The Journal. Los Angeles to Daytona...

Day 13 – Smoke on the Water – New Orleans to Destin.

Today was a great riding 262 miles out of Louisiana, into Mississippi then onto Alabama and finally across the state line into Florida – three state lines in one day!

Only for a very brief spell did we use the interstate (I10), otherwise we stayed on our great friend the 90. From NOLA we took the coast road towards Gulfport and Biloxi, a stunning coastal road alongside golden sandy beaches of

Mississippi, I never knew that this state had such lovely shore lines and a beach called Long Beach, this is a secret!  Stopping at the state line, again, for photo ops, we entered a different world with Alabama, almost immediately we were riding along tree-lined roads, with leaves already turning golden brown with fall, a sullen yet joyful feel of being in a new place came over me.

On the ground the white cotton grows on the ground and is some fields had been bailed into great white cotton reels, bound by a yellow coating no doubt for transportation and protection. Small pick up trucks paraded the

small towns, not the large bright shining trucks that we saw in Texas but more modest utilitarian farm work-horses, dented, unwashed yet with large engines still.

Again, we find people are so friendly as we stop for food and gas along the way. The small towns we pass through are now festooned with Christmas decorations, as it is approaching that time of the year. Finally we pass across the state line into Florida and again the roadside views change, almost immediately as has been the case with the past three state lines this day. This time we see palm trees in the yards of houses, shops that sell tourist wears, beach wear, souvenirs all
accompanied by many restaurants and bars.

We are near the coast I guess, so it should not be that much of a surprise. We stop for the night after a great days ride, at a newly refurbished Motel 6 in Destin, very very nice with a European feel and a price that suits the budget perfectly. The evening meal was at a local smoke house, Bucks Smoke House on the side of the 98. Do try this, the food is smoked on site, comes paper wrapped and is so down to earth, a real treat. We then headed down the road, about a block into the Famous Hogs Breath Bar, the hotel being middle pitch between the two venues. Another great day filled with contrasts and numerous bridges.


Laner
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