March 5

We had frost last night. The inside trailer temperature hovers around 34, barely above freezing. Turning on the tap produces a mere trickle due to ice in the water lines. We’re lucky.

At 7:15am we’re off - Gulf Shores, Alabama via Mississippi under a clear, cloudless sky. Navigation today is a no-brainer. I-10 going east continues with teeth-chattering, washboard pavement.

This route takes us over the Atchafalaya Basin once again; we’re north of Patterson where we took the swamp tour. To cross this area the roadway is elevated as well (see…). First it is a very watery swamp, then more water than swamp, then Lake Bigeaux and Atchafalaya River and then back to swamp.

Our second bridge, this one over Whisky Bay pilot channel. A tugboat is pushing a massive, low-lying barge containing tall heaps of crushed rock.

Travelling at this height gives a bird’s eye view of the local trees, many of which are in the process of leafing out. The red maple is particularly colourful; I’ve yet to take a picture of the leaves. Immature green leaves glisten in the morning light. At the 30 km mark the elevated roadway comes to an end.

The state of Mississippi … this section got obliterated by my not-so-smart laptop. Guess it didn’t like being propped up on end and in front of the vent that was causing my feet to freeze.


Crossing into Alabama, a sign announces the govenor’s name which I’ve forgotten. We are given a good view of the Alabama Shipyards and then the USS Alabama battleship. A few minutes later we are crossing Mobile Bay on a causeway. The tide is out and the birds are feeding in the mud flats. A white pelican flies overhead.

Shortly we take exit 44 and head due south for the coast, east of Mobile and Bon Secour Bays.