 7 am, instead of 6 am or earlier. I actually wrote yesterday’s blog this morning before starting other activities.

Susan and I had decided to walk rather than bike to explore the island: we were gone 7 hours and apparently walked about 5 miles total. My legs and feet are protesting tonight, but hopefully will work on the bike in the morning.

We wandered east on Bienville Blvd, past the water tower.

Then on to Cadillac Park and this beautiful live oak tree.

Further on was the Audubon Bird Sanctuary, where we were more interested in the flowers than the birds, until we discovered this turtle on the trail laying and burying eggs. I felt as if I were viewing a video on the Discovery Channel.

Down at the ferry dock, we had a great view of the nearby natural gas rig, and the approaching ferry.

At Fort Gaines, we opted not to pay for admission. And at the Estuarium, we wandered the boardwalk but did not pay admission to the Sea Lab.

Sting rays swimming in a pool

Our return route was a bit more through the residential area, past the Indian Shell Mound Park.

We stopped back near our condo for a bit of shopping, before I collapsed in a lounge chair near the pool.

I decided not to join the group at a nearby restaurant for dinner, but rather ate half a sandwich and walked on the beach, enjoying the sand, birds, and sunset.

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While I should have relaxed and rested more, it was a GREAT DAY OFF!

April 21: Moss Point, MS to Dauphin Island, AL

It was a leisurely ride today, as we headed to a rest day. After our restaurant dinner of the night before, our map meeting was in the parking lot before we started pedaling.

Of course, there were bridges, the first one less than 2 miles from our hotel. Thankfully, it did not have the treacherous expansion joints we had experienced getting to Moss Point.

The nasty bridge of the previous day

Around mile 10, Carol had suggested visiting the Alligator Farm – everyone but Donna and I missed it…Nothing fancy, but lots of alligators.

Alligators grow a foot a year for the first six years of their lives. I am holding an 18 month old. They keep the young ones in separate pens, one for those up to 2 years, another for those up to 3 years, then 3-6 years, before putting them in the big lagoon.

On to Alabama, where we are following a scenic byway.

The next bridge took us into Bayou la Batre, obviously home to fishermen.

We were attracted by this sign for Sugar Rush and had to try the Bubble Tea. The black balls are like tapioca and chewy like gummy bears. Our tea was mango flavored, like a watery smoothie.

Another bridge, with the old one now used as a fishing pier.

When we turned on SR 193 at mile 35, we had water nearby on both sides. I was able to take a photo of this beautiful crane/heron, searching for food – and see the bridge to Dauphin Island in the distance.

The bridge and lead-up is over 3 miles long, serving as the entrance to Mobile Bay.

While it looks quite steep, the GPS mostly read 6 per cent. It was interesting as we rode on to the Island, to see this fisherman only waist deep in the water, knowing the nearby channel must be quite deep.

There are also drilling rigs in the Bay and in the Gulf.

These “Fish Camp” condominiums were just beside the bridge, and our lunch stop at Barnacle Bill’s was across the road.

The Island is noted as a bird sanctuary and we will explore more on our rest day.

Donna had a surprise visitor waiting at the Resort, Joey, the son of her dear friend who died of pancreatic cancer just before our trip began – a very special reunion.

We are staying in a condo overlooking the pool and beach, 3 bedrooms, 4 of us, a real treat.

Our dinner was in the guides’ condo, then we enjoyed the sunset.

After dinner, Marilyn led us in a game of Trivia, good laughs.

44 miles today.(I have installed a new wireless bike computer, but only for speed – others miss attractions because they are too focused on mileage.)