By David Freeze

  Back at it in a big way!

    My days on the lamb went something like this. Afternoon one was sort of fun in anticipation of the big storm, especially with a trip to Walmart.  Day two got serious late with big rain and wind, and I went to Walmart twice. Day three started to seem as I was too closed in and not even another trip to Walmart helped. Last night, the last one was almost in captivity, probably had the worst weather of any time, torrential and blinding stuff, with the fourth local tornado too. So I busted out today, even though most at the motel were holding firm.

  This morning seems so long ago and it was the beginning of an epic day. I wanted to go to Mobile, figure out how to get across the bay and reach a good jumping off point for tomorrow. I started riding from Lucedale, the town that gave me a home during the storm. Most of my ride was on SR 98, getting busier until I crossed into Alabama about mid-morning where Governor Kay Ivey took my riding surface away and filled it with rumble strips. For about 13 miles of some of the hardest rising I have ever done. I either had to ride in the traffic lane or try to hang on 6-10 inches of pavement, sometimes on the left, sometimes on the right of the rumbles.

    Finally the nerve wracking stuff ended when into the City of Semmes, named for the Confederate Admiral. I didn’t know the best way to find the one bridge that would take me around Mobile Bay and out of the city and open up Alabama and on east. Bikes can’t for sure ride in the underwater tunnels, and most think we can’t ride in Alabama on the interstates. So I had to find the bridge using regular streets and roads.

    I met Alex who had a good idea, but didn’t know the exact details. Then, on a hunch, I stopped by the Auto Zone expecting that some gruff old parts guy could tell me just how to do it. One of the girls offered her expertise and helped me draw out a plan. She didn’t give her name or picture, but her plan set me on a mission. I used a couple new friends to help, one the assistant manager of Riley Auto Parts in Pritchard and Luis McMurphy who worked for a utility company but was watching some flooding in the roadway. Pritchard looks like a poor town but with plenty of help I made it through to the bridge. Three miles shorter than Adventure Cycling planned their route. Hoping that all involved will read it, great job everyone!

    Before I left Pritchard, one of the prettiest and historic Catholic Churches I have seen just showed up as I followed my route. Famous train engineer Casey Jones was baptized here in this church.

    Up and over the bridge including those views of the bay and the battleship USS Alabama’s Historical Park went fast and was very enjoyable.

    Riding through what I think was Daphne was nice enough but very hilly. I had planned about 70 miles to make Loxley, probably the last town for me in Alabama. It took 69.37. I’m not always that close.

    The final adventure happened here in town. I sort of had a room reserved by name, which I do a lot. I called this afternoon and confirmed that I did have a room. The owner put me in a smaller motel building, back about a quarter mile a way toward town. This one will make my second entry into the crappy motel list. So I called the owner back at the main place and had an argument. In an agreement, I am only marginally happy with, I got one of the best rooms of the trip in another entirely separate building. Look for the details in the book.

      So, tomorrow, I should head into Florida early and rejoin the Adventure Cycling course mostly for the rest of the trip. I have to do a little sideways pedaling and then want to knock out the final part of sixth series of maps.

    Let me hold off on mileage remaining until the end of day tomorrow and we’ll have a better idea. A good day! Thanks for those prayers, as always!