Date: March 12 2001
Trail Day: 285
Miles Today: 15
Location: Near Lake Kissimiee
Section Mile: FNST 823
ECT Mile: 4284
The day started out fast but we slowed down a lot towards the end. It was also a very hot day.
Saw alligators, turtles, armadillos and deer. When we got to the junction of the north and south loops in Three Lakes WMA we took a bath with pump water. The water here is very low. Things have changed a lot since Kumar and I were here about a year ago. The little pond had baby alligators and tortoises. The bath was extremely refreshing. Also found more orange trees.
By the time we were done with 15 miles it was late in the day. Cooked food, ate and slept.
Had to do some bushwacking near the loop junction. The trail blazes are
inadequate there.
Date: March 13 2001
Trail Day: 286
Miles Today: 14
Location: Kissimee River near SR 60
Section Mile: FNST 837
ECT Mile: 4298
Got a very early start. We were prepared for a very hot and tiring day
because there was 6 miles of road walk at the end of the days' hike. But the day started out cloudy and stayed that way. It started raining and it was very refreshing.
We did a much faster pace today. Suriyan is now getting into trail shape.
Took a little bath at the well at the entrance of Three Lakes WMA.
Very refreshing.
Picked up grocery for 4 more days from Oasis. The store is going to be closed in a few more days because they will be building a new bridge. They have removed the public phones and the groceries were very limited. But we were glad it was open. Also picked up some beer.
Date: March 14 2001
Trail Day: 287
Miles Today: 16
Location: Orange Hammock, Avon Range
Section Mile: FNST 853
ECT Mile: 4314
Started early. Looks like the River Ranch is going thru bankruptcy. We were hoping to get some sodas and my brothers were looking for a phone. I hope Karen (Suriyan's wife) is not worried. He has not been able to call her since he left California because there have been no phones anywhere.
The trail was very good today. Lots of oak hammocks along the Kissimee River. Saw 4 owls.
Decided to hike till Orange hammock in the hope of getting oranges. Kumar and me had got a whole bunch of them last year. However, all the oranges were very sour. It was quite disappointing.
Cooked rice with sardines.
Date: March 15 2001
Trail Day: 288
Miles Today: 14
Location: Mosquito Hammock
Section Mile: FNST 867
ECT Mile: 4328
The last several days have been overcast. We are glad because it was very hot before. Today was parly cloudy.
Walked 3 miles to a camp site. Bathed and fished for a while. No luck
fishing. Got several lemon, grapefruit and oranges on the way. Lemon juice with salt tastes real good.
Saw a yellow snake with black stripes.
Decided to stop at the Mosquito Hammock camp site. This one has water. We played Crazy 8.
Date: March 16 2001
Trail Day: 289
Miles Today: 18
Location: Near S-65D lock
Section Mile: FNST 885
ECT Mile: 4346
Last night was cool. A good chunk of today's hike was thru new trail. At one point Kumar tried to wade a bog and went hip deep in the water unexpectedly. It was comical to watch him try to plod out of the water.
Took a half hour break near a grape fruit tree in Hickory Hammock. I never knew grape fruits could taste so good. Also saw another yellow snake with black stripes - about 4 feet long.
Then came a railroad walk for about 9 miles which we completed in 2 miles sections. Kumar and Suriyan are now in trail shape although Kumar now has a cold.
Saw 2 AMTRAK and 2 freight trains go by.
There was a point where we found a small potato like vegetable. I took one along thinking I will check it out once I get home after the hike. I
completely forgot that I was on a thru-hike. It felt strange.
We have also entered the last county of our group hike. We are now winding it down. Tomorrow a 15 miler and then 11 miles into Okeechobee where we will check into a motel room and clean up.
Date: March 17 2001
Trail Day: 290
Miles Today: 15
Location: Near Paradis Run EMA
Section Mile: FNST 900
ECT Mile: 4361
Picked up some water from S-65 B lock. The walk thru Yates Marsh WMA was
good. There was a motorized pump. Bathed and took a break. I have been
bathing a lot the past week because of my brothers.
Some more roadwalk on CR 599. We picked up some oranges that were growing along the way. Reached S-65 E lock. I asked the lock keeper if there were any soda machines. He said no and disappeared. He then reappeared with 3 cokes. It felt great. It was very hot.
Another 3 miles and our hike was over. Suriyan and me took a dip in the river. Kumar has a cold and is sneezing a lot. We also fished for a while but had no luck. Started raining heavily and the temperatures dropped a lot. Went form feeling hot to feeling cold. This is a very popular fishing hole.
We played Crazy 8, ate dinner and slept. It rained a little at night.
Date: March 18 2001
Trail Day: 291
Miles Today: 9
Location: Budget Inn, Okeechobee
Section Mile: FNST 909
ECT Mile: 4370
A short hike today. We carried no food or water. We were in Okeechobee by 11 AM and got a motel by 1 PM.
Had dinner at Golden Corral. The group hike is now over. I had been fearing reentering society and was planning an India trip and visiting my friends and relatives across the US. But the group hike has been a good transition and the Keys roadwalk should complete it. I won't be doing the travelling I had planned.
I have another 20 days remaining of the hike. I meet Vivek in 5 days,
complete the FT in another week and then the entire hike in another 10 days.
The hike has been a blast which I will let go reluctantly.
