Day 43: Saturday 04/16/16, Rest Day at Dauphin Island, FL

The focus of this picture is the natural gas platform in the background, not the flowers. (But I thought the flowers were pretty. :)) There are 50 of these platforms off Dauphin Island in the Mobile Bay and the Alabama Coastline in the Gulf of Mexico, extracting natural gas from the largest natural gas field discovered in the continental United States. The platforms stand in only 11 feet of water, but extract natural gas from 20,000 feet below the surface.

 Day 43 distance: 0 miles (Rest day)

Total miles:  2302 miles 

 

 

Day Off Musings

 

 The wind never stops on Dauphin Island. All night long, whenever I woke up, I could hear the wind blowing (roaring) in the large trees at the campground. It was a high wind, as the tents themselves rarely made a rustle. A couple coasters were going to take the ferry to Florida this morning to visit friends, but then found out the ferry was not operating today because of the strong wind.

 

After our late 8:00 am breakfast this morning, I returned to the tent to decide what I was going to do today. An hour later when I woke up from my first nap :), I decided I was going to clean my bicycle and oil the chain. While doing that, I noticed a cut in my front tire, so rather than chance a tire problem on the road, I replaced both tires with two new spares I had along. I would like to end the C2C with no other tire problems than the three flat tires I have experienced to-date.

Fort Gaines is a historic fort on Dauphin Island, Alabama, about 2 blocks beyond our campground. Established in 1821, it is best known for its role in the Battle of Mobile Bay during the American Civil War.

Looking down the island side wall of Fort Gaines. It is a popular spot to visit if the number of people touring the site was an indication.

Another picture of a natural gas extraction platform off Dauphin Island.

The ferry terminal was closed today due to the high winds. A past coaster and Bubba commented that a couple years ago, the ferry made only one trip that year, the day the coasters left, only to transport the coasters across the bay.

A Coast Guard Patrol boat was sitting off the public launch,  probably to discourage any boaters from going out on the water due to the wind.

When you live off a coastline that is in the path of hurricanes, I guess you build up to allow for the flooding that will come some day.

This was the first bicycle trail air and repair station I have seen (on a Dauphin Island bicycle trail), although some of the coasters were familiar with them. Pretty slick with an air pump, a place to hang your bicycle, and all the tools needed for basic bicycle repair. The tools are secured by a cable in the open sided tube .

Meet Anne, our Culinary Insider owner:

Anne Steinbach, owner of Culinary Insider, Inc.

Anne Steinbach is the owner of Culinary Insider, Inc, the food service Bubba uses for his extended bicycle rides including this C2C trip. Culinary Insider specializes in catering for cycling trips and other clients, all across the USA. Anne mentioned that another industry that she works with is the Motion Picture industry, providing food services at remote shoot sites.

Anne has a state of the art mobile kitchen trailer in which she prepares all the outstanding dishes she serves each day. We are currently on Day 43 of the tour, and the only item I can recall that has been served twice are hamburgers...and, I think most of us wouldn't mind burgers even more frequently. Anne buys her food locally whenever a source is available. She has to time her food purchases with her menu and the size of town on our route that can provide the quantities of foods required for feeding over 50 people each day. On a trip such as we are taking, that requires a lot of menu planning. She also uses locally grown and specialty items that are found in the areas we are traveling.

It is amazing that Anne, and her husband Serge, are the only two involved each day in the food preparation and serving. Imagine the following schedule for most all of 52 consecutive days: Have coffee made and ready every morning at 6:00 am, with a complete breakfast served at 7:00 am. By 8:00 am, Anne and Serge are cleaning up from  breakfast and packing up, getting ready to move the cooking trailer and motor home to that night's new location, up to 95 miles away. Once they arrive at that location, they have to set up the kitchen and prepare the evening's menu for the same 50 plus people for the 5:30 pm dinner. The next day this is repeated. If our food is prepared by a church group or some outside group one evening, that is not a day off for Anne, but rather the day that Anne will be shopping and preparing for the next series of meals. It is a grueling 52 day schedule that takes a special talent to organize and deal with the never ending logistics. Very few people could stand up to the demands and stress involved!

