Day 11: Pensacola to Dauphin Island

February 25, 2025

My chain was making noise yesterday so I oiled it yesterday evening. That makes 287 miles on one lubrication. I have been wiping it off before each days ride.

I woke up to my alarm, which was set for 5:45 from yesterday. At about 6:15 I got up and put on my bike stuff for the day. JE was my roommate. We went to breakfast at 6:39, when it opened. I had oatmeal, yogurt, and two hard boiled eggs. I went back to the van and got some trail mix, a granola bar, carrots, and an Apple for lunch. After packing up and loading stuff on the van I left with BW at about 7:40, my earliest departure yet. I had another migraine and so took a Maxalt. I think maybe I didn't drink enough after the ride.

Out of Pensacola we road h busy road, perhaps FL 98. It had a nice shoulder but lots of cars I kind of pretend I am made of steel or I probably couldn’t ride along a road like that.

We rode out to Perdido Key and down the barrier Islands. We stopped at Florabama, about 23.5 miles from the start. It is. a business that straddles the FL and AL border. We stopped for a snack (Apple and some fig bars) and to take pictures. FL is the first of 8 states we will cross. This is the first time I have been in AL, leaving only 2 states I haven't visited. We stopped a a state park to fill our water bottles and go to the bathroom.

We continued to Gulf Shores, AL, where we saw BD and the van outside the Duck Diner. I got shrimp and grits cake and they got steak and eggs. It was good but I’m afraid not performance food. By the time we finished it was around 11:30. We had 20 miles to go and wanted to make the 1:15 ferry. So, we needed to go fast. I pulled most of the way. I was trying to keep it at 17 mph or above. There was a headwind and I had a little trouble keeping my power above 120. With about 4 miles to go I saw JW and that gave me a goal to aim for. We made it with 30 min to spare. We did not ride on the coyote path. It was a bit twisty and there were lots of people on it. The chain sounded good.

When we arrived we found that the van couldn’t go on the ferry because it was too long. It seems in the offseason they only use a smaller ferry. I debated taking the next ferry but most people were going so I decided to take the 1:45. The ferry captain then said that a clutch was bad and there would be no later ferry and no cars on that one. Seven of us got on with no cars. BD picked up AK, JF and DS and drove around. It is now 5:15 and they aren’t here yet. There are no-see-ums outside and it is getting cold. Looks like another adventure.

AH decided to order pizza since they wouldn't get here until 6:10, and he asked us to do it. JE tried calling the pizza place, but they didn't answer. So, he and I rode down. We got there about 5:40. It took a while for someone to take our order. They don't seem to be in a hurry. The pizza wasn't going to be ready until about 6:30, so they brought the van to the campground and then BD went out to get the pizza. I chose to camp near an electrical poll so I could charge things. I was able to set up my tent, plug stuff in to charge, and get stuff ready for a shower by the time the pizza arrived. I chugged a bottle and a half of water plus a seltzer that a lady came and gave us when she heard our story.

We had pizza, salad, and pistachio pudding with fresh cut strawberries. I had plenty to eat. I guess that with all the snacks and my lunch that it was not a net calorie deficit today.

Tomorrow we have a short day: less than 50 miles. We end up in Gautier, MS. Thursday we have an almost 80 mile ride to Slidel, where we spend our rest day.

Today's ride: 56 miles (90 km)
Total: 546 miles (879 km)

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