Date: January 14 2001
Trail Day: 228
Miles Today: 0
Location: Howard Johnson, Pensacola
Section Mile: FAR 296
ECT Mile: 3439
Zero day today.
Date: January 15 2001
Trail Day: 229
Miles Today: 20
Location: Near Battery Longdam Ruins
Section Mile: FAR 316
ECT Mile: 3459
Returned the car at the airport and started hiking. Entered Pensacola
downtown. Had a little trouble finding the Pensacola Bay Bridge. This
bridge is more than 3 miles long. Then crossed the Pensacola Beach
Bridge to enter the Gulf Islands National sea shore. Headed west towards
Fort Pickens. The foot path along the road is also the Florida Trail.
So I am actually on my last trail. Also because its a trail, I dont get
weird looks any more.
Saw 3 dolphins swimming lazily when I was taking a break. Took a couple of
shots. They were only 100 feet or so from the shore.
I was hoping to get to the camp ground but could not. Stopped about a
mile from it and set up my tarp. The whole day has been overcast with
light rain. I have also sent back one of my jackets and the sleeping bag
liner. I think I should be OK. Lets see.
Date: January 16 2001
Trail Day: 230
Miles Today: 19
Location: Gulf Islands Sea Shore
Section Mile: FNST 17
ECT Mile: 3478
Rained almost non-stop last night. I got a little wet with reflected rain.
Waited for it to stop raining before setting out. Reached the start of the
Florida National Scenic Trail (FNST) in about 2 miles. The fort is quite
interesting to look at. Took a shot at the FNST trail head. This is
my western most point on this hike.
Parts of the trail followed the beach. This is a very nice beach with no
buildings, clean blue water and white sand. Some parts were along the road.
At one point the trail went off the road to the left towards the Santa
Rosa sound. This seems to be a new section not shown on my map.
This section was extremely beautiful. You can see what this island looked
like before they put the buildings in. The sand dunes and vegetation
were incredible.
One section had some pine trees that offered some shelter. Decided to stop
for the night. Turned out to be a short day but I was quite worn out.
I had not slept much last night because of the mosquitoes.
Date: January 17 2001
Trail Day: 231
Miles Today: 30
Location: Near Wright
Section Mile: FNST 47
ECT Mile: 3508
Got an early start. Another mile or two of the sound and the trail blazes
stopped all of a sudden. There was a dirt / sand road that lead back to
Rte 399. Took it and walked the beach. This area is very deserted for
a tourist spot. A few tourists came to the beach as time went on.
Met Nomad. He was with Honey Bear whom I had met back in Vermont. We talked
for a few minutes and I went on.
The road then turned into built out areas for a long time. The maps I have
now don't show where the built out areas are. This can be a problem when
trying to find a camping spot. Walked till about 7 PM and found a vacant lot.
It was too dark so I decided to sleep without a tarp. Then it rained a little,
so I found a good place and set up the tarp.
Date: January 18 2001
Trail Day: 232
Miles Today: 23
Location: Rte 85 Near Trail
Section Mile: FNST 70
ECT Mile: 3531
I had camped near the road and could hear the traffic all night long.
It did not rain much. Continued the road walk towards Niceville. Had a
good breakfast. Picked up food for 4 days. Went to Jackson Guard for a
permit to hike in the Eglin Air Force base. The lady was very incompetent.
First she issued me a permit, then a camping permit. Then she said since
I was going to be in the base for only a few days I did not need the permit.
So she voided it. In the meantime the computer locked up and she had
to reboot. I got the camping permit and continued on. On the way I read some
of the instructions with the map and it looks like I do need the permit.
Now some ranger will stop me and wont believe me when I say that it was the
lady's fault.
It was a long walk from Niceville to the trail head. On entering the woods
I realized how much I had missed it. I have been doing road walks for
the past month or so. Decided to camp near a creek.
Date: January 19 2001
Trail Day: 233
Miles Today: 22
Location: Unknown Place, Eglin
Section Mile: FNST 92
ECT Mile: 3553
The trail today was well maintained and marked. A pleasure to hike. It rained
almost all day. Did not see anyone. Saw a deer run away. The trail paralleled
I-10 for a long time. I can hear the sounds of traffic from I-10.
Never saw the sun and had no idea what the time was all day.
Date: January 20 2001
Trail Day: 234
Miles Today: 24
Location: Near Springs De Funiak
Section Mile: FNST 116
ECT Mile: 3577
It rained off and on last night. Became very cold later at night. I had
started sleeping with just my shorts but had to start putting on more
clothes later at night. Waited for it to stop raining in the morning
and got back into my wet clothes from yesterday. The shoes were still very
wet and my feet went numb.
I tried keeping my feet dry in the creek crossings hoping my socks and
shoes would dry out. At about the third creek crossing I stepped from one
log to another precariously, lost balance and stepped right into the deepest
portion of the creek with both feet. My shoes and socks got thoroughly wet.
Creek crossings became much easier after that because I did not have to bother
about where I stepped. Its amazing how simple things can become under the
right conditions.
As I hiked along I came across the Alaqua creek. There was no way to cross
it without wading. I was reading a marker attached to a tree and when I
turned back I saw a deer in the middle of the creek trying to cross over
to my side. I tried to get my pack off to take a photo and it started
running along the creek with huge jumps in about 3 feet of water. It
looked so helpless and pathetic that I was deeply touched and disturbed
that people hunt such peaceful, helpless creatures.
Crossed the creek and had the water upto my hips. Looks like all the creeks
are high because of yesterday's rains.
The last 6 miles were not blazed but were cut and had flags. Got to the
second crossing of Alaqua. The trail ran parallel to the creek for about
half a mile. It appeared to be big and deep. I got quite worried about
crossing it as I knew the bridges in this section had not been built.
The trail then led to a big tree that had fallen or was made to fall across
the creek. It turned out to be my second scariest crossing on this
trail. The first was in Canada when I thought I was going to be swept
away. This one was tricky to cross with a backpack and I was extremely
glad when I did. Took a shot of the creek.
The trail then led to a dirt road where the flags went in several directions.
I tried to find the right one but finally gave up. Started to walk the
dirt roads to US 331. I asked for directions from a hunter in a pickup
truck and continued on.
As I was nearing US 331 a truck slows down from behind me and a guy asks
me where I am hiking to. His name was Steve and he is the crew leader
building the trails. He was there to pick up Nomad. He invited me
to their camp for the night and I gladly accepted.
We drove around for a while to find Nomad and a crew of 4 he was hiking with.
They were doing a 30+ mile hike thinking it was a 25 mile section. They finally
showed up as it became dark.
We went to their quarters and ordered pizza and drank beer. I was glad to be indoors from the cold.
