Dauphin Island to Milton FL (by bicycle, boat, and Al-mobile)

When I got up in the morning, the high winds caused Mike and Linda to remind me about checking whether the Mobile Bay ferry was up and running.  Good thing too, as there was simply a voicemail saying that it was quite breezy out and the boats were not going at that point in time but might start up later.  While I was a bit worried, I was assured that staying another night or getting a lift off the island the way I came and into Mobile (the alternative to the ferry, which adds another 20-40 miles depending on how you do it) were both options.  It mean that I got to enjoy a relaxing breakfast with two fine folks and spend more time talking.  While the scenery is beautiful and Nancy's saddle comfortable (kidding), that's the part of this trip that I have been enjoying the most.  Just chatting.  I was especially happy when Mike and Linda broached topics such as healthcare, politics, and gun laws because while I am really curious and enjoy sharing human experiences and views from both sides of the border, I tend to be hesitant to ask such heavy questions as a sort-of-stranger-now-friend generously hands me breakfast after a great night's sleep in their home.  The ferry did start running and I packed up my things (along with a ziplock filled with tasty roasted almonds and seeds at Mike's insistence) and loaded up Nancy to ride down to the docks.  All in all, a truly lovely morning.

While I didn't have enough time to do it justice, I had a few minutes to walk around the Estuarine boardwalk before going to the ferry docks.  The Estuarine is an estuary intepretive centre with both indoor and outdoor portions.  Mike volunteers there, and I was pleased to get the chance to learn some of the birds and plants that I keep seeing around here.

The ferry!  It is here!

Sackville Love

Dauphin Island from the ferry.  They have a great paved bike path across the island and, if Mike and Linda are any indication, it is brimming with friendliness and hospitality.

Me having a nap on the ferry, all bundled up.  

Nancy having a nap on the ferry as the seas were rather rough.  It was just us and two cars on the 18ish passenger vessel.

I got off the ferry and, a bit stunned from a quick wake up from my nap in the sun, rode over to the restrooms to change into cycling gear and get my thoughts together.  As I walked back over to Nancy, I noticed two loaded cyclists riding onto the ferry and was trying to figure out how I missed seeing them when I disembarked.  Mulling this over and looking at my map, along walked a friendly looking fellow: "You must be on the Southern Tier.  Where are you headed to?"  Interesting.  It seems he knew what he was talking about in terms of American Cycle Touring Route Lingo.  Al introduced himself and, when we realized we were both WarmShower-ites he gave me a card and told me to give a call when I headed through Milton, about two day's ride.  I mentioned that I was mulling over when to take a rest day in the next few, he mentioned bad weather, offered a ride back to his place in Milton in the truck (from which the two cyclists had just unloaded from and dashed onto the boat), and gave me a chance to mull it over.  I had noticed the night before that there was a lack of WarmShowers hosts past Milton, an ugly weather system of thunderstorms and headwinds, and had been planning to hope the answer would come to me during my ride towards Orange Beach and Pensacola.  I figured that while I was looking forward to that day of cycling, camping in a thunderstorm and fighting headwinds did not sound like the best of times, so we loaded Nancy into the truck and headed to Milton.

Al was kind enough to point out things that we drove past, noted the Alabama/Florida border, and basically welcomed me with open arms on no notice.  When we got back to his place, he opened the fridge for me, showed me to my room, and pinned a note on the door for his wife Sally warning her that she had company in the form of a fellow Canuck.  I decided that I would spend the night there and take a look at the weather forecast in the morning as to where/when this weather system was passing through.  Sally grew up in Ontario, and when she got home and I explained that her husband was taking in strays she made us some maple tea and we swapped stories about zeds, eh's, and canoeing.  OK, well not quite, but equally entertaining and enjoyable.

I got to have an unexpected day of muscle recuperation (which was probably good after the 125ish km ride to Dauphin Island the day before) and some fresh maple oat raisin muffins alongside a hearty hot supper.  I was really honoured when Sally offered to give me one of her books, as she has five self-published pieces and is working on a sixth.  I am looking forward to reading it as I continue on my trip.  While my legs were a bit itchy come bedtime, I still managed to be tired enough to hit the hay by 9pm in classic Naomi early-to-bed-style.  Al promised an early-morning knock at the door so I could check the weather and decide whether it was Defuniak Springs or another day of slothfulness with this wonderful couple.