Bayou la Batre

First , I’m sorry it’s been so many days since I posted last. I try not to go more then two or three days. I guess things where pretty busy and I wasn’t riding until yesterday. On Monday night, Rose met me in Pensacola Beach on her way to the trade show in Mobile Alabama. It was pretty late when she arrived and we stayed the night there. The following day we then drove to Mobile. Rose had booked an air bnb for the duration of her classes and the show, a total of 4 nights. It was an apartment with a full kitchen. It was nice to have a real stove and a fridge! We made some great meals together. I showed off my culinary skills by making garlic cheddar biscuits but Rose out did me with her chilli. It was delicious. The 19th was my birthday and that coincided with the tradeshow having a free catered buffet. The buffet was amazing! Especially the blackened steamed shrimp and prime rib. I definitely ate more then I should have. As far as birthday meals go it was almost as good as my mom’s hamloaf which is what I always requested on my birthdays growing up.

Mobile was really pretty. The streets were lined with live oaks creating a beautiful canopy over the road.

Rose brought all the parts I needed to rebuild my back wheel. What she couldn’t get locally I had mailed to her house. While she was taking her classes, I spent several hours lacing a new hub and spokes to my old rim. What took the longest was straightening it. I really missed having a trueing stand but I improvised by using a zip tie and the bike frame. I also changed out my cassette and put on a new chain. 3rd chain of the trip. The cassette was still in ok shape but I changed it for an 11-36. The wheel I borrowed from Rose had that same cassette and I really prefer that gearing to my old 11-32. So I was able to put my original rim, now with a new hub, spokes and cassette back on my bike and give Rose her wheel back. I also changed the cassette and chain on her bike. The cassette is the cluster of gears on the rear wheel.

On Saturday we drove back to Pensacola beach to where she picked me up and on Sunday I continued on my journey. It’s always great to get to spend time with Rose and it was a wonderful week!

I met another cyclist. Julian started in St Augustine about 10 days ago and is headed to San Diego. I think we will run into each other a lot over the next couple months.

It was chilly today. Nice and sunny but a high of only 50. I got to Gulf Shores St Park and set up for the night.

Today I had another ferry ride. From Fort Walton to Dauphin Island.

I really liked Dauphin Island. It was a very bike friendly beach town. I was on a bike trail through most of it.

Even after the bike path ended it was great riding. Nice shoulders beautiful views and very light traffic.