It was quite windy in the morning and the streets were edged with puddles, but other than that it was clear that Hurricane Ike was gone. The first part of our ride took us through downtown Mobile which had nothing to recommend it other than a very nice stretch of Springhill Ave which was lined with huge oaks and gentile mansions. In order to cross the north end of Mobile Bay we had to ride through the industrial port district then cross a very high bridge and a long causeway.
Once on the other side, we rode due south down the eastern edge of Mobile Bay. The road was set back from the shore, but it was a beautifully pleasant ride through grand old houses and some farmland. Occasionally we would get glimpses of Mobile Bay through the trees, too wide to see the other side. The brown water perhaps the only hint of the now completely dissipated storm. The road was narrow but not difficult to ride and we had some tail wind (a rarity). When crossing bridges we could see boat houses and jetties on the edges of the bayous; an indicator of the lifestyles played out in the houses hidden in the trees beyond.
We arrived at Gulf Shores on the Gulf of Mexico a little before 3pm, the water gleaming in the sun, the white sand beach stretching out for miles in either direction. Having started at the Pacific, this is our second brush with the oceans. We took our bikes down to the water to pose for pictures then went up to the Pink Pony, a local institution, for liquid refreshments. Camping tonight is in the very nice Gulf State Park.
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