Mobile, Alabama

Today’s Miles:  3.8               Trip Miles:  3.8  

Today’s photos are here.

Like a kid on Christmas morning, I was up early this morning, after a night of glorious, uninterrupted sleep.  Happiness in the small things.  You see, Rick & I are surrogate parents of Ebony, a 17 year old diabetic cat.  The diabetes gives her a fierce appetite & she, having figured out that I’m a total marshmallow when it comes to discipline, gets me up every two hours, regular as clockwork, all through the night, to feed her.   Much as I’m going to miss Her Royal HIghness The Princess Ebony while on the UGRR tour, the prospect of 40 nights of good sleep is delightful! 

It was only 6:00 a.m. when Rick dropped me off at The Battle House, the hotel where the tour is staying tonight.  I’ll say this for Woman Tours: they know how to get things off on the right foot by making a good first impression.  Check out the hotel lobby  - total elegance.

After checking in (happiness is a hotel that lets you check in before three o’clock in the afternoon!), I headed down the block to Serda’s Coffee Company for breakfast (additional happiness is finding a coffee shop that’s open at 6:00 a.m.!), worked on this blog (free wi-fi! yes!), and then heard the unmistakable chatter of excited lady cyclists - and there were Holly and Judi, whom I’d seen last night; Georgia, who’d been on the Mississippi tour; and Gloria, the founder of Woman Tours whom I hadn’t previously met.  I joined their table to hear Judi tell about the Elder Hostel trip she took earlier this year to Antartica - which she calls the trip of a lifetime.  Judi is a very good photographer: can’t wait to see the slide show of her trip.

Spent the morning at the Oakleigh House, a 19th century home in a lovely residential neighborhood.  The docent, Sister Strong, who showed me around was wonderfully enthusiastic & knowledgeable - quite the Southern character!

Saw a funny road sign:  ”Speed Lumps.”  ”Speed Bumps” I’ve seen before.  Even “Speed Tables.” Never “Speed Lumps.”

There’s a lot to do and see in Mobile - wish I had more time to go to the Museum of Art, the Carnival Museum, the Victorian Magnolia Cemetery.  I’d like to come back and explore some more.

This afternoon the group assembled for an orientation meeting.  Afterwards Laurie, our guide extraordinaire, held a “how to fix a flat” workshop.  Doesn’t hurt to see how the pros do it!  Then this evening the opening banquet dinner was held in one of the hotel’s ballrooms - good salad, chicken, cheesecake for dessert - but dinner tomorrow, served in the parking lot, after a day’s ride will taste much better, guaranteed. 

I think all the riders are antsy to get going.  I’m going down to Serda’s to post this and then to bed.