| Cross-Country Ramble 36:
Dauphin Island Date: 3/29/98 8:32:09 PM Central Standard
Time
From the top of the Intracoastal Waterway Bridge, we coast onto
Dauphin Island, Alabama, at 20 mph. What a rush! We turn left at the
water tower and pedal the mile and half to the Gulf Breeze motel,
one of two small motels on this fourteen-mile island. Our room is
light, airy and spacious. We lean our bikes against the front porch
railing and crash for our afternoon nap.
Ken says at dinner, "It would be a shame just to pedal past all
of this without taking some time here. " I readily agree to stay an
extra day.
In the morning we cross the road and take a walk on the beach.
The sand is as white as sheets on a clothesline. Hundreds of small
shells have washed up in the tide. I love to pick up shells,
identify them when I can, and take them home. This time I have to
leave them. Pedaling 400 miles to the Atlantic Ocean with a sack of
shells doesn't make sense.
We get on our bikes and slowly pedal three miles through hundreds
of Southern Pines toward the Estuarium . We swing onto the bicycle
path as soon as we see it. Just when I think the blooming azaleas
can not be any bigger than they had been in Louisiana and
Mississippi, we go past bushes up to the corner of the roofs of the
houses. Huge blooming azaleas, southern pine trees, white sand beach
and a bike path; it doesn't get much better than this.
At the
Estuarium I try to recall what I learned in fifth grade
geography about estuaries. It's hazy. The displays inside explain
about the estuaries and delta of Mobile Bay. They have live examples
of the aquatic life in the salt, fresh, and brackish water on
Dauphine Island. The importance of these waters as a natural
filtration system is also explained. We step outside after seeing
the displays and see with new eyes what the displays are showing. If
we were here often we could see so much more.
We pedal back to our motel and walk across the street to one of
the three restaurants on the island for lunch. After lunch, Ken
takes a nap but I can't sleep.
I keep thinking about the beach. I decide to take another walk on
it. As I climb past the small sand dunes, I take my shoes off. I
just have to feel that sand on my feet. Ah yes, it's just as
wonderful as it looks. The crunch of the sand under my feet sounds
like the crunch of snow when it is very cold. One or two others are
walking along and a couple of children are playing in the waves. I
walk and walk, sometimes kicking the sand and other times letting it
squish through my toes. Finally, I sit down with my back up to the
dunes and listen to the small Gulf waves. I watch the sandpipers run
up and down the shore looking for dinner. My hands dig into the
sand. I let it run through my fingers. I pick up more and examine it
closely. Its grains really are the size of sugar. It feels so good
on my hands and feet. After a long time, I start back. I walked
dreamily along the sand, into the water and back across the sand
dune. I just put my sandy feet into my shoes. I want to remember
this sand.
On the way back to the motel, I pass a realtor's office. I hope
no one comes out and tries to sell me a time-share or a condo now. I
would just say yes and sign on the dotted line.
I'd love to come here often.
Carol
Itinerary (days from Ventura, CA, in ( )'s)
- Day 20 (79) Bay St. Louis, MS
- Day 21 (80) Biloxi, MS
- Day 22-23 (81-82) Dauphin Island, AL
- Day 24 (83) Orange Beach, AL
- Day 25 (84) Pensacola, FL
- Day 26 (85) Crestview, FL
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