70.7 miles averaging 14.2 mph
Route from Vancleave, MS to Dauphin Island RV Park, Dauphin Island, AL
Best Moment – Seeing the spectacular white sand beach that seems to stretch for miles on Dauphin Island was certainly a highlight of the day! After doing laundry and getting cleaned up, Neita and I were able to take Rocket and explore this extraordinary island. This seems ever so much nicer than South Padre Island. We were surprised that there weren’t more restaurants and other kinds of touristy places.
Worst Moment – Hearing about all of the destruction death that is taking place throughout the South just makes me heartsick. Over 200 people died in Alabama and several others were killed or injured across this part of the country.
I’m in Alabama – the sixth state that I’ve ridden across. I’ll not be here for long since we are in Florida tomorrow.
I went through the coastal forests and bogs then across part of Mobile Bay on a giant causeway onto Dauphin Island. I stopped in Dees, AL at a pecan store. The owner told me that there are several cyclists riding cross-country. There was a newlywed couple that started from New York in February and was spending a year. Apparently the company that they both worked for gave them the time off with pay under the condition that they would write of their travels. A whole year! Wow!
The pecans from Dee’s Pecans are very tasty. I got two different kinds – one chocolate Grand Marnier coated and the other a Cajun spice coated. The chocolate coated ones – Yum!!
The island is quite historic. The French first established a fort in 1699 on the eastern most tip of the island. In 1803, it was claimed as part of the Louisiana Purchase, even though Spain controlled the island. James Monroe commissioned the building of Fort Gaines which the Confederates seized in January 1861 and held until August 1864 when Farragut fought the Battle of Mobile Bay.
The island has been changed because of hurricanes. As early as the 1700’s settlements were destroyed. We were talking to a man who comes to Dauphin frequently and told us that the island still hasn’t recovered from Katrina – much of the tourist industry was destroyed then and just hasn’t reopened. That’s why there are only two restaurants.
We all had a great time on the beach!
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