Guy
Boutin's Motorcycle Touring and Travel Pages
Adventures in Sport
Touring with the Honda ST 1100, 1300 and the BMW 1200RT
Exploring North America...One Road
at a Time
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Guy
Boutin's Motorcycle Touring and Travel Pages
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Day 3 I didn't leave Evergreen till 11am. Harding and I had a slow morning. We both slept late, talked, and had toast and juice. The air was South Alabama muggy, and the sky partly cloudy. I loaded my gear and made my way outside. I was on the way Mobile, for no other reason never been there. It was only 100 miles away. "So what are you doing in Mobile?" "Gonna take in the sites, see the beach, and after that, I dunno." Like most bikes of this era, the 350F had a electric starter with kick back up, it would take a few more years before the Japanese would learn it was a needless expense. Besides, the kick starter gouged my right leg like a poker and needed to be left off. Instead of the using the starter, I kicked the bike over like Bronson use to do on his Sportster, just too look cool on this mornng. I shook hands with my old friend, and said good bye. He patted me on the shoulder as I dropped into gear. I would not see him again for 8 years. Evergreen was about as busy as it gets, as I took the 350F back across the railroad tracks and into the small business district. The city was a Amtrack stop for one of its north-south trains. It was a short ride back out the highway to I-65 South. It was sunny and hot. It would be a short ride on the mostly empty interstate. (traffic was much different. Back then you could see long stretches on I-65 with no traffic.) I pushed the little 4 cylinder bike up 70 mph. At that speed the bike was really busy, and the mirrors were kind of buzzy. On the long uphills the bike would slow down. The interstate ran out in Spanish Fort, and I was directed over to U.S. 31. (the interstate system was constructed rural areas first in Alabama. I-65 through Birmingham, and Mobile were not completed till the 1980s). I topped off the tank at a Exxon station in the city, then went over to a con store for Coke and Moon Pie. Spanish Fort was a busy city on the Bay. It was full of local traffic, as well as that coming off I-65. It was not easy getting through. A few miles later I caught my first sight of Mobile Bay as I came down the long hill out of Spanish Fort and across the causeway. The causeway had ripples and it bounced the Honda up and down. I looked out across at the USS Alabama, a once proud battleship now a museum piece tied to a dock. I skipped the tour and motored on for the city.
I went under the tunnel and emerged out the other side into the light of downtown Mobile and Government Street. Mobile was/is a very historical city and Government Street is wide and busy with traffic. It is shaded by huge 100 year old oak trees on both sides. Downtown is mostly law offices, churches and government buildings. Traffic lights are on every corner. Mobile is the headquarters of my diocese so I took a short detour to check out the Cathedral.
It was slow going and the temp had shot in the mid 90s. I knew nothing about the city, and had to start looking for a place to spend the night. I found a inn called the St. Francis Motel Court on the West end of city. It was a nice place and the cost was 12 dollars. Checking in didn't take long and soon it was time to lube and adjust the chain on the Four. I took up about a inch of slack and everything else was good. The bike was running well after its recent tune up. (It was my experience the bike could only hold tune about 1000 miles. The nature of points and condensers) When I finished that I took a quick dip in the swimming pool to cool off. When it was 6 pm so I figured I better get cleaned up, and and go find something to eat. "I'll make some phone calls when I get back from supper." I was finding out life on the road was exhilarating. I had a keen sense of my being, and seeing things for the first time is always memorable. I was going where I wanted and doing what I pleased. (I still have the same feelings today) I took the 350 back out and rode back down Government looking for something to eat. With so many dining options I went to Burger King for some reason. Probably because I didn't know the city and was just wanted something easy. (the Burger King is still there) Supper was quick and painless and I went back to the motel with a full tummy. ( Fast food was not as common as you might think in 73. Only the larger cities had them. Prattville would not get a McDonald's for another 2 years.) Back in the room I called my mother and checked in with her, and then I called De De who was visiting family in Decatur. The other end of the state. "I'll be in Mississippi tomorrow, and Decatur on Friday afternoon. We'll go out Friday night." "ok that sounds good, where ya at tonight?" "Mobile" "that's not far from the beach" "yeah, but I'm not goin that way. Be by the phone Friday afternoon so I can tell ya how to find me" I hung up the phone and thought- "I'll call Kathleen tomorrow, better not right now, because I might blurt out something not suppose to with this conversation from De De still fresh on my mind." The phone calls costs me almost 9 bucks. I charged them to my room. Back then you had to go through the motel switchboard. Every motel had a surcharge and the bill was padded. The in room phone was a big money maker for motels back then. Long distance was very expensive the days before the break up of Ma Bell. I turned on the tv and had to get up to change one of the 3 channels whenever I got bored. At least the tv was color. It was a small 19 inch tv, do they even make that size now? I fell asleep about 12. Next- onto Mississippi.
Update 9-25-08: I received the following email today;
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