Another day in Southwest Louisiana

Sunrise on the Louisiana Gulf.  A gazzillion seagulls, pelicans, terns,

sandpipers on the wing with oil riggs in the distance. 

This may not have been the nicest campground we've ever stayed at but it was certainly one of the most interesting.  All kinds of ships going in and out of the ship channel all day and all night long.  Plus we got close up looks at support services for the deep sea oil rigs out in the Gulf

We spent the morning poking up and down roads birding looking for good views of waterfowl.  Scared up a few Glossy Ibis, White Ibis and a few Roseate Spoonbills--all birds that are rarities in Arizona.

Roseate Spoonbills and a Great Egret.

Its obvious that Louisiana economy is big in oil and gas.  These are all over the place--And amazingly close to pristine marshes teaming with wildlife.  Doesn't seem like that should work but, on second thought I guess it better work.

A day Birding

We slowed down today and only went a few miles in Louisiana.  Going to stop and do some birding--this was the plan all along.  Lake Charles, Louisiana means good birding opportunities so here we are.  Louisiana marshlands are favorites for winter birding as so many shore birds and ducks end up here.  It was a good day.

Snowy Egret

Snow geese

Greater White Fronted Geese. These amazing birds spend thier summers up on the Arctic Tundra and fly all the way down to the southern Gulf coast for the winter.

Louisiana has alligators too.  There was plenty of water between us--I used the zoom lens.

We worked our way south from Lake Charles to the town of Cameron on the coast.  We found a campsite at the Cameron Jetty Fishing Pier and RV Park.  It is right next to the Calcasieu Ship Channel next to the Gulf so we can look one way out into the Gulf of Mexico and the other way we get close up looks at petroleum and fishing industry boats and barges of all sorts as they glide out of the channel into open water.  Its run by the county (they call them parishes here) and is really a great facility.  We took the free ferry across the ship channel to check out more birding possibilities down the shore. There are also Bottle-Nosed  Dolphins in the channel.

Long day behind the wheel

Early morning on the Gulf Coast near Pensacola.  I took about 20 pictures this morning because the stormy sky and the heavy seas were so dramatic that every direction that I looked was a stunning photo.

The blacktop road into the Gulf Islands National Seashore  runs very close to the Gulf and subject to blowing sand.  It looks ominously like drifting snow on an Iowa road after a blowing blizzard.  The only thing that gives it away is the waves rolling onto the shore in the background.  It actually felt like an Iowa winter morning as we woke up to temps in the upper 30's.

We drove all day to get some miles behind us.  Continued to follow US90 along the Gulf coast through Florida, tip of Alabama, and Mississippi--three states behind us--and then hoped back on to I10 and got half way through Louisiana before we stopped at Lafayette.  It was cold and blustery so was a good day to keep going.  This is the bridge between Pass Christian and Bay Saint Louis in Mississippi.  It was built after Katrina took down the old one.

Mississippi River crossing at Baton Rouge

      Another picture of a bridge--Love the elevated interstate across the Achafalaya Basin.  It goes for miles and miles over the bayou, swamps and wet lands of Louisiana. 

      Will was driving and I was looking all day, he doesn't get tired of driving, and I don't get tired of looking--and snapping pictures through the window.

DeFuniak, Florida to Pensacola

Sunday morning.  Breakfast at a local family restaurant and then on to the Methodist Church for a very worshipful First-Sunday-in-Advent Service. Felt good.

Left DeFuniak and made a beeline south to the Gulf Coast and followed hiway 98 along the shore to Pensacola.  Unfortunately it was windy and we ran into rain but we enjoyed driving along and catching glimpses of the Gulf of Mexico.  We stopped for the night south of Pensacola at Gulf Islands National Seashore/Fort Pickens.  It is the western end of a barrier island with the finest, white sugar sand I have ever seen.  The campground is nestled in a live oak forest that amazingly protects us from the winds that are whipping in from the water.  Really a pretty spot.  This would be a dynamite birding area if it weren't November--and raining.

Sun was trying to come out but it never quite made it for long.

Heading Home

   It truly is over!  Loren and Rosella moved out of the RV and into their rental car and left for home (by way of Fort Meyers) early this morning.  We weren't far behind as we began to haul the RV back across the South toward Tucson.

   The Miller's were a pleasure to travel with and share in this adventure.  It is a huge credit to their gentle and generous spirit that we could live so closely for the last 6 weeks so successfully.  It awful quiet in the "house" without them.  Love you guys!!

   Rose's and my major problem all along was finding locations where we could get cable or just plain TV reception so Rose could watch Dancing with the Stars, and I could get my Modern Family.  Can't tell you the number of times we'd have perfect reception the nights we didn't care and only garbled reception on "our nights!!" 

