Cindy’s Victory Tour 2013 (Oct 11-14)

Time flies when you are having fun…for sure!  It was a quick trip, but a great ride!  Day one is accounted for in my previous blog.  On our second day we met Rob and Dawn Ball in Mobile, Alabama, which is almost exactly half-way between our two houses in Texas and Florida.  We have been friends for years, and have been trying for the past two years to convince them to go on a ride with us.  Our persistence has finally paid off!

This was their first road trip, so we shared bike stories and watched the boys talk shop.  We bought our Road Glide Ultra at the beginning of the year, and when they came up to visit during my surgery they took her for a ride.  Before that Dawn kept asking how I could stand being on the bike for so long (they had only taken day trips), but after that – she was hooked!  “It’s all about the queen’s throne.”  Lady passengers need comfort!  They went home and bought a Road Glide of their own within about two weeks of our visit, and we started planning this trip even then.  Interestingly enough, Rob also talked someone else into purchasing the same bike a few weeks after that.  We should get a commission from Harley Davidson!

They arrived bearing presents, T-shirts specially made for this occasion embracing the words Cindy’s Victory Tour 2013.  Tears welled up in my eyes at the thoughtfulness of the gift!  Our shirts have become my new profile picture, and will remain there at least until the end of the year.  We are celebrating victory!

Day Two: Our first day together consisted of site-seeing, riding, eating, and more site-seeing. We rode through a historic part of Mobile with charming mansions and stately oaks to our first stop – the USS Alabama.  A HUGE battleship, and a submarine, and an aircraft hanger reside at the park, as well as a simulation ride. Definitely worth the stop if you are in the area.  Look for Groupon specials – we got in for half-price. A few people stopped and asked us about our shirts, wished us well and sent up a prayer on my behalf.

My legs could only walk down the bottom half of the tour, then I had to sit and rest.  Tim was sweet and joined me in the cafe for a snack and some water.  We were both tired and thirsty, but so enjoyed the trip. Don’t worry mom, I’m not overdoing it. 🙂

The wait gave me a chance to smell the roses and take pictures up close. A whole garden of yellow, white, and orange roses surrounded the park. Every now and then we would look up to see Rob and Dawn walking the various levels of the ship. Even with a 200 mm zoom we could barely see them. Did I say it’s a big ship??

We were all tired after the tour, and hungry, so we rode to Ed’s Seafood Shed just off the bay, a place less traveled by tourists yet highly recommended by the gift shop clerk.  Prized fish, odd-shaped plates, netting and old photos highlighting “This is Ed” or “This is not Ed” covered the walls. Bamboo and burlap sails hung from the ceiling.  Old tin buckets served as chandeliers, and a dirty window covered in ocean salt overlooked the bay beside our booth.  We laughed about how we are “old” friends, and we all need glasses to see the menu. Rob provided entertainment from his close-to-eidetic memory quoting lines from Big Bang Theory, Seinfeld, or other favored sit coms. Dawn shared her appetizer with the whole table, fried green tomatoes with a special sauce.  Mmmmmm.  I ordered shrimp and cheesy garlic grits and after that I was too busy eating to pay much attention to anyone else’s food. I’m sure it was delicious.  It was obvious from the menu selections we were in the deep south!  I highly recommend this quirky place, and hanging out with this couple as well.

After a satisfying meal we looked at the map. It was time to ride.  We rode single file across the bridge to the end of Dauphin Island, taking turns at the lead.  This beautiful barrier island is designated a bird sanctuary. It sits in the Gulf of Mexico just a few miles south of Mobile Bay.  Our friends’ voices entertained and relaxed us through the CB in our com system.  I have enjoyed the long rides with me and my hubby, just the two of us, but this was so much more fun!!  It’s different riding with another couple.

Stilt houses lined the coast, many with a unique name displayed.  It looked like a scene from a movie.  The weather was beautiful!  Blue skies with cooler fall breezes made a perfect combination. It got a little warm on the beach, but seeing the water and hearing the birds was well worth it.  Scroll to the bottom for more pictures of this beautiful island.

Day Three: On to New Orleans, taking the scenic route by the coast, with an occasional detour for an ABC photo. We just missed Cruisin the Coast and thankfully so, but did see some antique cars For Sale along the way.

Then we crossed Lake Ponchartrain via the longest bridge in the world, otherwise known as the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway. There is an interesting story to the longest bridge debate, but suffice it to say the 24 miles across this massive lake was quite impressive. The bridge is connected by more than 2000 “ba-dumps,” or sections that when traveled over makes one feel as though she is riding a galloping horse.  Ba-dump, ba-dump, ba-dump…  Needless to say we only crossed it once.

We browsed the French Quarter (quickly left that area of town), walked through the Garden District (ah, much better), then ate a traditional New Orleans meal.  I had red beans and rice.  Yummy!!  The French Quarter was less inviting than we had anticipated.  We started out on Bourbon Street as it was only two blocks from the hotel, thinking we might find something to eat.  The air has a pungent odor that is indescribable, like the smell of rotting garbage.  While we probably missed the more attractive components, we had no desire to stay or eat there.  So we took a ride on the cable car (an experience in itself) to the Garden District.  This was a much better atmosphere, and more our speed.  Harley Jeans and T-shirts aren’t exactly the most appropriate attire for some of the restaurants we might have enjoyed, but we took delight walking the street tour by mansions and castle-like facades.  We were happy with our dinner choice at Ignatius Reilly’s, where jambalaya and various cajun cuisine appeared on the menu.  We said our good-byes in the evening, as we planned to leave early the next morning and ride all the way home, and Dawn was hoping to sleep in.

Day Four: The Balls surprised us by joining us for an early Renaissance breakfast and another hug before saying good-bye.  They, too, decided to get an early start before the heat of the sun.  Thanks to our son and Dawn who both work at the Marriott, we stayed in some nice hotels for employee cost.  Kickstand was up by 7:30 AM so we made it home in the late afternoon after only a brief spot of rain.  We expected to hear our friends had stopped for the night in Tallahassee but were surprised to hear they rode all the way home the same day.  Funny thing when you get your sight set on home – just keep on riding.  It was nearly 700 miles from New Orleans to St. Cloud, Florida!  Now who has the iron butt! 🙂

It was so great to see our old friends and spend time together on this fantastic adventure!!  I think we’ve finally found our long-distance riding buddies!  We’re already planning where to go next.  I can’t wait!

À la prochaine (Until next time) …

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More pictures of our trip.  Click on the picture to scroll through a larger view.

USS Alabama.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dauphin Island, just south of Mobile Bay on the Gulf.