Another wonderful day to ride. Figured on getting an early start today, but it didn't work. Woke up at around 7:45AM with no possible way of getting everything together and checking out by 8:00AM. We finally made it out of the motel around 9:15AM, headed West again on Interstate 10 under cool temperatures, no wind and a beautiful clear blue sky. Our first stop was just a few miles up the road where we turned off I-10 and rode the short 10 mile ride into Quincy for an ABC's of Touring picture. Back on I-10 we continued West again stopping at the Washington County line for another ABC's of Touring picture. As we proceeded toward Mobile, the clouds started to appear in the distance and got darker and darker. No rain though, at least not yet. We're hoping the front will pass us in the night and leave us with great riding weather again tomorrow. The Alabama state sign was on the bridge and we were unable to get the picture of the state sign we needed, so we'll have to pick it up tomorrow morning at the Alabama/Mississippi border. Our first stop in Mobile was to be at the Mobile Bay Harley Davidson shop. It was North just off of Interstate 65 and our motel was located at Tillman's Corner which is just off Interstate 10. Seems there was a tractor trailer tanker accident just past Interstate 65 this morning and Interstate 10 West past I-65 was closed. Didn't bother us, since we were headed North on I-65 anyway, got off at the first exit and visited the Harley Davidson dealer. Another nice, friendly store, with plenty of motor clothes and motorcycles and plenty of friendly faces. Our business finished at the dealer we needed only to follow Highway 90 West, along with hundreds of other vehicles along the detour to the next Highway 90/Interstate 10 exchange at Tillman's Corner, our stop for the night. Motel for the night is a Comfort Inn, 5650 Tillman's Corner. Unloaded the bags and walked to a Barnhill's Buffet located right in front of the motel. Back into the motel around 5:00PM for the night after a great ride of 278 miles today, 712 miles this trip, 149,604 total miles. Breakdown on motel charges were: Government Type Room Charge was $69.99 plus $4.90 for tax, plus $1.40 for lodging tax for a total of $76.29.
View from the Rear by Cubbear42:
Cool, 55 degrees, so long-sleeve T for me again today, bright-sunny sky with winds 5-10 knots - another great day to ride.
While still in the motel parking area a gentleman came over to talk to Mac and said he'd trade his pick up in another parking spot for the Harley. He said he sold his (Harley) years ago and has been sorry since.
We took a side route onto Rt 90 for a few miles - so many pink and white Azalea bushes in bloom, real pretty. We passed an interesting site and there's much construction going on to add to the facility - it's called 'Pat Thomas Law Enforcement Academy'.
Back riding West on I-10 - we've passed about 5 hitchhikers in the last couple days. We always receive a 'thumbs' up sign. But no room to carry anyone else.
At 10:20AM we crossed into the Central Time Zone which means we gained an hour and I'm not changing my watch - otherwise I'd be confused, lol.
I-10 is a great, riding road - plenty of wide open spaces and is kept clean by the many prisoners and highway workers. Much of it is barren and certainly it's out in the country.
It's been great hearing from a bunch of you in response to the postings of our travels - glad someone's looking out for us and happy to have you all following us; what we are up to and what we see.
Paul C., looking forward to seeing you at Americade, Lake George, NY beginning part of June. Are you planning on meeting with the other CyberCaders at the Flying Fish on Wednesday? We'll be there... Talked with another couple who belong to our Palm Beach Chapter this past Saturday and they'll be attending this year, too.
Becky, thanks for much for the information on our mutual granddaughter - not sure when we'll be in Kansas but we'll ride through again this year.
Billy Ray, hope your trip to California was great. No, we haven't heard from HOG either so it'll be interesting to see what shows up in the May/June HOGTALES. Hope to see you in LaFayette, Louisiana on Friday for the LA State HOG Rally.
Ahhhh, my long, long, long time best friend, Fi - no Krispy Kreme donuts this morning - they lied, lol - but I did have a wonderful, toasted, blueberry bagel smothered with cream cheese... Hmmmm, good. Isn't that on my diet??? Ahhh, shucks... Guess I blew it but couldn't resist....
We were about 25 miles East of Pensacola, FL - around the Milton area where we could see more of the damage from the Hurricanes last year. This area is one that got hit quite bad. There are many trees still uprooted; snapped in two or just bent almost in half from the winds. Saw numerous homes still with their 'blue tarp' roofs. Then we went over those bridges, the second one crossing over the Escambia River - that's where the huge portions of this cement bridge was just blown off some of it's supports and the news showed the tractor portion of that tractor/trailer still on the bridge. I don't know if they ever found the cab.
We could ride over the bridge but still could see the work going on in the Easterly lanes. Actually, we could see where the bridge separated from it's cement supports. And was interesting to see that some of these cement supports were replaced by huge, steel supports.
Crossed into Alabama still on I-10 and the sky was forming some dark clouds and it got windy again as we were riding over Mobile Bay. Stopped in 'Mobile Bay Harley Davidson', Mac bought me another sleeveless T that I hadn't seen before. It folds up real small so won't take up too much room, lol...
Back into a Comfort Inn - we've been here before - a great room and it's twice the size as the one in the Sleep Inn. Walked over to eat at 'Barnhills'. I was good with the buffet - only took the stuff that's on my diet but then I saw these wonderful looking eclairs... Oh my, couldn't resist, it was sooo good... Then I walked it off when we walked back to the motel, laughing...