Speedy Gets Stopped By An Alabama Sheriff

It rained overnight and was still raining on and off as we left Davis Bayou on Monday. We parted company with Harry and Sally who were off to New Orleans with Tom, Jean and Kathy. We aren't really into city touring, so we headed east to Lake Seminole on the Florida-Georgia border for some r'n'r and motorcycle riding.


It was raining lightly and the roads were wet for most of the way, so Speedy moseyed along at 50-55 mph on the highway, keeping a fair distance from other traffic. Stopping in the rain with the trailer can be exciting. We've locked up the front brakes a couple of times in the wet, so we tend to be extra careful when it is raining. Also, at speeds over 55, the gas mileage suffers terribly.

As we passed through the Mobile area on I-10, an Alabama sheriff pulled out of the center median and passed us. It settled down in our lane in front of us and gradually slowed down. As the traffic in the left lane was heavy and fast and since Speedy doesn't accelerate quickly, especially when towing, we just stayed behind the sheriff's car. Finally, he pulled off and we sped back up to 55.

Shortly after that, I noticed that he was back pacing, but not passing, us in the left hand lane. He fell in behind us, the following traffic passed us and on went the blue lights. Stopped by a sheriff in Alabama—every Yankee's nightmare!

He got out and came around the right side of the van, peering into the windows. We rolled down the window and he asked: "Why are you going so slow?" Oh, the ignominy, stopped for going too slow in Alabama. It wasn't actually too slow, as we were going 50-55, but the limit on that part of I-10 is 70. I explained the trailer, the lack of acceleration, the attempt to keep our mileage up and the road conditions. He stayed on quite a while and we later surmised that he must have thought we were a bit "impaired" as we slowed down behind him. Finally, he wished us a good day and sent us on our way, speeding by to stop someone else a few miles up the road. I don't think it was for going too slow that time.