Riding the Gulf Coast

The white, sandy beaches of the Gulf Coast.

I have been lagging on the updates lately and have some catching up to do. I apologize to anyone who has been kept waiting. I am writing this only a couple days away from the start of the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. Looking back on my ride through the Gulf I am real happy with it. Seeing a new part of the country/world is always satisying whether the place is astoundingly beautiful or not. Also, spending a couple days riding along the white, sandy beaches of the Mississipi coast I got enough salty air to tide me over the next couple months. It only took me a couple days to get to Mobile, Alabama from New Orleans even though I tried to drag the miles out a bit. I made an effort to be in the right place at the right time for some severe weather that was heading my way and it worked out pretty well.

I left New Orleans on highway 90, which parallels the Gulf Coast most of the way through Mississsippi and into Alabama, before it cuts Northeast to Mobile. Riding at first, through swamplands and intertidal lakes East of New Orleans and then eventually through the numerous beach towns and port cities along the coast. Some of the spots in Mississippi I stopped and explored included; Bay St. Louis, Pass Christian, Gulfport, and Biloxi.

My first night back on the road I camped in an empty lot across from ocean. A parcel of land, that before Hurricane Katrina was probably home to an expensive beach front mansion. Much to my suprise the devastation from the hurricane is still evident in some areas, and although debris was cleaned up years ago–empty lots, foundations, broken piers, and some totaled boats still remain. In addition to camping on the beach one night I also got to spend a complimentary night (thanks to the kind lady working at the entrance) in Shepards State Park at a real campground... what a treat. The meandering rivers, swampland, and pine trees of the state park provided for some nice hiking and as a bonus the rain that was supposed to show up that night delayed itself for another day. From the Alabama stateline onward I lost sight of the ocean and started a ride through rolling hills and farmland towards Mobile. Once in Mobile, I tried to get through the city as fast as I could. Having no contacts in a big city is kind of ovewhelming and Mobile was not very bicycle friendly so the riding was stressful. The conclusion of my Gulf Coast ride saw me making it just North of Mobile, where I spent a couple days hunkered down in Satsuma City trying to stay dry and out of the way of any tornados. More to come on this soon.

Riding just east of New Orleans, towards the Mississippi stateline through neighborhoods of very tall houses.

My favorite state welcome sign yet. Thank you Mississippi.

The rumors were true. Entering Mississippi I was greeted by lots of pine trees and more swamp-lined roadways.

Hanging-out in Bay St. Luis, MS. A neat little beach town that I might go as far as to call the Santa Cruz, CA of Mississippi.

Playing a tune at the beach amoung remnants of Hurricane Katrina in Pass Christian, MS.

Borrowed this empty lot for night in Pass Christian. Not far from my tent there was an old foundation, one framed wall and some plumbing, a little eerie, but no one bothered me.

The rig is still rolling smooth, although it makes some awful noises every once in a while.

Almost got eaten by this shark in Biloxi, MS.

Camping amoung pine trees in Shepards State Park. Showing up at this place I was told the cheapest I could camp for was 13 bucks. After answerig some inquiries about my trip the state ranger was apparently so blown away by my camping and riding methods, she came running after me as I was leaving and gave me a free night in the camp ground.