Day 42: Friday 04/15/16, Ocean Springs, MS to Dauphin Island, FL

 

The scene from Dauphin Island Parkway leading to the Dauphin Island Bridge. Note the long causeway prior to the Dauphin Island Bridge in the background. The flying birds are pelicans.

Day 42 distance: 82 miles

Total miles:  2302 miles

Elevation gain: 1419 feet

Map of today's ride:

Today we rode the 82 miles from Ocean Springs, Mississippi to Dauphin Island, Alabama. Last night everyone was concerned as the winds were predicted to be out of the east at 25 mph, the general direction we were headed. The wind prediction appeared correct, but fortunately there were enough trees along the route to minimize the impact of the wind. The ride itself was nice. About 20 miles out of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, we crossed the state line into Alabama. The next highlight of today's ride was riding across the causeway and bridge over the Gulf of Mexico to Dauphin Island. That several mile stretch was the windiest of the day! We are staying at the Dauphin Island Campground tonight and tomorrow night, which is right across the street from the ferry which will transport us on early Sunday morning to Florida. Tomorrow is another rest day.

With all the rain in the area the ditches along many of the roads in Mississippi we rode on today were filled with water.

This area appeared to be a stand of fire damaged trees. It apparently either gets dry enough around here at some point in the year for forest fires, or, looking at the low burn, it was probably a silvicultural prescribed burn of some sort.

At 10:00 am today I crossed the Mississippi border into Alabama. Note all the damage to the sign. It was not only full of bullet holes but also dented from bricks being thrown at it, apparently all due to the cross state football rivalry between Alabama and Mississippi.

When I saw this apparent salt water inlet, I knew I was getting close to the Gulf of Mexico. In fact, I believe that is part of the gulf in the background of the picture.

Leaving land and going over the causeway to the Dauphin Island Bridge.

 

If you look closely, you can see two coasters ahead of me climbing up to the bridge's highest point.

This picture was taken from the top of the bridge looking toward Dauphin Island. One coaster had a flat tire he changed at this exact spot.

These buildings were located right as the bridge ended on Dauphin Island. The sign said these buildings were Yacht Club Condos.

I had no idea that Dauphin Island was known for its bird watching. A few blocks later in a wooded area, I saw dozens of people looking up in the trees with binoculars.

This is the campground we are staying in for the next two nights. Bubba said that the weather forecast is predicting no rain tomorrow nor did it rain today. If that happens, he said it would be the first time in the history of his C2C rides that it did not rain here at least one of the two days the coasters stayed here.

Some of the tents set up in the campground.

Tonight's dinner menu.

Day 41: Thursday 04/14/16, Poplarville, MS to Ocean Springs, MS

 

Several C2C rides past, Bubba had a SAG stop in this church's parking lot, about 20 miles north of Ocean Springs, Mississippi. The church's minister saw the activity and stopped and introduced himself to Bubba. Bubba explained what the C2C ride was, and the minister ended up opening up the church so the coasters could use their bathrooms. The following year and each year since, not only are the bathrooms made available, but a ladies group now makes lunch each year for all the riders and staff. They will not accept any payment, and seem to genuinely enjoy serving us. This year the menu included pulled pork sandwiches, luncheon meats, cheeses, potato salad, chips, and desserts of apple bread pudding and brownies. They also provide sodas, tea, and coffee. They feel they are not only serving God with this endeavor, but also seemed to really enjoy what they were doing.

 

Day 41 distance: 70 miles

Total miles:  2220 miles

Elevation gain: 1947 feet

Map of today's ride:

Last night's forecast for today was a 50% chance of rain all day in Poplarville, Mississippi, and a 40% chance of rain all day at today's destination of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, 70 miles away. No one was looking forward to those conditions as yesterday's ride in the steady rain was still on everyone's mind! How surprised we were when we woke up to heavy clouds and fog, but no rain. Even more surprising was when we were all able to complete the ride with only a few riders feeling any rain drops at all.

The green beauty of Mississippi, the friendliness of the residents, and the considerate drivers continue to impress me. The few Mississippians I have spoken to all seem quite happy and proud of their State. The roads on which Bubba has us routed have been extremely low traffic, with in one ten mile stretch today, I only saw one car. Along with all the forests we rode through today, we also rode past some pretty lake country. All in all, Mississippi is a state I wouldn't mind exploring from an automobile some day.

