Day 207 Feb 22, 2017 Daphne (Mobile) to Tillman's Corner AL

The "plan" was to go to Tillman's Corner yesterday, Biloxi Mississippi today, Slidell Louisiana the day after, and arrive in New Orleans on Friday the 25th. Since the route to Tillman's was only 27 miles and it was raining, we decided to leave around 11AM. The closer we got to the appointed hour, the less appealing the plan became. Twenty-seven mile is not a long day, but it would still be riding in the pouring rain for the better part of 3 hours. Yuck. Time to revise. We called the hotels in Tillman's Corner and Biloxi and moved our reservations back 24 hours.

With time on our hands, I decided we better look for a hotel in New Orleans. Easier said than done. Many hotels were sold out because of Mardi Gras, and the lowest price tag for those that were left was about $385- per day. A bit out of our range, so I began searching out of town places. Unfortunately, there is not a lot around New Orleans. With exception of hotels with reviews that described dirty, roach and bedbug infested room, there was nothing closer than Slidell, 30 miles away. After researching many what if we.... scenarios, we found a place to stay in New Orleans between Sunday the 26th and March 1st.                                      

Leaving Daphne, we were able to skirt around a very busy road by using a bike path. It actually went under the busiest part of the roads which made life a bit easier. It did however have some steep climbs and sharp corners. We can do steep or sharp corners, but not both at once so we had used our two foot gear in some sections.



The trail was called Alligator Alley. The warning signs seemed clear. We have seen many "Alligator habitat" signs, but this one seemed to leave little doubt.

I stared at these for quote a while until we decided they were fake :(

To get to Tillman's Corner, or anywhere west of Mobile, you have to cross both the Mobile and Chattahoochee Bays. Luckily for us the bay was not a problem.

 We could take US 10 if we had a death wish or ALT 90 if not. We chose Alt 90 and spent the better part of 10 miles on and off bridges. The picture on the left shows the US 10 which was at least 8 miles long and full of traffic. Alt 90 was busy as well, but had a lower speed limit and a shoulder to ride on. Since our first 13 miles was mostly the Mobile and Chattahoochee Bays, we saw a lot of water, swamp wet lands, and fishing birds like the cormorants pictured below.

 Unluckily for us, we also had to cross the Mobile River. There are three ways to do it. Take one of the two tunnels or go 5 mile north, cross a bridge, and go 5 miles south. While the tunnels did not appear to be strictly prohibited, there was no "no bikes allowed!" signs, it would be really, really stupid to take a tunnel. They are long and barely wide enough for two cars let alone a bicycle.


The trip north was through industrial waste land, oil refineries, shipping, and warehouses. Not exactly picturesque and the smell was just as lovely. This is what I think of when I hear people say Wind-generators are so ugly! .Compared to what?, I think. I've ridden by massive wind farms, and believe me, they are FAR better looking, and smelling, than oil refineries.

Beyond the left side of the picture is miles of industrial waste land.

 As we neared the bridge, we were able to see the USS Alabama. I swear, the only ship in 4000 miles that we have not toured. (John contends there was one other, but I have my doubts :)

The bridge was quite the sight. It's huge with graceful structural wires and a steep arch.

A panorama of the river's more picturesque side.

The Southern 5 miles through Mobile was urban: poor working class neighborhoods and businesses. As we neared Tillman's Corner, the scenery once again turned to tree lined streets and historic homes.

Tomorrow we head out to Biloxi, Mississippi, a new state and one 50 miles closer to Mardi Gras!