Mobile, AL

I finally got a nice early start to my day. I woke in my tent at 6 AM, took time walking around the park, brewing myself a cup of coffee, and slowly packing up camp.

Main museum

Serendipity, my lovely friend, has once again brought me exactly where I need to be -- the Tuskegee Airmen Museum.

Photo of a graduation day

They came for basic flight training ..
and left ready fight for freedom. But whose?

The future is okay. A entire busload of youth visited on a
Sunday school outing...

The museum is in the original Hanger 1 used to train the men who would later become known as the Tuskegee Airmen -- the first African-Americans allowed to fly in the US Army Air Corps.


992 pilots would graduate from the tough program and eventually earn their wings, out of the thousands who entered. They would represent the sharp end of a 17,000 all African-American force dedicated to providing fighter jets as bomber escorts. They are the only WWII US battle group to have never lost single bomber under their watch...


Even after their heroic efforts, it would not be until 1948, three years after VJ Day, that President Truman would sign an Executive Order banning discrimination and segregation in all branches of the US Armed Services.

Cotton .. as far as the eye can see

Riding into Mobile, AL from from the East is beautiful. I could start smelling the salt air from about 10 miles north of the coast, but looking at my GPS showed me to be at around 200 ft elevation. Suddenly I came around a corner and we found ourselves at the crest of a hill, with the whole of Mobile Bay opened up in front of me. In the middle distance two long, magnificent bridges spanned the the bay, reminding me of US 1 across the Florida Keys. 

Sadly, the combination of traffic and the suddenness of this astounding vista meant I did not take a photograph.

I did manage to follow Eve's advice and take pictures with my mind.

After crossing some bridges, the final entrance to the city of Mobile itself is a short tunnel. I was so glad to see no restrictions against motorcycle usage, unlike at the border crossing in Windsor-Detroit.

Another quick check of the GPS suggested I check the Budget Inn. While inquiring on price, I find that the proprietor has a daughter living in, of all places, Brampton, Ontario. That (and the excellent rate of $45 per night) sealed the deal :)

I arrive at dusk, but without yesterdays time pressure to set up camp before dark, I take my time. Unpack, unwind, shower and step out into the balmy Gulf Coast weather. It's now 7 pm and dark outside, but it's 73 F and there in no breeze.

Dauphin Street Sunday @ 7 PM
I just missed the zombie parade.

The Mardi Gras Museum

Brittney serves me at Buck's Pizza on Dauphin. I take a seat at the huge windows in the front, kitty corner to a lovely square.

I order the spaghetti and meatballs, with a garden salad. For those concerned about these things, that is my 6th salad for the trip.

This town feels small. I'd hazard a guess it's about the same size a city as Windsor, ON. 

But in the downtown at least, it's ace in the hole are the squares scattered about. 

They give the place a feel like a cross between Savannah and New Orleans.