Travel Day

We mostly choose where to live, or our partner does. So getting from Bozeman, Montana, to anyplace other than Salt Lake City, Denver, Minneapolis, Mesa, Las Vegas, or Seattle requires multiple flights and most of the day. So, I was up at 4:30 am for the 6:15 am departure, three flights, and then arrived in Mobile, AL, about 5:30 pm. John Kulig met me at the airport for a short drive to our motel in Spanish Fort, a Mobile suburb on the east side of Mobile Bay. John is one of my bicycle touring companions from the Spain 2014 and Nordic-Baltic States 2015 bike trips.

John's goal is to cross the USA vertically. He has ridden about 25 percent, south from the Canadian border to Illinois. John rode the first 25 miles north today to Stockton, where we will commence riding tomorrow. Our planned route is about 850 miles. My return flight is booked for May 8 from St. Louis, MO. In general, the route is:

• North on the Adventure Cycling Underground Railroad route to the Natchez Trace Parkway
• Northeast, perhaps 3-4 days, on the Natchez Trace, a 44-,mile long national park
• West and north on the Adventure Cycling Great Rivers Route to Saint Louis, MO

My friend and PA, Cathy E. counsels Montana State University students about health issues involved with foreign travel. She assured me that my Montana immunizations were acceptable for Alabama and Mississippi, so I'm looking forward to Moon Pies, RC Cola, catfish, and amazing southern country breakfasts.

On prior trips I have featured a Dog of the Day. For this trip, I'll aim to post a Critter of the Day." Today's critter features a donkey that passed Intermountain Therapy Animal certification. John strongly suggested that I refrain from inflammatory headings.

Left to right: Nancy sporting a 10-gallon hat; Certified Ass; and Proud, Certified owner. For further info: http://www.therapyanimals.org/Home.html.