Part 2 of my USA ride included a few nights in New Orleans, the quaint town of Fairhope and Bill E's bar futon overnight, swampy Floral City bunkhouse, Hudson PDQ 36 visit and night in Cocoa Beach with a couple who also does massive adventure riding trips.
Day 6-7 (600km) New Orleans, Louisiana. Excitedly took the FREE Bolivar ferry instead of taking the bridge again which I love of course. Over all an awesome day with some good roads and views and although pretty hot there were a few smacks of rain.
Road Ratings - Hwy 87 and 124 to Hwy 73 C2R7T4V7/8 then to Port Arthur C2R7T3V6. Hwy 82 to Cameron C4R6T2V8 Big Oil Plants which were very interesting to me. Continued on to Abbeville C3R5-8T6V6-8; Birds, coast, construction with some curves/draw bridges. Hwy 90/14 slab sections of concrete so bumpy! C2R6T3V5-7. Final leg I-10/310 in to New Orleans in the rain C2R7T8V6.
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| Motorbikes don't get priority boarding...wtf? |
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Awesome to see dolphins
jumping in front of boat |
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| in the middle of the pack |
Along the Bolivar Peninsula.
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| Bolivar peninsula |
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| River barge |
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| Big Oil |
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| back to the coast |
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| Near Port Arthur |
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| A few uncalculated construction stops |
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| Small town USA Highschool |
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| A little break in a bird haven |
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| Draw Bridge! |
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| Still pretty warm 35 deg C |
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| Rain coming? |
A very calm and interesting stop for gas, shelter from rain and a chat with Old Joe about 5 minutes before Abbeville.
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| Hopefully no more rain |
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| Slab pavement |
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| jail em up |
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| 4 motors! |
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| Free air and water!!! I miss the old world |
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| at 120 km/hr taking this photo with jet landing |
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| Rain got me |
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| Bike will have to live on the street in N.O. |
A few nights in the colourful New Orleans to get a taste of the famous town. I think the Big Easy has since left this place after Katrina and Covid. Most bars had a 1 drink minimum per set of music, cover charges and of course lots of street people and homeless. It felt rude and rough, but maybe that's what you get when you stay away from the over priced Bourbon Street. Good to see New Orleans to get a feel and taste of it. Had Jambalaya at Melba's which has been around for a while ($18 usd for 1 litre of jambalaya seemed pricy for a fast food type restaurant). Had a few drinks in Tiki Bar, Voodoo Tavern, and Turtle Bay. French fries everywhere in Southern US. Also, bring cash as you pay a fee to use debit machines in bars and shops.
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Great apartment for only $65usd
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Apartment was 15 min to
Frenchman Street |
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| Free food for the street people |
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| Amazing artwork and colours |
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| Lola bar?? what is this place |
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| Walk to Frenchman street |
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| $20 Rice and beans w Sausage |
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| Frenchman Street |
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New Orleans also famous for
voodoo |
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| Cafe du Monde |
I could have walked further, but Bourbon Street was right there and I thought better to start going back in the direction of my place for a little pub crawl since it was already going to be a 7 km round trip walk.
Street music
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| Bourbon Street |
Bar live acid jazz on Frenchman Street
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| Bourbon Street Beatles Photo |
Day 7, Rainy and Relaxing.
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| $18 usd...hmm |
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| Interesting fire hydrant |
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| More Street Jazz |
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| Voodoo Tavern was a good spot, Oilers win in OT |
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| Tasty loaded fries |
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| Turtle Bay, $16 steak! |
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Guitar repacked and ready for
Rain! |
Day 8 (750km)
Fairhope, Alabama. Left the Big Easy heading East towards my Florida target with a stop along the way at a halfway point after finishing Louisiana and crossing Mississippi where I had lunch. This would be my first Bunkabiker experience and what an initiation staying on a futon in the back office of Bill E's a big bar and restaurant in a small town. Thanks Bill E!!!
Road Rating - Hwy 90 to state line up to a closed bridge (for 5 years now) C4R6/7T2V7/8. Back tracked to I-10 to 607 C2R8T4V6 and back to Hwy 90 up to Shaggy's C3R7T4V7 for lunch. Through to Biloxi C2R7T7V7 water front. Return to I-10 passed Mobile up to Scenic route 98 C2/3R7/8T4V7 Water, Bridge, Tunnel. Scenic Route 98 to Fairhope C4R7T2V6.
