Day 4:  Mobile, Alabama (Free Day)
 
Today was all about the South.  We spent the afternoon tooling around Battlefield Memorial Park where we went aboard the USS Alabama, a World War II era battleship as well as the USS Drum, a WWII diesel electric submarine.  The views from the tower and the deck of the USS Alabama were wonderful. The B52 Bomber and the SR71 Blackbird were also awesome sites alongside hundreds of Harley Davidson’s.  At the conclusion of our sightseeing and group photo on the banks of Mobile Bay, in front of the battleship, 789 riders were escorted by police through the streets of historical, downtown Mobile to the convention center for dinner and our final rider’s meeting.  At the meeting we learned that this group of nearly 800 riders represented 44 states as well as Australia, Austria, Canada, Japan, New Caledonia, United Kingdom and the Virgin Islands.  The youngest rider is five and the oldest rider is 80 years young!  Our home state of California came in third with 66 riders while Florida brought 67 and Texas brought 68.  Tomorrow we head to Macon, GA and pick up Florida on the way.
 

A flag draped Harley, an American icon, in front of an American hero.

B52 Bomber meets Harley Davidson.

Bill goofing around.

A 16 inch battleship projectile, standing above 5 feet tall
(over 1500 pounds heavier than Christine).

Bill and Christine on the deck of the USS Alabama.

Bikes staged, awaiting the escorted parade into Mobile.