This was typical of the roads we rode on today in Mississippi. It was like riding thru a park with flat smooth roads and beautiful scenery.

The first of many lakes we rode past today. None of the lakes were large, but they all looked very serene and inviting.

I believe most of the lake homes we rode by were primarily weekend homes.

This was a man-made lake, apparently for flood control. Our route took us over the dike on the left. None of the lakes looked over-developed with houses.

I thought we had left the big ranch gates of Texas behind us until I spotted this one in rural Mississippi!

This is not really a lake but a large pond. Again, note the elaborate pier and Gazebo over the water. Another very pretty spot.

Meet Melissa and Earline, two ladies in service to God at the Ramsey Creek Baptist Church.

Missed putting in the yesterday's blog:

Yesterday, Kurt Frederick thought his bicycle seat had slipped when he got back on it to ride after a short break. What he found instead was a major frame crack in his 2002 Soft Ride Beam custom steel bicycle. He called SAG mechanic Dave Moss who came and picked him up. Dave got on the telephone and found someone nearby who was qualified to weld the frame. A few hours later,  the repair was completed and Kurt's bicycle was reassembled. Dave then drove Kurt back to the location of the break, and Kurt was able to finish the day's ride, without losing a mile! That is an amazing response to a serious bicycle problem. Kurt says he is going to finish the C2C ride with this bicycle, but is then going to remove his components and dispose of the frame in Florida.

I also meant to mention that I experienced my third flat of this C2C ride, a pinch flat caused by some debris I failed to see on the shoulder of the road.

Day 40: Wednesday 04/13/16, Franklinton, LA to Poplarville, MS

We entered Mississippi this morning, 21 miles after we departed from last night's stay in Franklinton, Louisiana.

 

Day 40 distance: 46 miles

Total miles: 2150  miles

Elevation gain: 1428 feet

Map of today's ride:

It started raining at 7:00 am this morning and it poured throughout today's 46 mile ride. The highlight of the day was when we left Louisiana and entered Mississippi, 22 miles after leaving Franklinton, Louisiana. We rode for a total of 291 miles in Louisiana. The rain today made picture taking difficult, but on the other hand, the scenery changed little from yesterday. We spent the equivalent of five days in Louisiana including the one non-riding rest day. That's a little less time than the 19 days it took to ride through Texas!

I will remember Louisiana as a beautiful state. For the most part, the people were friendly and the drivers were much more courteous to bicyclists than Texas drivers. I would love to come back and spend more time in Bayou country, as well as visit New Orleans. I will also remember Louisiana for all the road trash. It doesn't appear that Louisianans have any pride in how their State appears to a visitor, something I think should be embarrassing.

We rode some beautiful country roads today. Regardless of the rain gear riders wore, everyone was soaked when arriving in Poplarville, Mississippi.

This was a very fancy pier/gazebo setup on this individual's pond. It would be a great spot to entertain guests while drinking a Mint Julep!

All the ponds were filling up with rain water. In many places along the roads today, the ditches were also overflowing with running water.

Thankfully, we are staying indoors again tonight, this time at the Poplarville National Guard Armory. This facility is also a Readiness Center for natural disasters. A Guard staffer told me this facility could handle up to 2000 people in the event of a hurricane disaster.

The soup was hot and delicious! Dinner yet to be determined, but I am sure it will be excellent as always!

Day 39: Tuesday 04/12/16, St. Francisville, LA to Franklinton, LA

Today's 87 mile ride was full of small hills; however, those small hills totaled over 2600 feet of climbing.

Day 39 distance: 87 miles

Total miles:  2104 miles

Elevation gain: 2629 feet

Map of today's ride:

Let's close the subject of my flu. The day off yesterday helped tremendously. I am getting most of my appetite back and felt I was at 80% strength during today's ride. Beth, the SAG member who had taken care of me when I was ill, came down with a severe case of it a couple days ago. She is recovering slowly after being given a shot by a doctor and an IV for fluids. It is a nasty flu that a total of six coasters have contacted.

We woke up to lightening, thunder, and rain showers early this morning. More rain was forecast so almost everyone left camp prepared for rain that did not come, at least during the ride. It still is dark and cloudy late this afternoon, and I expect there will be more rain coming.

