4/17 Gauthier to Gulf Shores St Park

The ferry from Dauphin Island to Gulf Shores

Oil drilling in the gulf

The ferry holds 28 cars. The larger one wasn't running so the motor home couldn't cross on the ferry

The sign as you head for your camp spot

Gauthier-Pascagoula-Grand Bay, Alabama- Bayou La Batre-Alabama Port-Dauphin Is-Gulf Shores. Left around 8 a.m. to reserve a RV spot and get to a bicycle shop at opening time as it's Saturday - shops closed Sunday and not only had Russ taken Denise's rear tire because of the spoke problem, but he also had a flat tire on the front this a.m. so he also took her front tire. During the course of our ride, while going over a bridge and sight seeing - Bam! - into a water grate his rear wheel went; splitting the rear wheel rim. With a wobble, he made it to the ferry at Dauphin Island. Denise picked him up somewhere after the ferry ride and they went straight to the bike shop. Denise knew where it was as she had taken his wheel w/the broken spoke and our wheel w/the loose spoke. Unfortunately, that bike shop didn't have the right size wheel so they graciously called around until they finally found a wheel in Pensacola, FLA. Our tandem tire was only about a 15 minute fix -spoke tightening and wheel truing. By the way, Mike missed the ferry Russ caught because some auto passenger thought Mike worked for the ferry line and stopped him to ask for the ferry schedule. Dressed in bike attire he looked like a ferry employee? Go figure. Enough conversation and Mike was left ashore watching the gangway go up and the boat and Russ sail away. The guys did have their 1st alligator sighting - 3 gators. In their excitement they scared them away - so much for the photo opportunity! We all went out for seafood dinner - grouper, seafood gumbo, scallops, etc. yum yum good. When Denise and I got to Gulf State Park, we asked for a waterfront spot. We had to back in so unhooked the car and drove to the spot, passing a sign that read "Don't feed or agitate the alligaors. We won't!