Day 2:  New Orleans, LA to Mobile, AL (155 miles)
 
Not a very long day of riding, but certainly full of adventure.  We made it to Mobile, Alabama and have seen dozens and dozens of fellow riders roll into town as well.  We started our day with a great breakfast in the French Quarter and then said goodbye for the time being to our California friends.  We left New Orleans before noon with the goal of hugging the Gulf Coast and taking in the Southern coastal towns.  After passing over Pontchartrain Lake, on I-10, we picked up Hwy 90 and rode through picturesque towns such as Bay St. Louis, Pass Christian, Gulfport and Biloxi, where we had Catfish Po’ Boys for a late lunch on the beach.  There are no signs that Hurricane Camille did much damage to this area today because it looked picture perfect to us.  Hearing from our waiter that there was a big storm brewing, and heading for Biloxi for a 5:00pm arrival, we took our leave of the coast and jumped back on the interstate just before Pascagoula, MS.  And not a moment too soon, we thought.  Twenty minutes into our interstate ride, we pulled over after hearing on the weather channel about a severe thunderstorm, including cloud-to-ground lightning, hail, and heavy wind in the vicinity, and seeing dark skies ahead, getting darker.  Along with a few other riders who had the same idea, we pulled over, quickly suited up for the rain and thought we might wait it out at the side of the road because these storms do pass so quickly.  We were wrong.  It hit hard and fast with no signs of letting up, so we got on the road to see if we could ride through it instead.  Without going into great detail, let’s just say that the 35 – 45 mile per hour gusts didn’t help traction on the road at all.  Thankfully it was all over in fifteen minutes and on the other side of a very nerve-racking storm was sunny, warm weather.  Glad that part is over!  We made it to our hotel and unpacked the bikes just in time for another thunderstorm to hit.  True to the South, now it’s just fine outside, but we won’t be riding to dinner tonight, just in case!

Bill, Chris, Marty, Carolyn and Rick outside the hotel, on their way to breakfast.
 

All packed up and ready to hit the road.
 

Only in Mississippi can you find a 150 foot Gator!

 
The harbor at Pass Christian, MS is a photographer’s and a poet’s dream.
 

Bill testing the water in Biloxi, MS.
 

The bikes got drenched for a second time this day!