The roads were good today but the route was filled with many small hills that totaled over 2600 feet of climbing. I took a total of three pictures today as the scenery continues to be very similar ever since we crossed to the east side of the Mississippi River.

The flowers have not been very abundant in Louisiana compared to Texas, but this pasture was filled with a small yellow daisy.

Another river crossing.

At every location we arrive for a night's stay, the Wolf Pack has a whiteboard sign prepared with information we coasters would ask if not available on the whiteboard. The above information was waiting for us today. Note the final asterisk: "*Tentfield is swampy and has fire ant hills, watch your step!"  Hmm. We are staying in the gym of Hillcrest Baptist Church tonight in Franklinton, Louisiana. Whenever we stay in a gym where tents can be set up, coasters are given an option of tenting if they desire. There is a core of coasters who usually take the tent option. I'm not sure how they are going to feel about their choice tonight, knowing it is probably going to rain, along with the potential of being flooded, and then devoured by fire ants!

Tonight's menu. I think I am up to trying everything on it tonight!

Day 38: Monday 04/11/16. St. Francisville Tour Loop, LA

Day 38 distance: 0 miles 

Total miles:  2017 miles

Elevation gain: 376 feet

Map of today's ride:

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I am taking the rest of today off as a rest day after getting the last two days of blogs caught up. My stomach nausea is much better today and I was actually able to eat some items at breakfast this morning. I am still tired and not up to snuff, so I think an afternoon nap is waiting for me! 

Day 37: Sunday 04/10/16, Opelousas, LA to St. Francisville, LA

A scene outside Opelousas on our way to St. Francisville, Louisiana.

 

 

Day 37 distance: 67 miles

Total miles:  2017 miles

Elevation gain: 975 feet

Map of today's ride:

Today's 67 mile ride from Opelousas to St, Francisville, Louisiana, was one of the best of the tour! We rode for part of the time on an old road through a swamp in the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area. It was beautiful! Then we rode about ten miles along False River, which was once the main channel of the Mississippi River, about 35 miles Northwest of Baton Rouge. With about 15 miles left before the end of the ride, we crossed a monster bridge spanning the Mississippi River.

We rode on what at one time was the primary highway that crossed a swamp in the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area. We were riding on the road the day of the opening of the Louisiana wild turkey season, and had been warned to not go off the road or we could be shot by a hunter. Yes, I thought, a Louisiana turkey hunter might consider a grown old man wearing lycra riding shorts and neon green clothing to be some kind of turkey! Actually, as it turned out, I was more concerned about being attacked by an alligator or snake if I had walked off the road, as you would have been standing in swamp water only a few steps off the road.

Here was my first alligator spotting.

Can you find the alligator in this photo?

Parts of small old buildings were spotted thru the trees on occasion. Right before this stop, I had stopped and was looking at the swamp for alligators when I heard several dogs barking in the background, along with an occasional voice or two. When I thought I started to hear some dueling banjos playing, I hopped on my bike and skedaddled!

I wonder how long before this turtle is going to be in someone's dinner pot? And BTW, if you have never tried turtle, don't knock it!. The couple times I sampled turtle, I thought it tasted a lot like chicken!

I don't know what kind of snake this is, but it was interesting to watch as when it slithered along, it held its head above the grass to see where it was going as shown in this picture.

Can you spot the snake? It actually was quite long.

Final picture just as we were leaving the old swamp road.

We quickly rode into higher and drier ground. This is a very large oil pump that must be pumping a lot of oil.

This is False River, an inactive oxbow lake formed in the early 1700's by the Mississippi River when flooding resulted in a new permanent shorter water flow route. The lake has an average depth of 21 feet and is 65 deep in its deepest part. It is a trophy fishing lake for stripers. This picture was taken toward the south end of the lake. As we rode along the lake to its northern end, the homes became very large compared to the ones at the southern end.

Two riders ahead of me pedaling up and across the Mississippi River. This bridge is an amazing engineering structure!

A view looking down the amazing Mississippi River from the center of the bridge.

On the east side of the Mississippi River we were on higher ground, and, once again, it looked very Midwestern to me. (Minus the snow currently in the Midwest! :) )