Date: February 03 2001
Trail Day: 248
Miles Today: 21
Location: Shell Island motel, St. Marks
Section Mile: FNST 326
ECT Mile: 3787
Had breakfast at the store in Medway. The trail continued to be good and well marked. They have had prescribed burns in a lot of places. So a lot of places are charred.
One section ran close to a bay - very interesting, peaceful and quiet. Then a section that looked like old growth forests. Large shady trees. Old growth forests have a richness that is hard to explain. Stood and enjoyed the scenery in several places almost not daring to breathe.
Day started out slow as I sang and explored my way along. Then decided to speed up. Saw 6 day hikers. Long time since this has happened.
St. Marks wild life refuge also had mature forests. Saw 2 armadillos and
3 young deer. Armadillos can be very noisy for their size.
Had dinner at a gas station and continued on the rail to the trail section to St. Marks and the motel there. Very tired today - My shoes are now falling apart. I need to get new ones as soon as possible. No phone in this motel - somewhat expensive at 42 $.
Date: February 04 2001
Trail Day: 249
Miles Today: 21
Location: FTA crew cabin, Tallahasee
Section Mile: FNST 347
ECT Mile: 3808
Slept like a log last night. My shoes are in very bad shape and are causing blisters making hiking painful.
Saw Nomad at the dock when I went to pay for the motel. The motel is located away from town and there are no stores nearby. Hiked to St. Mark's river and had 2 candy bars for breakfast and got a ride across the river.
The hike started slowly. Nomad and I took our time. Also went up a lookup tower and got a shot.
Saw numerous alligators today. Took a shot. Also saw 3 raccoons. This area is very good for wildlife viewing. Good for exploring leisurely with some binoculars.
Met Jim Davis "Restless" about half way through the hike. He is a crew
leader for this seciton. He had cold beer in his pack ! Enjoyed it. The 3 of us talked for a while and started hiking towards US 98. Some of the hike was on dikes and some was through old forests - beautiful.
Met Wild Flamingo Man. He is attempting a north bound ECT hike. Looks like there are about 10 attempting it this year. This ECT thing is picking up.
Restless drove us back to the crew trailer. Took a shower and had a good
spaghetti and meatball dinner. Then we went shoe shopping and I bought some shoes. Glad to be out of the old ones.
Date: February 05 2001
Trail Day: 250
Miles Today: 0
Location: FTA crew cabin, Tallahassee
Section Mile: FNST 347
ECT Mile: 3808
Took a O day. Helped out the crew hauling wood to the bridge sites. This is hard work. Got a good appreciation of some of the work that goes on behind developing and maintaining a trail.
Went to an FTA meeting and one of the members Herbert bought us our dinners. Came back somewhat late and slept.
Date: February 06 2001
Trail Day: 251
Miles Today: 16
Location: Aucillo River
Section Mile: FNST 363
ECT Mile: 3824
We said our good byes to Restless and the crew. Restless dropped us off at the trail. Had lunch at a store on our roadwalk. There was a notice offering 1000$ reward for anyone who had information on the person who stole the owner's vehicle.
Then started the trail along the Aucilla river. This is an amazing river that sinks and rises frequently. Its awesome to watch a good sized river
disappear completely.
We decided to stop a little early. I was very tired and fell asleep as soon as I lay down.
Date: February 07 2001
Trail Day: 252
Miles Today: 21
Location: Gandy Motel, Perry
Section Mile: FNST 384
ECT Mile: 3845
Lots of dew in the morning and quite chilly. Completed the section along the Aucilla River and started the forest road walk across the Foley company land. Quite boring and uneventful. The day was hot.
Tried to get a ride on SR 20 with no luck. Walked about 5 miles to a rest area and called a taxi. Very tired and demoralized.
Date: February 08 2001
Trail Day: 253
Miles Today: 0
Location: Gandy Motel, Perry
Section Mile: FNST 384
ECT Mile: 3845
Nomad and I decided to take a O day. I did not get up till 10 AM.
Date: February 09 2001
Trail Day: 254
Miles Today: 15
Location: 3 m E of Econfina River
Section Mile: FNST 399
ECT Mile: 3860
Got a ride from the same cab driver who had given us a ride in. He just
happened to be driving by. What a coincidence !
Continued the forest road walks. We can still see Wild Flamingo Man's
footsteps although they are now quite faint.
Decided to stop a little early today. Spent the rest of the day taking a
nap and reading J.R.R.Tolkein's 'The Hobbit'. Interesting book. Sleeping in the open tonight under a full moon.
