Marianna to Tallahassee

Today's ride was great very scenic and low traffic back roads. We saw another alligator in the swamp. He moved to fast for a good picture but, I'll show one from our New Orleans swamp tour. Our air conditioner kept us awake most of the night so Maria and I are cycling on auto-pedal. We had lunch in a school park that had all the trees covered in Spanish Moss and then it started the afternoon showers. We are now on eastern time so I won't be making any more wake up calls to some of you. We are spending an extra day in Tallahassee to do the usual, laundry, bike cleaning, groceries and best of all Kathy Pippen will join us to the end she rode to Julian and started with us and will dip her bike in the Atlantic too.

Pics: the bridge we didn't cross, the railroad tracks we did cross.

DeFuniak Springs to Marianna

Today was an uneventful day. We stayed on one rode and saw the same sights we saw in Texas pine trees, cattle, horses and goats. I did see a lot of ponds with water lilies. Took only one photo. It was a nice easy ride had a great picnic lunch again and the second half of the ride was real fast. We try to get in 40 miles before lunch and less after. It did sprinkle on us a little and about an hour after getting to our motel the rain, thunder and lightening show began.

Milton to DeFuniak Springs

It was hot and humid when we started our ride this morning. We left Milton on this grand bike trail named Black Water Trail it was very well designed and scenic. Then we were on some great backroads with little to no traffic and some old bridges. Who said Florida was flat? We had a few hills to climb it was an enjoyable break, lots of pine trees. Then we had lunch at a lovely pond and had a surprise guest join us. (Photo) After lunch it started to sprinkle which was refreshing and then it started to rain as we continued down the road. Shortly after arriving at our motel the THUNDER and lightening started. The ride today was pleasant.

Pics: Picnic at the pond, lunch guest, old bridge

Gulf Shores Al to Milton Fl

This will be short I had to watch the finale episode of "Lost". This morning at our motel we met the Adventure Cycling group 13 people. They were taking the day off in a real motel. We rode out on a great bike lane along the shore with a head wind, no rain. Maria does a great job of pulling me through the wind. We crossed into Florida and lost our bike lane and nice road. Had lunch in Pensacola and rode along the Scenic Hwy with a tail wind. Saw some unbelievable homes one was in the design of a sheik home with gold trim and turrets and a Bently and Rolls Royce and a gazebo that looked like harem dancers would feel at home. At our motel we met another group a man and his son-in-law they have been traveling about as long as us they are from Florida. He has some knee pain so said he wouldn't join us. Well, Kathy will be here soon.

Mike and Nancy sorry we won't see you I was looking forward to it.

Pics: White sandy beaches, another bridge

Biloxi Ms to Gulf Shores Al

Well it rained, thundered and lightening last night I slept through most of it. Our morning started off bright and clear we left Biloxi and road along the coast it was covered with sand in many places it was more like a bike/hike we did not get very far very fast. After crossing into Alabama it felt like we were island hopping, we crossed many little bridges had lunch on a quaint river and continued towards Dauphin Island. The Gordon Persons Bridge was long and the Mississippi Sound was shallow, it took us to Dauphin Island where we took a ferry on the opposite end to get to Gulf Shores. This particular water way had old forts on each point to protect the inlet on the west was Fort Grimes and the east was Fort Morgan, a lot of history. It was a day of bridges, ferrys and islands.

Pics: another view of Biloxi in the morning, the bridge from the top, bridge from ferry, lunch spot

New Orleans to Biloxi Ms

What a great day a wonderful ride. We left New Orleans rested and ready to roll. The backroad we took went by the NASA center where they had a shuttle on display. We continued along the shore of Lake St Catherine and other lakes and waterways. The "Katrina" devastation is everywhere. The homes that were on stilts are now doubling the height of the stilts. A lot of places are not coming back or rebuilding. We arrived at the Gulf of Mexico the water was so bathtub warm and murky, had lunch on the pier and continued towards Biloxi. The homes are getting larger and the beaches whiter in some places there is so much sand on the road it is almost impossible to get across. We couldn't get into Fort Pike but, were able to take pictures as we crossed over the bridge. What a great place to visit. We bought fenders for our bikes because rain is predicted for the future and the thunder has already started. Tomorrow we will be in Alabama moving along fast, maybe too fast.

Pics: Shuttle, Oak Alley, Fort Pike and the Gulf of Mexico

White Castle to New Orleans

We are in 'Nawlins" the ride here was great, back roads, little traffic, tail winds and scenic. We saw some former slave homes still being inhabited. Had another great little place for lunch. Joe and Jamie drove along the levee while we cruised into New Orleans. Maria's family is here and we have been eating great foods, took a swamp tour, listen to Jazz and relaxing. We will be on the road again Monday.

Pics: Slave cabin, Cross in the Oaks, Lutcher picnic area