We got onto I-10 to make a quick get away but soon pulled off the interstate onto quiet State Hiway 90.  It weaved on and off the previous bike route, and through Florida's small towns paralleling the interstate.  However, it was much more scenic and not so busy--we followed it all the way to DeFuniak Springs where we stopped for the night.

There is a lake next to downtown DeFuniak Springs with a park surrounding the lake.The city has installed Christmas lights on and between the trees all around the lake.  It really is quite a site, especially the lights reflecting in the calm waters as you gaze across the park.

St Augustine Beach - last day time line - 6 miles

There was no hurry this morning so they leisurely suited up and headed out for the last few miles.  Even left their camel backs home.

We followed shortly after and got behind them as they came to the last bridge over intercoastal waterway to St Augustine Beach and the Atlantic Ocean.

We passed them up, honked at them and went ahead to wait for them at the beach.

Making the last turn

left into beach parking lot

2910 miles.  41 days 38 days bicycling.  End St Augustine Beach, Florida

Nov 25th, 2011

Still Smiling!!

Amazing to think that the whole thing is ended.  Was such a fun finish.

Off to celebration breakfast at the Oasis Restaurant.  Spent the rest of the day relaxing, repacking and putting bike stuff away, went downtown St Augustine for a few hours to walk the shopping streets and be tourists.   

Yes!

2,910 miles.  41 days.  38 days bicycling. End St Augustine Beach, November 25th. Still smiling.

Alachua to (Almost) St Augustine 89 miles

Happy Thanksgiving!!

We had several discussions what to do today.  Its a holiday and thought we might just take it off, but then we are so close to the end that it seemed like a shame not to bike.  So the bikers rode as usual and we went on ahead and got set up in campground just short of St Augustine.  We had previously scouted out Thanksgiving dinner options and found that the town of Palatka had a Golden Corral right on the route that promised to be open for special buffet on Thanksgiving.  This was perfect as we figured it was the kind of place that wouldn't mind a couple of sweaty bikers stopping for lunch.  They called us when they were about 10 miles out, and we left camp and drove back and met in the parking lot.  Turned out a lot of folks thought it was a good idea as the place was packed.  We got in line and waited our turn and had all the turkey and stuffing we could possibly eat.  Now, you have to understand that Will especially got a big kick out of eating at Golden Corral because I have always refused to go to the one in Tucson because I think they are just another boring, bland buffet.  What can I say--we all came away delightfully stuffed.

The bike route took them on about 16 miles of the Gainsville - Hawthorn State Bike Trail.  Poking along the trail, who should they encounter but this big bull!!  He snorted once and then sauntered off into the woods.

They stopped about 6 miles short of THE END with 89 miles to the campground.  Even the last big day they did not get a break as winds were blowing directly into thier faces as they headed for the coast.  Going to savor the big finish tomorrow morning.

White Springs to Alachula 72 miles

We woke up before 5am with rain pounding on the roof.  It always sounds worse in an RV but still, it was raining really hard.  Trusted it was going to pass over before long and it did.  Was still dripping a bit from the trees and plenty of water in the ditches when they left at sunrise but they rode dry.   They have been really fortunate and have not gotten caught in heavy rain anywhere on this trip. 

Rosella gassing up!

While the guys did their thing, we visited Kanapaha Botanical Garden in Gainsville.  Was a nice place to be for a couple of hours. 



Monticello to White Springs 84 miles

We have been really impressed with Florida's State Parks. 

  We are screaming close to finishing.  We have gotten into such a daily routine.  They say a habit is developed after 21 days--we wonder how its going to be to go back to normal life.  My first morning coffee is enjoyed from my "nest" up top while the guys hustle around getting ready go for the day.  Rose and I take our time getting started after they leave.  Unless, they decide to go out for breakfast and then we aren't about to be left behind.  Or once in a while if they have finished "off route" and we need to deliver them to to a starting point. 

  We're well on our way and set up at our next night's location in time to find a place for lunch and scout out the area.  The guys are done biking by mid afternoon--usually around 2pm--and so the day goes.

Crossing the Suwanee River and lunch stop at front gate of State Park

We stayed overnight at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park near White Springs.  Its a lovely area, full of live oak trees dripping with moss.  The park contains a tribute to Stephen Foster with a museum of his music and this Carillon Tower that chimes his songs 4 times a day, along with ringing out the hours.  Right now they are decorating the place for Christmas and we got a peek at some of the lights this evening.  The actual lighting won't be until next weekend and we got a taste of how amazing it is going to be.  Makes us want to come back to see it.