DAY 9 BAYOUS AND BATTLESHIPS, DAY 10 WHITE SAND AND STOPLIGHTS

DAY 9
Left the hotel this morning and headed back onto the back roads of the bayous along the gulf. This soon led us into Mobile and we decided to tour the USS Alabama Battleship. Didn't do an organized tour preferring to wander the ship aimlessly for a few hours, very impressive. A short time later we were back on two lane roads along the gulf headed into Florida. Stopped at a Harley shop as Jake's bike needed some attention and they advised the bike would have to stay the night at Harley Urgent Care.

Today we actually stopped at a tourist attraction and for us that is unusual. I'm often asked by people not on the ride why we don't stop at more places. The answer is fairly simple for me, attractions are great and destination rides are fun but I'm in a hurry. Right or wrong I want to see how many of the great roads in this country I can travel on two wheels. The day is no good until we are moving down a new road, exhaust rumbling, music blaring, smiling from ear to ear. The people we meet along the way from Subway clerks to kids in old pick-ups make up the sights and attractions for me.

 Hear 'em singing happy birthday
Better think about the wish I make
This year gone by
Ain't been a piece of cake.

Every day's a revolution
Pull it together and it comes undone
Just one more candle and a trip around the sun.

I'm just hanging on while this old world keeps spinning
And it's good to know it's out of my control.
If there's one thing that I've learned from all this living
Is that it wouldn't change a thing if I let go.

No you never see it coming,
Always wind up wondering where it went.

Only time will tell
If it was time well spent.
It's another revelation,

Celebrating what I should have done
With these souvenirs of my trip around the sun.

Jimmy Buffett

It works for me I don't ask anyone to buy into it but so far they keep riding down the road with me.

DAY 10

Left the hotel, I led down to the water no real directions just figured from where we were southeast would be good. Left Jake and Bruce at hotel waiting for Jake's bike with a plan for them to get on I-10 and meet us later in the day, that worked fine by the way. Soon found ourselves on Pensacola island, hotels, time shares, then 25 miles of beautiful white sand on both sides of the road. Stopped at a parking lot so I could walk out to the water and at least touch the gulf, Krys would understand. Finally left the island and just continued along the gulf with a mix of busy traffic, long stop lights and slow speeds mixed with wide open roads. The open roads were a mix of beach, forest, beautiful homes and the occasional desolation still left from Katrina. 

Finally it was time to turn north towards I-10, never actually got on it, to meet Jake and Bruce and find a place for the night. A quick look at the map showed a green dotted road right through the middle of Tate's Hell National Forest a great ride, stopped in Quincy Florida for night.

Legend of Tate's Hell

 Armed with a shotgun and accompanied by his hunting dogs, he journeyed into the swamp in search of a cow. His dogs took off chasing a panther, and he lost his gun in the mud. Tate was lost in the swamp for seven days and nights. He went into the Dwarf Cypress stand to escape the relentless bugs, and fell asleep against the trees that were protected by the Indian’s magic. He awoke when bitten by a snake and ran blindly thru the swamp, delirious from the bite and from drinking the murky waters. Finally he came to a clearing near Carrabelle, living only long enough to murmur the words, "My name is Cebe Tate, and I just came through Hell!" 

This local oral lore of Cebe Tate's adventure took place in 1875 and ever since, the area has been known as Tate's Hell, the legendary and forbidden swamp.