I originally intended to leave Mandeville LA the morning of Day 10, but the weather was forbidding on my route along the coast to Florida, so I decided to spend one more evening at Skip Harrison's place.  I'm glad I did because Day 10 turned out to be a fun day of riding around with Skip (he on his Goldwing, me on his BMW cycle) and talking about his experiences as an educator.  We also watched a classic motorcycle movie from 1971 called On Any Sunday.


The morning of Day 11 the Cycle of Education pulled out en route to Destin, Florida.  The weather was perfect and I planned to make good time on this relatively long leg of the trip.  The little restaurant pictured above was a yummy pit stop with classic blues music and an interesting decor.  It is in Ocean Springs, Mississippi and is called "The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint."  I recommend it.

While in Mobile, AL (which has a really cool underground tunnel as part of I-10), I received the first call ever on my new Bluetooth system that allows me to listen to music and receive phone calls in my helmet through an iPhone using the cycle's electronic system.  It was my brother Seth.  I was surprised how well the system worked, even in the deep tunnel I mentioned above.


While Seth and I were talking I passed the U.S.S. Alabama, moored in the Gulf just south of Mobile.  When I mentioned the site to my brother he insisted that I'd be a fool to pass it without stopping.  Since there are enough existing reasons I could be designated a fool, I decided not to add another to the list.  I exited the interstate and turned back for what I expected to be a quick visit.  It wasn't so quick.


After paying $2.00 to get in the gate (it costs more to go inside the museum) I rode around looking at the military equipment parked outside.  Among these were some planes grouped together behind a rope right in the parking lot by the airplane hanger.  It is worth noting that the Battleship Memorial includes all sorts of U.S. military machinery, including: a submarine, planes, helicopters, tanks, and artillery pieces.  I took an interest in the planes grouped together outside the hanger because I didn't have enough cash to go inside the museum itself and there was something mysterious about the planes parked behind these ropes.


I learned from him that these planes are in line for restoration.  They were damaged when---during Hurricane Katrina---16 feet of water filled the hanger pictured behind the damaged plane above.  The water wreaked havoc, smashing aircraft into one another and submersing them in salt water for days on end.  Within that "Aircraft Pavilion" was (and now is again) a collection of rich U.S. military aircraft history.  Mike Thompson---I learned---is the man restoring all of these storm damaged aircraft one by one...all by himself. 

He took me into his shop and showed me a plane he is currently restoring.  It typically takes about six months each.  For several years after the storm he worked day and night...seven days a week.  Though he now takes a day off most weeks, restoring these historic birds is clearly his passion.  There is still so much work to be done.

Mike asked me if I planned to go inside the hanger to see his handiwork.  When I sheepishly said no and explained that I was behind schedule, he invited me to join him anyway!  He pulled out his keys and we entered a back door into the Aircraft Pavilion.  Mike walked me around to each aircraft explaining the significance of each and taking me behind the ropes for an up and close inspection.  It was fascinating.  Among the aircraft: The helicopter President Reagan was in during the Libyan bombing of 1986 (which the Pope was also flown in on another occasion), the first F-18 that saw combat, an important aircraft flown by the Tuskegee Airmen (Cleon's or Leon's...they were twin brothers), a CIA aircraft---> the A-12 Blackbird...that was classified for over 40 years...details of which were first released in 2007...as well as many other historic aircraft.

Mike asked me if I knew why it is so important for him to do this work---> Why it is so important for him to teach about the history---> Why he spends so much time sharing it with school children, particularly special needs children.  I had a sense, but allowed him to explain that each one of these types of aircraft (save one) carried at least one American who lost his/her life in service of our country.  We must honor them...and never forget their sacrifice.

Mike Thompson demurred when I asked if I could photograph him.

The museum is privately funded and funds are always short.  Mike Thompson and other dedicated Americans work extremely hard to preserve our history.  They need funds. To learn more information on the site and fundraising efforts, click here!