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| Entrance to Bacon store |
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| Some perspective where I am |
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| Bike parking |
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| Bill E's |
A tour of where I would be staying this night
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Walmart looking like a
(fill in the blanks) |
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| Never seen this, Harlem globetrotters of baseball |
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| Savanah Bananas |
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| Felt at home at the wood, tasty fish too |
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| Sam the Seafood Man! |
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| Joe Rocket!! |
Live music. Great.
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The bacon!
Like $12 for this |
Day 9-10 (700km) Floral City, Florida. Bunkabiker 2; Mitch's place which would take another larger ride so a bit of interstate East then South to an off the beaten trail spot on the Western side of Florida. Of course using bunkabiker you never know what to expect even with a good description on the website. Mitch's spot was awesome, although I never did see the alligator or meet Mitch. Bonus of the day passing Tallahassee seeing the State Capitol. Also a lunch stop at Crackers in Crystal River.
Road Ratings - I-10 to Tallahassee C2R7/8T2/3V6/7. Hwy27/19 to Perry C1-4R7T2V6/7. Hwy 98 to Crystal River C2/3R7T2/3V6. Hwy 44 to Cedar River C2R7T2V6. Hwy 44/41 C3R7T5V6 lots of lights. Trail End Rd C6R6T2V7.
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| How did you sleep Blue? |
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| Cyber truck ...So ugly |
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| Big fireworks stores on hwy |
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| State Line!! |
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| More forest than I expected |
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| a trike state |
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| Micro trailer! Normal size in any other country |
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| Tallahassee |
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| State Capitol |
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| Pink windows? |
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| West side of Florida seemed more chill |
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| Fire or hurricane? |
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| Some older ladies riding |
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| Ah yes, churches every 100 m in the South! |
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| Accident lawyers everywhere! |
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| Stopped for lunch at Cracker's as the supermarket I tried had no food going out of business. |
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Ask server for recommendation
Best value pound of peel and eat |
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| Near Crystal River |
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| "We want to earn your Skinkin business" haha |
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| Motorbike shop |
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| Going backwoods now |
Great little side roads to get to Mitch's place
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| Ranches, Florida is full of cattle actually |
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| Hope i'm close |
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Hard of hearing lady watching
Mitch's place never heard me |
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| Ok, is this it? |
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| Cool...but is this it? |
Finally found the "bunkhouse". This is it!
I loved this bunkhouse
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| supposed to be a big gator back here |
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Outdoor shower like an
Irish Spring commercial |
Mitch was ok with me staying 2 nights so I took advantage needing the rest and was able to shoot down to Hudson (70km) to look at the first of three PDQ 36 which will become my next adventure this winter.
Spent the rest of the day, oil change, fixed a problematic light for Mitch with a Smart Switch and watched the Oilers against Florida while I was in Florida (cool eh!)
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| Awesome Dragonfly thingy |
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Chain switch broke in the ON
position so used smart plug |
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| Huge 70" TV to enjoy game |
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| Like I was there! |
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Mixed chilly from Lollygaggers
with a microwaved yam |
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Next day waited on rain
before leaving |
Day 11 (250km) Cocoa Beach. A short day over to the East side of Florida after waiting out the rain. Hot and brutal day crossing through Orlando, damn. Stayed with another Bunkabiker, John and Ger, who are also adventure riders that have done a bunch of Europe and Asia. Thanks so much guys and for the introduction to Wordle.
Road Ratings - Hwy 48 to 50 C4R6/7T3V7 rural. Hwy 50 across Florida via Orlando C2R7T7V4 so many traffic lights, 35km took an hour. Hwy 520 to Cocoa Beach C3R7T3V6.
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| side roads |
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| Staying off the hwy |
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| Hwy 48 |
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| Hwy 50 started well |
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| Then it opened up |
Why not follow an ambulance to get through all these lights. It wasn't heavy traffic, just stop and go lights... the ambulance gets all greens!
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| Hwy 520, better |
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| Cocoa Beach |
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| Made it |
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| Wordle! |
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| What a wonderful couple, thanks guys! |
