Day 11 / Sun Sept 6th / Hallsville to Mobile, Alabama / 7hr 10min / 453 miles It’s time to go home. Or at least I would be home tonight. My own shower and my own bed. Home with Susan and a big hug. Knowing there would be homemade sweet tea that I was also missing.
I believe Josh had originally planned to take some back roads south to ride eastward closer to the coast. Hurricane Laura just a week or so prior had left tremendous damage in Louisiana from Lake Charles northward. We decided it might be best to avoid as much as possible at the time and to take I-20 east back to Mississippi. In Jackson MS. we turned south on US-49 and down to US-98 back to Mobile.
The weather was good and feeling like home in the southeast again. Hot, humid, bugs on the windshield and the canopy of trees we love so much. No rain, and no heavy wind, and no drama or exciting obstacles to hinder the nice ride. Well maybe just those rough roads that Louisiana seems to like.
Just a nice time to ride and reflect on the journey we just made. A day to just ride and relax from the adventure and all the things we had experienced in this story. The other day
@2372ighost made the comment:” Building miles of memories!” and he was right. And the memories of those miles shared with Josh and Mike will always be a great moment in my life. Along with so many road trips that I have made in the past.
Before arriving back in Mobile we made a last fuel stop so Mike could return his steed back to its owner with fuel in it. Also, so Mike could get his bags out of the trailer and strap them to the seat. I would not be making the turn off US-98 to follow them to Jeff’s house. I had another hour or so ride across Mobile bay to my home. Susan heard me pull up at the house and met me at the door with a big smile, a huge hug, and a cold glass of that homemade sweet tea……. Ahhhh…. The wing and I are Home……
Day 12 / Mon Sept 7th / Mobile to Sarasota, Florida / 8hr / 570 miles My trip was over but Josh and Mike still had to get home to their families that were waiting on them to return. And I think they were tired and ready to be home too. Josh documented his solo ride back to Sarasota in his video. He left very early before sunrise and I think he was relying on coffee to keep him going. Mike had mentioned that he was looking forward to that plush comfortable cloth seat in his
F-150 Chevrolet Silverado with the A/C and cruise control. I bet he enjoyed that comfort as he returned to Fort Paine.
I just want to add that this might be the first BIG road trip ether one of these kids has made, they will never forget it and neither will I. I don’t think Mike will ever make another 5,000+ mile trip on that NC 700 again and Josh sold the Baby Wing a few weeks later. My Goldwing will remain my ride of choice. It was built just for these types of road miles. I may not be able to chase
@klaviator and the great group that rides with him through the off-road trails. But the Goldwing will get Susan and I up north to camp out and ride the mountain roads. That’s good enough for me.
We hope to see and ride with all the cool kids from Motorcycle Alabama again very soon!!!!
Chuck