Day11...5/17...304mi...Mobile to Wakulla Florida

This was a day with a long time in the saddle and not a lot of miles on the odometer. I took Hwy10 from Mobile to 98 on the gulf and first, I had to stop near Pensacola and look at the USS Alabama and a retired B-52 (an old friend from my Air Force days).  Then I had to see the beaches...it just seemed it took a long time to go nowhere. It wasVery-Very hot for this Pacific Northwesterner.

USS Alabama...

a Boeing B-52...

 One of the many beaches along the way...notice the boots, I have replaced them with something lighter...

 Just a lot of beach...I can't believe how white the sand is...

 ...and of course...These guys wanted to be in the blog...

Wonderful day as I took in all there was to see...Going to head down the coast in the morning...Key West? We'll see.

Day10...5/16...448mi...Shreveport to Mobile Alabama

I headed south for twenty miles to pick back up where I'd left of on Hwy84. Now, we're talking the back roads of the south. From people selling craw fish to the bayous. All through Louisiana, Mississippi and into the small part of Alabama that I saw, the communities were filled with small churches and each one had a white steeple. They had nice big freshly mowed lawns and the cars parked everywhere. I enjoyed traveling through on a Sunday and seeing everyone coming an going throughout the day.
This was a huge cotton field that was just coming up...

The little birds here are called Cattle Egrets that migrated from Europe...

one of the many churches I passed...they were like this or all brick and a white steeple...

A Bayou...

Yummy... as I took this picture I heard some loud preaching coming out of an old building that had a few cars around it.

Here is Smoke and Curtis (a couple of truck drivers riding up from Alabama)...I ran into them after crossing the Mississippi and asking for directions. Wow! could they tell the stories and the places I should see. I was all confused by the time we parted ways ...Smoke is on the right Curtis on the left.

The Mississippi and the bridge I crossed...

This was sitting on the other side...

Traveling through Mississippi, 84 turned into this nice highway with great scenery...

These have got to be the ugliest birds in the world the American Black Vulture. I see them all over...although much needed considering all the road kill I've driven by...Good job guys...

Sweet Home Alabama...the trip to our Gulf is just about here...

Another day and more sights I got to see. The country side was great and I had a chance to meet few friendly faces from the locals.

Day9...5/15...628mi...Lamesa to Shreveport Louisiana

What a Big Day! I was loving it. At 4:15 I woke up to a blast of thunder. I couldn't get back to sleep...so... I got up and turned on the weather channel. It was pouring outside (Real heavy rain) and it appeared to be a lost cause. While listening to a depressing report the rain stopped. I loaded up...off I went. It rained on for about an hour...the rest of the ride was fantastic.

I almost didn't notice these giant wind turbines...as you can see...the clouds are pretty low.

Visibility had gotten better...These trees seem to go on forever...

Traveling these back roads allowed me to see so much of the countryside, homes and towns. I love all the small towns with wide streets. Here is a couple shots of a typical town Stephenville Tx. I pulled over to look at the court house...in the main intersection there were a group of 8-10 year olds just standing in the middle of the road collecting donations for their church youth camp.

...only in Texas...

These giant oaks were all over the place... 

...and just to the right

Tim...thanks again for this great route...there are beautiful forests that I didn't know existed in Texas.

This was a long day but well worth it...we'll see how long I last tomorrow :)

Day8...5/14...402mi...Socorro NM to Lamesa Tx

Headed out this morning winding through the back roads of New Mexico and Texas. As I reached the New Mexico boarder the skies turned dark and the clouds were hanging low as a mist affected visibility. After I had gotten into Texas the rain started...and then FLASH...BOOM of lightning. Wow, this could be bad...Here I am going through flat farmland where I was probably a good candidate for those hot flashes. Soon they were all around and stretching out over me...I finally spotted a Motel and made a mad dash. Sorry no Pics of the lightning.
The Very Large Array (VLA) is a radio astronomy observatory located on the Plains of New Mexico. These things are on tracks that run clear out across the road.

a little more of the landscape...

These oil derricks went on for miles and a far as you can see...notice the low clouds starting.

Day7...5/13...331mi...Phoenix to Socorro NM

Arrived for the checkup early hoping to be the first there and maybe the first out. The owner of this dealership is also the one who started Go Daddy.com. I worked on my blog for an hour and then walked around a little. I asked a gentleman if he knew any good routes heading through Texas. Tim is a master at planning them...he lead tours throughout the southwest using the back roads. ThanksTim!

The Checkup...

 Leaving on Hwy87...These things are so cool looking...

Another view from Hwy87 at the top of the pass...

Another State and counting...

What a great day for riding...Fantastic weather and no winds. At the end of the day I found this little BLM campground...

mmm

Day6...5/12...240mi...Grand Canyon to Phoenix

I headed back to get a good look of this Magnificent Grand Canyon. After looking at pictures...they really don't show how huge and dynamic this place is...Wow!
Again, I met an elderly couple who told me of a nephew who rode to South America on his bike.
After listening I had them take my picture.

It was getting time for my bike's 6,000mi checkup. I wanted to put in some miles so I called around and tried to find an opening for the service. The only one who would fit me in was BMW of Scottsdale ...Head South?...warmth?...You bet!
 Yabba Dabba Doo!..I couldn't help it.

I couldn't believe how beautiful the area around Flagstaff is. I figured the sunshine state was all dessert.

....what was that?...My first big cactus sighting. I use to draw these things while drawing Quick Draw McGraw as a kid.

I arrived in Phoenix...another low mileage day...it did give me time to go over photos and the blog.

Day5...5/11...323mi...LasVegas to the Grand Canyon

I got up to clear sky, chilly and windy morning. Today I'm heading to the Grand Canyon to stay the night. I started up into the hills on Hwy93 to Hoover Dam. Once I rode down the switchbacks to the dam, there were a couple Harley riders illegally parked on the sidewalk taking pictures. I immediately pulled over and obtained the same shots. They were 2 Germans (who rode BMWs back home) that were riding the hogs on Route66 from Chicago to LA. Next thing, we heard the loudspeaker of a friendly officer complementing us on our great parking job.

The ride to the Canyon was beautiful and soon the trees started appearing. I stopped and got a look, but desided to stop back in the morning and spend a little more time there.