Day-late - Florida Trail Journal - 2018

Swamps and Gators

Got up after sunrise, about 7 AM, packed up and hit the swamp. It was
actually easier than I was exxpecting as it never got deep. Worst case was
mid thigh with most of it knee deep. It was a realatively cool day so the
first part of the hike my feet were pretty cold. As the sun got up higher
it warmed up some and by late morning I wasn't cold anymore. It was still
cool but I was able to stay comfortable even my feet. The swamp had birds
and some fish several that looked dead or very distressed - probably from
the cold.

The only parts that weren't underwater were a couple of small islands, one
of which I stopped to eat at. My shoes were picking up lots od sand and
would get uncomfotable. There was no place you could put your pack down
but I was able to find a cypress tree stump every now and again I could sit
on to allow me to take off and clean out my shoes.
By around 1:30 I hit I-75, there was a rest stop there and I had lunch
there. As I was headed out of the rest area I was stpped and quesstioned
by a cop. I think he thought I was going to head out onto the highway.
I'm sure he had no clue the Trail when right through there.
After leaving the rest stop the trail continued on a nice ORV trail that
followed a canal. I know why they call this aligator alley as I saw 8
gators in ot on the bank of the canal. I wasn't even looking for them so I
am sure there were many more. Also saw a turtle and some bear scat, so
this is a real animal dense area.
Got a nice campsite, got here about 4:30 and the next available campping
areas is about 4 hours away so no way to make that without lots of night
hiking, which I don't like. Also I was pretty tired by late afternoon.
Even though I didn't do big milage today, about 14 miles, the swamp ones
were very tiring and really wore me out. It was like being in a 6 hour
water arobics class.
It is pretty cool again tonight. So I think I'll get some shuteye.
Tomorrow should be an easier day and I expect I'll be able to pick up the
milage a bit too. Hopefully we get that warming trend I saw a few days
back on the weather report.

Entry 6 of 56
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