Causeway Camping

After doing some work around Charles' house we got on the road around noon. As we made our way west towards Mobile. I needed to stop off at the post office to send something back to my mom. Then I swung by a bike shop to get a tune up. I then made my way into Spanish Fort AL. It used to be a spanish fort so what do most forts like to have? Elevation!! So that means big hills. Going west into Spanish Fort it took me close to 45 min to climb the hill. With a couple of minute long breaks to catch my breath and take in the views. Once we reached to top we flew down the hill in less than a minute. We hit a all time top speed of 36 mph.!!! At the bottom of the hill is Meaher State Park. It is at the beginning of a 9 mile long causeway that leads into Mobile. As you may know, we don't have a lot of money. The day I got to Meaher State Park I had $11 to my name, $10 short of the fee needed to stay there. I asked if there was anyway I could do some work to earn my site. The girl at the booth quickly informed me that they aren't allowed to do such a thing. She had already made up her mind and there wasn't anything that I could say to change it. So we moved on out. Across the road was a state owned fish hatchary, we made our way up there to see if there would be a spot to set up for the night. We made our to the way back and layed low till the sun was close to setting. Just as I was about to start putting up the tent one of the employees came back to tell us that the park was closed and we needed to move on. I explained the whole situation and he said his boss had noticed us going back there and not coming out so he said to get us out of there. This was the first time that I have been denied a spot to stay. The sun was out of the sky and all that gave evidence to the huge ball of fire was a rapidly shrinking strip of orange colur on the horizion. Now with no place to camp, no daylight to pedal in, a huge hill I wasn't going to climb just to backtrack and a 9 mile causeway ahead of us, a decision needed to be made. Forward progress is everything. So west is where I went. If you look at the map you can see that going into Mobile you have two choices.

1. I10 bridge that is about 9 miles long over the water, and illeagel for bikes.
2. Highway 90 which has a huge bike friendly shoulder.

As you go down highway 90 the land below tapers off into the water and it doesn't give any option for a safe dry secluded camping spot. So I was forced to camp at the boat launch. This is the first time I have been completely exposed and that close to a major road. But I had no choice. That night I didn't sleep so well and got up early in the AM to get to it. I started making my way into Mobile at around 9 AM and that is when the Magic of Mobile really began!